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Human Biology, 13th Edition - Sylvia S. Mader > Ch 16 - Reproductive System > Flashcards

Ch 16 - Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What similarities are there between the male and female reproductive systems?

A

They both produce gametes, the cells that combine to form a new individual of the species (eggs and sperm). The testes and ovaries produce sex hormones.

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2
Q

When does sexual maturity occur in boys and girls?

A 
Girls = 10-14
Boys = 12-16
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3
Q

What is mitosis?

A

When cells duplicate and divide to create an exact replica of itself. Like a copy machine.

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4
Q

What is meiosis?

A

A type of cell division that occurs in the testes (during the production of sperm) and in the ovaries (during the production of eggs). There are two functions of meiosis:

  1. Reduction division = chromosomes are reduced from 46 (diploid, or 2n number) to 23 (haploid, or n number)
    - requires meiosis I and meiosis II, and forms gametes
  2. Meiosis introduces genetic variation, ensuring that we don’t make an exact copy of either parent
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5
Q

What is a zygote?

A

The first cell of a new human being

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6
Q

Where are the testes located?

A

In the scrotum

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7
Q

Where is sperm produced, and where does it mature?

A

Produced in the testes and matures in the epididymis, a tightly coiled duct lying just outside of the testes. Maturation is required for the sperm to swim to the egg

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8
Q

What is the flow of semen through the male reproductive system?

A
  1. Sperm produced in testes
  2. Sperm matures in epididymis outside of testes
  3. Sperm passes through vas deferens (large tube that passes through abdominal cavity)
  4. The seminal vesicle, prostate gland and bulbourethral glands add secretions to the seminal fluid
  5. Semen passes through ejaculatory ducts
  6. Ejaculatory duct enters the urethra
  7. Semen ejects into vagina
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9
Q

What are the male reproductive organs, and what do they do?

A
  • testes = produce sperm and sex hormones
  • epididymis = ducts where sperm matures and some sperm is stored
  • vasa deferentia = conduct and store sperm
  • seminal vesicles = contribute nutrients and fluid to semen
  • prostate gland = contributes fluid to semen
  • urethra = conducts sperm
  • bulbourethral glands = contribute mucus-containing fluid to semen
  • penis = organ of sexual intercourse
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10
Q

What’s the pH of seminal fluid?

A

7.5 (slightly basic)

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11
Q

What is the glans penis, and what covers it?

A

The large tip of penis covered by foreskin that is oftentimes removed in circumcision

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12
Q

How does the penis become erect?

A

Fills with blood due to a high-energy compound called cGMP (similar to ATP) causing smooth muscle to relax and the erectile tissue to fill with blood

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13
Q

What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?

A

impotency = inability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse. Medications for its treatment inhibit the enzyme responsible for breaking down cGMP, ensuring that a full erection will take place.

Vision problems because the same enzyme is in the retina

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14
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

A period of time where stimulation doesn’t bring about an erection. Increases with age. This occurs in men, not women.

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15
Q

How much sperm is ejaculated in sexual intercourse?

A

There are over 400 million sperm in the 3.5 mL of semen expelled

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16
Q

When do testes drop into the scrotal sacs?

A

The last two months of fetal development

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17
Q

What is is the process of spermatogenesis?

A

The production of sperm.

  1. Mitosis occurs, where spermatogonia divide into two duplicate cells
  2. Meiosis I: The 2 diploid cells transform into 2 haploids (cells w/ 23 chromosomes)
  3. Meiosis II: The 2 haploid cells copy themselves (now there are 4 total haploids)
  4. Sperm begins to take shape (late spermatid)
  5. Spermatids develop into sperm

This whole process takes 74 days.

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18
Q

Which cell type supports, nourishes and regulates the process of spermatogenesis? What other role to these cells play?

A

Sertoli cells (purple in book).

They also produce a hormone called “inhibin” to block GnRH and FSH when appropriate

Hypothalamus produces GnRH…
…which stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce FSH & LH

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19
Q

What role do FSH and LH play (anterior pituitary) in the male reproductive system?

A

FSH - promotes production of sperm in seminiferous tubes

LH - controls production of testosterone in interstitial cells between seminiferous tubes

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20
Q

What is a mature sperm called, and what parts does it contain?

A

Spermatozoa. 3 parts:

  • head = acrosome stores enzymes needed to penetrate egg
  • middle piece
  • tail
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21
Q

How long does sperm live in female genital tract?

A

no more than 48 hrs

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22
Q

What are interstitial cells & why important?

A

Cells that lie between the seminiferous tubules that secrete the male sex hormones, androgens

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23
Q

What happens if testosterone in blood is high?

A

Causes hypothalamus and ant. pituitary to decrease secretion of GnRH and LH, respectively.

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24
Q

What are two other names for the uterine tubes?

A

Oviducts or fallopian tubes. Extend from ovaries to the uterus

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25
Q

What do the ovaries produce?

A

Eggs (ova) and female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone

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26
Q

Because uterine tubes aren’t attached to the ovaries, what “connects” them?

A

Fimbriae, or fingerlike projections of the uterine tubes that sweep over the ovaries. Cilia helps move an egg (ovum) to the uterine tube as well.

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27
Q

What are the female reproductive organs, and what is their role?

A
  • ovaries = produce eggs & sex hormones
  • uterine tubes (oviducts) = conduct eggs; location of fertilization
  • uterus = houses developing fetus
  • cervix = contains opening to uterus
  • vagina = receives penis; birth canal; menstrual flow exit
  • fimbriae/cilia = helps move egg from ovaries to uterine tube
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28
Q

How long does an egg live if fertilization doesn’t occur?

A

6-24 hrs

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29
Q

Where does fertilization and zygote formation take place?

A

The uterine tube

30
Q

What happens during implantation?

A

Developing embryo arrives to uterus after several days, then the embryo embeds itself in the uterine lining.

31
Q

What is a Pap test?

A

Where you test for cervical cancer and other cancers by removing a few cells from the region of the cervix for microscopic examination.

32
Q

What is a hysterectomy? A radical hysterectomy?

A

Removal of the uterus, including the cervix. Radical hyst. is removing the ovaries too, called ovariohysterectomy

33
Q

How big is the uterus normally, and how much can it stretch during pregnancy?

A

5cm wide, but can stretch to 30cm wide

34
Q

What is the endometrium? What does it do?

A

The lining of the uterus. Participates in the formation of the placenta. Supplies nutrients needed for embryonic/fetal development. It has two layers:

  1. One gets shed during menstruation
  2. A basal layer composed of reproducing cells
35
Q

What is the vulva?

A

Collectively, the external genital organs of the female are called the vulva

  • skin folds = labia majora/minora
  • glans clitoris
  • urethra
  • mons pubis = fatty prominence top of vag
36
Q

What is the hymen?

A

Ring of tissue that’s ordinarily ruptured by sexual intercourse or physical activity (“pop the cherry”)

37
Q

What are follicles, and what does each follicle contain? How does it change during the ovarian cycle?

A

Small sacs filled with fluid in the ovaries that contains an immature egg. As the follicle matures, it changes from a primary to a secondary to a vesicular (Graafian) follicle.

In a vesicular follicle, the fluid-filled cavity increases to the point that the follicle wall balloons out on the surface of the ovary

38
Q

What’s an oocyte?

A

An immature egg that forms in a follicle in the ovary

39
Q

What is the process of oogenesis?

A
  1. A primary oocyte undergoes meiosis I, and resulting cells are haploid (23 chrom.)
    - cell #1 = secondary oocyte
    - cell #2 = “first polar body” = trash can for excess chrom.s
  2. If fertilized by a sperm cell, the secondary oocyte undergoes meiosis II:
    - cell #1 = zygote
    - cell #2 = second polar body
40
Q

What is ovulation?

A

When the vesicular follicle (that is now ballooning toward the surface of the ovary) finally bursts and releases the oocyte (or egg)

41
Q

What happens to the vesicular follicle after it releases the egg?

A

Turns into a corpus luteum. If egg isn’t fertilized, that ends up disintegrating

42
Q

What hormones do these produce:

  1. Primary follicle
  2. Secondary follicle
  3. Corpus luteum
A
  1. Primary follicle - estrogen
  2. Secondary follicle - estrogen and some progesterone
  3. Corpus luteum - progesterone and some estrogen
43
Q

What are the three phases of the ovarian cycle, and what days do they occur? How does this compare to what’s happening in the uterine cycle?

A
  1. follicular phase: days 1-13 = follicle maturation
    - days 1-5 menstruation = endometrium breaks down
    - days 6-13 proliferative phase = endometrium rebuilds
  2. ovulation: day 14
    - best day to get pregnant
  3. luteal phase: days 15-28 = corpus luteum forms
    - days 15-28 secretory phase = endometrium thickens, and glands are secretory. endometrium is prepared to receive developing fetus
44
Q

What hormone is primarily excreted during the follicular phase?

A

estrogen

45
Q

What hormone is primarily excreted during the luteal phase?

A

progesterone

46
Q

Which hormone released from the anterior pituitary triggers ovulation?

A

LH

47
Q

What happens to the corpus luteum if an egg is fertilized?

A

HCG from the placenta maintains the corpus luteum in the ovary (it doesn’t disintegrate for a time period). Once the placenta starts releasing more progesterone, the corpus luteum then disintegrates

48
Q

What is menopause?

A

Ovarian cycle ceases between ages 45 and 55. Ovaries don’t respond to gonadotropic hormones produced by anterior pit. Ovaries no longer secrete estrogen or progesterone

49
Q

What is the placenta, and what hormones does it produce?

A

The region of exchange of molecules between fetal and maternal blood.

At first, placenta produces HCG, which maintains corpus luteum in the ovary (used for pregnancy tests).

Because of HCG presence, corpus luteum stimulates increasing amounts of progesterone, which shuts down the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary so that no new follicles begin in the ovary.

Eventually the placenta also produces progesterone and some estrogen, so the corpus luteum isn’t needed anymore and thus regresses.

50
Q

How do birth control pills work?

A

They contain hormones that are high in progesterone and estrogen, which sends messages to the hypothalamus to stop producing FSH and LH (feedback inhibition). Thus follicle development in the ovaries decreases or stops entirely.

51
Q

What are common methods of contraception? What’s most effective?

A

Pg. 375

52
Q

What is a vasectomy?

A

Cutting and sealing the vas deferens from each testes so that sperm can’t reach the seminal fluid. Sperm accounts for only 1% of semen volume.

53
Q

What is tubal litigation?

A

Cutting and sealing the uterine tubes

54
Q

What is infertility?

A

1 year of unprotected sex without being able to get pregnant

55
Q

What are factors that cause infertility?

A

In women, being overweight can cause it. In overweight women, leptin levels are higher, which increases GnRH and FSH secretions. The ovaries of these women oftentimes contain many small follicles that fail to ovulate.

56
Q

What is endometriosis?

A

The presence of uterine tissue outside of the uterus, particularly on the uterine tubes and on the abdominal organs. Cells still go through uterine cycle, causing pain

57
Q

What do fertility drugs do?

A

Contain gonadotropic hormones that stimulate the ovaries and bring about ovulation

58
Q

What is artificial insemination by donor (AID)?

A

A woman is artificially inseminated by her partner’s sperm or by a stranger’s (donor’s) sperm.

59
Q

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?

A

Fertility drugs are given to stimulate the ovaries, and donor’s sperm are placed in the uterus rather than in the vagina.

60
Q

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

A

Conception occurs in laboratory glassware. Retrieve immature eggs using a needle. Eggs are brought to maturity in glassware, and then concentrated sperm are added. In 2-4 days the embryos get placed in the woman’s uterus.

61
Q

What is a Gamete Intrafallopian Transfter (GIFT)?

A

Method is the same as IVF, but the eggs and sperm are placed in the uterus immediately after they’ve been brought together

62
Q

What are surrogate mothers?

A

Women are contracted/paid to have babies.

63
Q

Which STDs are caused by viruses?

A
  • HIV infections
  • genital warts
  • genital herpes
  • hepatitis
64
Q

Which STDs are caused by bacteria?

A
  • chlamydia
  • gonorrhea
  • syphilis

curable by antibiotics

65
Q

What is HIV?

A

T lymphocytes are attacked by the virus/lost, which severely impacts immune system. Several months to several years later, T lymph count falls. Highly contagious during first stage of HIV.

People with AIDs usually die from an opportunistic disease

66
Q

What virus causes genital warts?

A

Caused by HPV (human papillomaviruses). Associated with cancer of the cervix, as well as tumors of the vulva, vagina, anus and penis. HPV vaccines can prevent this

67
Q

What virus causes genital herpes?

A

Caused by herpes simplex virus. Type 1 is cold sores/fever blisters. Type 2 is genital herpes. Exposure to herpes in birth canal can cause infection

68
Q

What is hepatitis?

A

Infection of the liver, leads to liver failure, liver cancer and death.

Six known viruses that cause hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E, G

Hep A - sewage-contaminated drinking water
Hep B - sexual contact (blood-borne transmission
—-there’s a combined vaccine for Hep A & B

Hep C - causes most cases of posttransfusion hep
Hep D & G - sexually transmitted
Hep E - contaminated water

69
Q

What is chlamydia?

A

Caused by bacterium chlamydia trachomatis.
Mild burning sensation on urination.
Vaginal discharge.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection

70
Q

What is gonorrhea? Gonorrhea proctitis?

A

Caused by bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (a “super bug” that has developed resistance to a lot of antiobiotics). Can spread to internal body parts, causing heart damage and arthritis

Symptoms:
Pain upon urination.
Greenish-yellow urethral discharge
Females: leads to pelvic inflammatory disease, which could result in damage to uterus, ovaries and other reproductive structures

Gonorrhea proctitis is infection of anus.
Anal pain and blood or pus in feces

71
Q

What is syphilis? Congenital syphilis?

A

Caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria. Penicillin = abtibiotic.

  • sore w/ hard edges
  • breaks out in rash that isn’t itchy
  • affects cardiovascular system (causes aneurysms in aorta)

Congenital syphilis is caused by syphilis bacteria crossing the placenta. Child is born blind or w/ many anatomical malformations

72
Q

What is vaginitis?

A

Any vaginal infection or inflammation

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) = 40-50% of vaginitis cases in the US. Overgrowth of bacteria in vagina

Causes:

  • Common bacteria: Gardnerella vaginosis
  • Yeast: Candida albicans
  • Protazoan: Trichomonas vaginalis

Yellow-green discharge
Itching

Human Biology, 13th Edition - Sylvia S. Mader (16 decks)

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