Chapter 18- The Reproductive System Flashcards
How many chromosomes are in in a human somatic cell?
46 (diploid)
23 homologous pairs
How many chromosomes are in gametes (Sperm and egg)?
23 (haploid)
How are gametes made?
Gametogenesis via meiosis
What are autosomes?
22 pairs of chromosomes which code for general human characteristics and specific traits
e.g; eye colour
What is the 23rd pair of chromosomes?
Sex chromosomes
2 types:
Larger X chromosome
Smaller Y chromosome
What are the gonads of the male reproductive system called?
testes
What is the dual function the testes?
- produce sperm
- Secrete testosterone
Where is sperm produced within the testes?
Seminiferous tubules
What cells produce testosterone?
Leydig interstitial cells
Where do Leydig cells lie?
In connective tissue between seminiferous tubules
What cells support spermatogenesis?
Sertoli cells
What kind of hormone is testosterone?
Steroid hormone derived from cholesterol
What are the 5 categories of testosterone effects?
Reproductive system before birth
Sex-specific tissues after birth
Other reproductive-related effects
Secondary sexual characteristics
Non-reproductive actions
What does spermatogenesis result in?
Many highly specialized, mobile sperm
What do haploid sperm start off as?
Undifferentiated diploid germ cells (spermatogonia)
When do diploid germ cells differentiate into haploid spermatozoa?
At puberty
What are the 3 major stages of spermatogenesis?
Mitotic proliferation
Meiosis
packaging
How many days does it take to go from spermatogonia to sperm?
64 days
~30 million sperm/day
What is mitotic proliferation?
2 mitotic division to make 4 identical primary spermatocytes
What is meiosis?
2 meiotic divisions
16 sperms from each spermatogonia
What is packaging?
Closely associated with Sertoli cells
Spermatozoa created
What are the four parts of Sperm?
- Head
- Acrosome
- Midpiece
- Tail
What is the head of the sperm?
Mostly just the nucleus which contains DNA
What is the acrosome of the sperm?
Enzyme-filled vesicle that caps the tip of head
What is the function of the acrosome?
Enzyme used to penetrate ovum
What forms the acrosome?
Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex before the organelles are discarded
What is the midpiece of the sperm?
Area where mitochondria are concentrated
What is the tail of the sperm?
Provides mobility for sperm
Where are Sertoli cells located?
Seminiferous tubules
What is the function of Sertoli cells?
Secrete fluid
Secrete androgen-binding protein
Site of action to control spermatogenesis
What does the fluid secreted from Sertoli cells do?
flushes released sperm from tubule into the epididymis for storage and maturation
What do Sertoli cells release to control spermatogenesis?
Inhibin
How do Sertoli cells regulate FSH secretion?
Negative-feedback
Inhibin: inhibits release of FSH
What two gonadotropic hormones from the anterior pituitary control the testes?
- Luteinising hormone LH
2.Follicle-stimulating hormone FSH
What hormone is essential to maintaining spermatogenesis in adult males?
testosterone
What hormone directly controls testosterone?
LH
What hormone does testosterone feedback influence the release of?
GnRH
What does GnRH do?
Regulates gonadotropins
What hormone acts on Sertoli cells to stimulate spermatogenesis?
FSH
What are LH and FSH levels like pre puberty?
Too low to stimulate testosterone production
What age is more GnRH released?
from 8-12 years
-onset of puberty
What is the pathway of sperm after spermatogenesis?
Produced in seminferous tubules —> Epididymis —> Ductus vas deferens
What does testosterone do to sperm in the epididymis?
Gain motility and fertilisation
-mature
Where are sperm concentrated?
Ductus deferens
How are sperm concentrated?
Peristaltic contractions
How long are sperm stored for?
Several days
What are the primary reproductive organs of the Female reproductive system?
Ovaries
-produce ova via oogenesis
What do the ovaries secrete?
female sex hormones
What are the female sex hormones?
Estrogen
Progesterone
What are the undifferentiated primordial germ cells called in fetal ovaries?
Oogonia
What happens to oogonia?
Divide mitotically
6 mill to 7 mill oogonia by 5th month of gestation
What happens to Oogonia during the last part of fetal life?
The beginning of the early steps of the first meiotic division
-isn’t completed tho- Primary oocyte
What are primary oocytes?
Oocyte with diploid number of 46 replicated chromosomes
What do primary oocytes remain in for years until ovulation?
Meiotic arrest
What are primary oocytes surrounded by?
Single layer of ganulosa cells
Oocyte + granuloma cells –> primordial follicle
What is a primordial follicle?
The starting point of follicular development and the basic functional unit of female reproduction
~2 million at birth
After development starts what are the 2 fates of a primordial follicle?
- Reach maturity and ovulate
-become a primary follicle
~400/reproductive life - Degenerate to form scar tissue
-Atresia
What happens between puberty and menopause?
Follicles develop into secondary astral follicles on cyclic basis
-1 oocyte/cycle (normally)
What happens to a primary oocyte just before ovulation?
Completes first meiotic division
-First polar body (non-functional)
-Secondary oocyte is ovulated
What does sperm entry/fertilization trigger?
Second meiotic division of oocyte
-Second polar body (haploid, non-functional)
What cells unite during fertilisation?
Mature haploid ovum units with haploid sperm cell
How many ovum does a primary oocyte yield?
one
-3 polar bodies disintegrate