14.1 The Reproductive Systems Flashcards
What are the gonads?
The organs that produce reproductive cells
What are the male and female reproductive cells called?
Gametes
What are Sex hormones?
The chemical compounds that control the development and function of the reproductive system
What are the primary sex characteristics?
The structures (organs, ducts, and glands) that play a direct role in reproduction
What does the male reproductive include?
Organs that produce and store large numbers of sperm cells
What are the male primary sex characteristics?
- Gonads (testes)
- Scrotum
- Epididymis
- Ductus deferens
- Penis
- Seminal vesicles
- Prostate Gland
- Cowper’s Gland
What are the secondary male sex characteristics?
- Facial hair
- Body hair
- Deeper voice, broad shoulders, narrower hips, and muscle development
What are the primary female sex characteristics?
- Gonads (ovaries)
- Oviducts
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Vagina
- Vulva
What are the secondary female sex characteristics?
- Minimal facial and body hair
- Prominent breasts
- Higher voice, rounder hips and shoulders
What are the two male gonads?
The testes
Where are the testes held?
In the scrotum
What does the scrotum do for the testes?
Regulates their temperature
What temperature is sperm most successful a?
35 degrees celcius
What are the testes composed of?
Log coiled tubes and hormone secreting cells
What are the Seminiferous tubules?
The tubes attached to the testes
What are the hormone secreting cells of the tubules called?
Interstitial cells
What do the interstitial cells in the testes secrete?
The male hormone testosterone
Where is sperm produced?
The seminiferous tubules
What are the 3 parts of the sperm?
Oval head, cylindrical middle piece, extended tail
What does the head of the sperm contain?
A nucleus with 23 chromosones
What is the Acrosome?
The cap like structure that covers the
What does the Acrosome do?
Stores enzymes that are needed to penetrate the protective layer surrounding the female egg
What does the middle piece of the sperm contain?
Mitochondria which provides energy for movement of the tail
What are developing sperm nourished by?
The Sertoli cells
Where are the Sertoli cells located?
In the seminiferous tubules
Where do the sperm get transported from the Seminiferous tubules?
A nearby duct called the Epididymis
What happens to sperm in the Epididymis?
They become mature and mobile
What is the Epididymis connected to?
A storage duct called the vas deferens which lead to the ejaculatory duct
What is the primary reproductive function of the Penis
To transfer sperm from the male reproductive tract to the female
What happens as the sperm cells pass through the ductus deferentia?
It mixes with fluids from a series of glands
What does the Seminal vesicles do?
Produce a mucus like fluid that contain sugar fructose, which provides energy for the sperm
What does the prostate gland and the Cowper’s gland do?
Secrete mucus like fluid and alkaline fluid to neutralize the acids from urine in the urethra
What is the Urethra?
The duct carries fluid through the penis
Which parts of the nervous system is the movement of sperm responsible for?
Sympathetic, Parasympathetic and somatic
What are the 2 female gonads?
Ovaries
What are the female gametes?
Ova
Where are most of the structures of the female reproductive system located?
Inside the body
What is the function of the Testes?
Produce sperm and sex hormones
What is the function of the epididymis?
Mature and store developing sperm
What is the function of the ductus deferentia?
Conduct and store sperm
What is the function of Seminal Vesicles?
Contribute fructose and fluid to semen
What is the function of the prostate gland?
Contributes alkaline and mucoid fluids to semen
What is the function of the Cowper’s gland?
Contributes Alkaline and mucoid fluids to semen
What is the function of the urethra?
Conducts semen through the penis
What is the function of the penis?
Carries semen into the female reproductive tract
What are the specialized cell structures in the ovaries called?
Follicles
What develops within the follicle?
A single ovum
What is ovulation?
When each month a follicle matures then ruptures releasing the ovum into the oviduct
What are Fimbriae?
Thread like projections that sweep over the ovary
Where does the ovum go when it is released?
It is swept by the fimbriae by into a cilia line tube called the oviduct
Where does he oviduct take the ovum?
From the ovary to the uterus
What does the ovum contain?
A large quantity of cytoplasm that contains nutrients
What is the uterus?
A muscular organ that holds and nourishes a developing fetus
What is the endometrium?
The lining of the uterus which is supplied with blood vessels to provide nutrients for the fetus
What does the uterus connect to at its upper end?
The Oviducts
What does the uterus form at the base?
The Cervix
What does the cervix connect to?
The vagina
What do the ovaries do?
Produce eggs and sex hormones
What do the fimbriae do?
Sweep an egg into an oviduct
What is the function of the oviducts?
To conduct an egg from the ovary to the uterus; where fertilization occurs
What is the function of the uterus?
To house a developing fetus
What is the function of the cervix?
The opening to the uterus
What happens if a living egg encounters sperm in an oviduct?
The egg becomes known as a zygote and implants itself in the endometrium
What happens if the egg is not fertilized?
It does not implant in the endometrium and disintegrates in a process called menstruation
What is the purpose of the vulva?
Protects the vaginal opening
