Basic Male and Female Physiology

Question 1

What components of the male reproductive system contribute to volume of semen and what do they contribute?

Answer 1

Bulbourethral gland - 5% of seminal fluid
Prostate gland - 30% of seminal fluid
Seminal vesicle - 60% of seminal fluid

Question 2

What is the male reproductive system composed of?

Answer 2

Bulbourethral gland
Prostate gland 
Seminal vesicle 
Ductus deferens 
Epididymis 
Testes
Scrotum 
Penis

Question 3

Where is sperm produced?

Answer 3

Seminiferous tubule

Question 4

How is sperm carried from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis for storage?

Answer 4

Via efferent ductules

Question 5

What components of the male reproductive system are involved in ejaculation?

Answer 5

Vas deferens 
Seminal vesicles 
Prostate 
Bulbourethral glands 
Urethra

Question 6

What are the functions of Sertoli cells?

Answer 6

Form blood-testis barrier
Isolate haploid secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa from the immune system
Physical movement of developing sperm towards the lumen
Provision of nutrients to sperm
Removal of wastes from developing sperm
Removal of excess cytoplasm following cell divisions
Support for permeation

Question 7

How long does the production of sperm take?

Answer 7

Around 75 days

Question 8

What are the stages involved in sperm production?

Answer 8

Spermatocytogenesis
Meiosis
Spermiogenesis

Question 9

How long are sperm stored in the epididymis for?

Answer 9

15 days

Question 10

What is the counter-current heat exchange?

Answer 10

Arterial blood going to the testis enters a dense network of capillaries coming from the testis and epididymis before reaching the spermatic cord, the arterial blood is cooled by the venous blood which helps to maintain a constant testicular temperature

Question 11

How many degrees below body temperature should testis temperature be?

Answer 11

2

Question 12

What can affect testis temperature?

Answer 12

Hyperthermia 
Mumps 
Viral infections 
Other infections 
Endocrine changes 
Loss of blood-testis barrier 
Immunological reactions 
Environment 
Medications

Question 13

What endocrine changes can affect testis temperature?

Answer 13

Reduction in gonadotrophin and androgens

Anabolic steroids

Question 14

What kind of damage can cause loss of the blood-testis barrier?

Answer 14

Physical damage

Question 15

What medications can affect testis temperature?

Answer 15

Some anti-hypertensives and anti-depressants

Chemotherapy

Question 16

What are the targets of androgens?

Answer 16

CNS 
Anterior pituitary 
Hypothalamus 
Penis 
Striated muscle 
Prostate and seminal vesicles 
Testis

Question 17

What are the systemic effects of androgens?

Answer 17

Deepening voice
Male body hair
Increased sebaceous gland activity
Protein anabolism

Question 18

What are the typical hormone levels of;
LH 
FSH 
Testosterone 
Inhibin-B

Answer 18

LH 1-8 U/L
FSH 1-11 U/L
Testosterone 9-33 nmol/L
Inhibin-B - 140-220pg/mL

Question 19

What are the differences between female mammals and female humans in reproduction?

Answer 19

Female humans have;
Regular monthly menstrual cycle
Sexually active at any time, even if not ovulating
Endometrium shed if there is no conception - period

Question 20

What does FSH stimulate follicles to do?

Answer 20

To develop into dominant follicles, producing positive feedback to the pituitary to continue FSH production

Question 21

Mid menstrual cycle there is a surge in what hormone to stimulate ovulation?

Answer 21

Luteal hormone

Question 22

Where are oestrogen and progesterone produced?

Answer 22

By the ovary

Question 23

What does the corpus luteum produce and what does this cause?

Answer 23

Corpus luteum produces progesterone to make the endometrium receptive to a fertilised egg

Question 24

What effect does low oestrogen concentration have?

Answer 24

Negative feedback effect, high oestrogen concentration produces a positive feedback effect

Question 25

Oestrogen produces feedback effect via what?

Answer 25

Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary

Question 26

What is the effect of oestrogen and progesterone on menstrual symptoms? e.g. sore breasts, mood fluctuations, fluid retention

Answer 26

Oestrogenen relieve menstrual discomfort, progesterone will worsen it

Question 27

What are the main female reproductive hormones?

Answer 27

GnRH 
LH 
FSH 
Oestradiol 
Progesterone

Question 28

Where is GnRH produced and what does it stimulate?

Answer 28

Produced from hypothalamus

Stimulates LH and FSH secretion from the anterior pituitary

Question 29

Where is LH produced and what are its actions?

Answer 29

Produced from the anterior pituitary

Maintains dominant follicle, induces follicular maturation and ovulation and stimulates corpus luteum functions

Question 30

Where is FSH produced and what are its functions?

Answer 30

Produced from the anterior pituitary

Stimulates follicular recruitment and development

Question 31

Where is oestradiol produced and what does it stimulate?

Answer 31

Produced from the granulosa cells
Support female secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive organs, negative feedback control of LH and GnRH (except in late follicular phase)

Question 32

At what phase does estradiol no support the negative feedback control of LH and GnRH?

Answer 32

In the late follicular phase where positive control of LH surges and stimulates the proliferative endometrium, at this point there is negative control of FSH

Question 33

Where is progesterone produced and what are its functions?

Answer 33

Produced from corpus luteum

Maintains secondary endometrium, negative feedback control of HPO

Question 34

What are the targets of oestrogens?

Answer 34

CNS 
Anterior pituitary 
Hypothalamus 
Fat distribution 
Ovary 
Mammary gland 
Bone maturation and turnover 
Cervix, vagina, Fallopian tubes and uterus

Question 35

What are the systemic effects of oestrogens?

Answer 35

Protein metabolism 
Carbohydrate metabolism 
Lipid metabolism 
Water and electrolyte balance 
Blood clotting