chapter 15 - production of sex cells Flashcards
what is the erectile tissue
- three cylinders of sponge like spaces which fill with blood, causing the one is to become erect
what is the urethra
- carries semen and urine out of the body
what is the foreskin
- covers head of end of the penis may be removed through circumcision
what are the seminal vesicles
- pair of pouch like organs behind the bladder, secrete fluid rich in sugars which makes up 60% of somen
what is the prostate gland
- single gland surrounding the urethra, where two sperm ducts join, secretes an alkaline milky fluid that helps activate the sperm
what are the bulbo-urethral glands
- secrete a mucous fluid that becomes part of the semen
what is the scrotum
- holds testes outside the body for optimum temperature of 35 degrees (so that meiosis can occur)
what are the vas deferens
- (sperm duct), carries sperm from testes to the urethra
what are the testes
- produce make sex cell spermatozoa (sperm)
what are the epididymis
- one in each testes, stores sperm for 6 weeks while they mature
- 5-6 meters in length
what are the seminiferous tubules
- produce sperm by meiosis in the testes
what are the interstitial cells
- cells between the seminiferous tubules which secrete male hormone testosterone
what are spermatozoa
- production take 72 days, first produced at onset of puberty (12-13 years), formed continually throughout lifetime
- function: fuse with ovum to form a zygote
- head: contains nucleus (chromosomes), and acrosomes which are a digestive enzyme which breaks through membrane of egg
- neck: many mitochondria, converts fructose in semen into energy
- tail: flagella, movement for swimming
what is testosterone
- male hormone responsible for the development of the primary and secondary male sexual characteristics
what are the primary and secondary male sex characteristics
- P: presence of the male reproductive parts
- S: growth of pubic hair, facial and body hair, voice development, growth spurt at puberty, increased secretion of sebum in the skin
what is the vagina
- receives penis during intercourse and forms birth canal
what is the uterus
- muscular structure that holds embryo / foetus during pregnancy
- inner lining (endometrium) thickens during pregnancy
what is the clitoris
- contains erectile tissue, blood vessels and nerves
what are the fallopian / uterine tubes / oviducts
- carries eggs to uterus
- where fertilisation occurs
what are fimbriae
- projections from the uterine tubes that catch eggs after ovulation and move egg by cilia and peristalsis (muscular contractions) along the tubes
what is the cervix
- opening of the uterus
what are the ovaries
- produce ova (eggs) and female hormones
what is the hymen
- covers the vagina, may be torn during females first time having intercourse
what is the vulva
- exterior of female reproductive system
what is the labia majora
- fleshy folds of skin, contain glands that produce an oily secretion
what is the labia minora
- smaller folds of skin, surround space in which urethra / vagina open
what is oestrogen
- responsible for primary and secondary sex characteristics
what is progesterone
- maintainence of endometrium during pregnancy, development of placenta / milk production and secretion
what are the female primary and secondary sex characteristics
- P: presence of female reproductive parts
- S: enlarging or breasts, broadening of hips, pubic and underarm hair
what is the penis
- organ for passing urine and to introduce sperm into the female reproductive system
