8. Reproductive system Flashcards
What is the function of luteinising hormone (LH)?
Females: Luteinising hormone stimulates ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum
Males: It stimulates the interstitial (Leydig) cells to produce testosterone.
What does gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) do?
Females: stimulates the anterior pituitary to release both LH and FSH.
Males: stimulates the anterior pituitary to release both LH and FSH.
Where should fertilisation of the egg by a sperm occur?
in the Fallopian tube
Where is the hormone progesterone produced in females?
The corpus luteum (which develops from the follicle after ovulation) produces progesterone.
Where lies the vas deferens?
The vas deferens (=ductus deferens) begins at the epididymis and ends at the ejaculatory duct in the prostate.
How many chromosomes does a human gamete have?
A gamete (a sperm or egg) has 23 chromosomes, so the when they fuse to form the fertilised egg, there is a total of 46 (=23 pairs)
What do the thecal cells that surround the follicle produce?
The thecal cells produce androgens (androstenedione) which diffuse to the granulosa cells which convert androgens to estrogens.
Where are the ejaculatory ducts?
Each ejaculatory duct is formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle. They pass through the prostate, and open into the urethra. Answer: between the testes and the prostate
What hormone is released by the corpus luteum in the greatest quantity?
The corpus luteum releases progesterone which prepares the
uterus for pregnancy (and causes the number of peg cells to increase).
Which cells produce the majority of estrogens?
granulosa cells of the follicle.
What is the section of the male reproductive tract within which sperm are produced called?
The seminiferous tubules of the testes produce sperm.
