Chapter 41 - Human Reproduction Flashcards
What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?
Sexual - 2 parents, gametes, variations
Asexual - 1 parent, no gametes, exact copy
What are the three main parts of human reproduction?
Gonads,
Transport tubes,
Hormones
What is the male gonad?
Testes
What temperature is optimum for sperm?
35°c
What is the epididymis?
Tubules (smaller tubes) that mature and store the sperm for up to six weeks
What is another name for the sperm duct?
Vas deferens
What is the function of the sperm duct?
Carry sperm to the prostate and into the urethra
What is the function of the prostate, Cowper’s gland and seminal vesicles?
Produce seminal fluid
What is seminal fluid?
An alkaline solution that nourishes the sperm
Name the 2 glands in the male reproductive system.
Cowper’s gland and prostate gland
What is semen?
Sperm + seminal fluid
What is the function of the urethra?
Carries semen out of the body via the penis - dual function organ- releases urine
What are the three parts of a sperm called?
Head
Collar
Tail
What is the function of an acrosome?
At the top of the head of a sperm
Contains digestive enzymes so that is can enter an egg
What is the function of the collar of a sperm?
Contains many mitochondria
What does the nucleus of a sperm contain?
23 chromosomes
What is another name for the tail of a sperm?
Flagellum
Describe the lifecycle of a sperm.
Produced by meiosis once puberty begins
Continues to be produced for the lifetime of the male
Survives for up to 72 hours after ejaculation
What produces hormones?
Pituitary gland
What are the 3 hormones involved in the male reproductive system?
FSH
LH
Testosterone
What does LH stand for?
Leuteinisng hormone
What does FSH stand for?
Follicle stimulating hormone
What is the function of FSH in a male?
Causes diploid sperm producing cells to divide by meiosis
What is the function of LH in the male?
Stimulates testes to produce testosterone
What is the function of testosterone?
Causes primary (being born with male gonad) and secondary (puberty) male characteristics
What is a type of male infertility?
Low sperm count
What are 3 causes of male infertility?
Smoking
Alcohol and drug abuse
Low hormone levels
What is a correction method for male infertility?
Change in lifestyle
Hormone treatment
What is the female gonad?
Ovary
What is the function of the ovary?
Produce eggs, all present at birth, one released each month
What is another name for the Fallopian tube?
Ovyduct
What is the function of the Fallopian tube?
Muscular tube
Funnels at tip - catches the egg as it’s released
Egg moved along tube by cilia and muscular peristalsis
Egg fertilized or dies here
What are the two parts to the uterus?
Inner wall - endometrium
Outer wall - muscle
What is the cervix?
Opening to the uterus
What is the vagina?
Muscular tube
Allows entry of sperm and acts as a birth canal
Lined with mucous producing cells - protects again pathogens
What is ovulation?
Each month 20 eggs are produced by meiosis
What happens during days 1 - 5 of the menstruated cycle?
Endometrium breaks down and shed by the body
FSH released by pituitary gland
Meiosis occurs in ovary to create new egg
What happens during days 6 - 14 of the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen produced by Graafian follicle - this stops FSH
Endometrium thickens
Allows one egg to develop
What happens on day 14 of the menstrual cycle?
Ovulation
LH released by pituitary gland
What happens during day 14 - 28 of the menstrual cycle?
Progesterone released by corpus Leuteum -Endometrium thickens further, inhibits LH and FSH
No fertilization occurs progesterone levels decrease and the cycle starts again
What is the fertile period?
Days 11 - 16
Egg survives for 48 hours
Sperm can survive up to 72 hours
What are the four hormones in the female reproductive system?
Oestrogen
Progesterone
LH
FSH