231 L06 Reproduction Flashcards
Define and describe erection in the male reproductive system.
- Enlargement and stiffening of the penis, results from engorgement of the erectile bodies with blood. When sexual excitement triggers a parasympathetic reflex, NO relaxes smooth muscle in the penile blood vessel walls, dilating these arterioles, and the erectile bodies fill with blood.
- Expansion of the corpora cavernosa of the penis compresses their drainage veins, stopping blood outflow and maintaining engorgement. Parasympathetic input also stimulates secretion from the bulbo-urethral glands.
- Various sexual stimuli can initiate erection. The CNS responds by activating parasympathetic neurons that innervate the internal pudendal arteries serving the penis.
Define and describe ejaculation in the male reproductive system.
The propulsion of semen from the male duct system. When impulses provoking erection reach a critical level, a spinal reflex is initiated, and a massive discharge of nerve impulses occurs over the sympathetic nerves serving the genital organs. As a result:
- The ductus deferens, prostate, and seminal glands contract, emptying their contents into the prostatic urethra. At the same time, the bladder internal sphincter muscle constricts, preventing expulsion of urine or reflux of semen into the bladder.
- Semen in the urethra triggers a spinal reflex through somatic motor neurons. The bulbospongiosus muscles of the penis undergo a rapid series of contractions, propelling semen from the urethra.
Define mitosis.
Mitosis means the cells divide and the chromosomes replicate and you end up with 2 cells from one cell and they have both got 46 chromosomes.
What are the functions of the reproductive system?
- produce gametes (both male and female)
- create offspring (female)
- produce hormones (female and male)
- carry baby and maybe feed it (female)
Where does the process of spermatogenesis start?
In the testes
Where in the testes are sperm made?
Seminiferous tubules, then move onto other tubules to mature
What are 2 functions of meiosis?
1: It halves the chromosome number and 2: provides genetic variability
When a female is born at what stage of development are her eggs?
They have all undergone mitosis and just started the process of the first meiotic division
When will they complete the second meiotic division?
If penetrated by a sperm travelling down the fallopian tube just before fusion of egg and sperm nuclei
What is the function of the corpus luteum?
It produces estrogen and progesterone
What role does having high concentrations of both estrogen and progesterone (at the same time) have?
Negative feedback effect on FSH and LH
What is erection and which division of the ANS regulates it?
Erection is the stiffening of the penis that occurs when blood floods the cavernous tissue and is also prevented from leaving the penis. It is caused by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
Define spermatogenesis.
Is the process of forming male gametes. It occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes and is the hallmark of sexual maturity. Spermatogenesis begins at puberty, around the age of 14 years, and continues throughout life. Every day, a healthy adult male makes about 90 million sperm.
What are the two main cells involved in spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules?
sustenocytes and spermatogenic cells
Define sustenocyte.
Nourishes spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules, gets rid of their waste, and moves them through the tubule wall. Are joined by tight junctions.
What do the tight junctions between the sustenocytes create?
The blood testis barrier. This ensures that as the sperm develop, you don’t trigger an immune reaction because the developing sperm have not been exposed to the immune system and it would not recognize those cells as belonging to the male. (they didn’t have them before puberty)
What happens to the type A daughter cell that is produced during spermatogenesis?
Remains at the basal lamina to maintain the pool of dividing germ cells.
What happens to the type B daughter cell that is produced during spermatogenesis?
The type B daughter cell gets pushed toward the lumen, where it becomes a primary spermatocyte destined to produce four sperm.
What happens to primary spermatocytes?
Undergoes meiosis I, forming two smaller haploid (23 chromosome) cells called secondary spermatocytes.
What happens to secondary spermatocytes?
The secondary spermatocytes continue on rapidly into meiosis II. Their daughter cells, called spermatids, are small round cells, with large spherical nuclei, seen closer to the lumen of the tubule.
What happens during spermiogenesis?
Each spermatid has the correct chromosomal number for fertilization (n), but is nonmotile. It still must undergo a streamlining process called spermiogenesis, during which it elongates, sheds its excess cytoplasmic baggage, and forms a tail.
What does the hypothalamus release relative to reproduction?
GnRH = gonadotropin-releasing hormone
What does GnRH cause relative to reproduction?
Causes anterior pituitary gonadotropic cells to release FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone and LH = luteinizing hormone.
What is FSH’s role in spermatogenesis?
Indirectly stimulates spermatogenesis by causing sustenocytes to release ABP, which keeps the local concentration of testosterone high.
What is LH’s role in spermatogenesis?
Stimulates interstitial endocrine cells to secrete testosterone, which is essential for spermatogenesis.
What are interstitial endocrine cells?
- in connective tissue between seminiferous tubules
- secrete testosterone