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Reproductive System > Essay Revision > Flashcards

Essay Revision Flashcards

1
Q

What reproductive do both sexes have and what is their purpose?

A

Genitals or genitalia
Designed for the purpose of intercourse and conception

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2
Q

What are male reproductive organs for?

A

For intercourse, reproduction and urination

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3
Q

What is the scrotum?

A

A sac-like pouch located behind the penis that holds each testes and helps regulate temperature for sperm production

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4
Q

Where are the two testes located?

A

They lie in the scrotum

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5
Q

What do the testes produce?

A

They produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone

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6
Q

What are the testicles?

A

The male sex gland

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7
Q

Why are the testicles located outside the body?

A

Because the male sperm that is manufactured in the testes need cooler than body temperature for normal growth and development

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8
Q

How many sperm cells are produced each month?

A

4 to 5 billion sperm cells are produced each month

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9
Q

What is testosterone?

A

The male reproductive hormone made by the testicles which causes the changes of puberty.
It enters the bloodstream at a fairly constant rate

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10
Q

What is sperm and describe its function?

A

The microscopic cells produced by the male testicles which can fertilise the females ovum.

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11
Q

How is sperm destroyed?

A

It is destroyed by warm body temperature, acidic environment

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12
Q

How long can sperm survive in a women’s body for?

A

5-8 days

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13
Q

What happens to the sperm that is not ejaculated?

A

They are passed in urine

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14
Q

What is the epididymis?

A

The structure that forms a mass over the back and upper part of each testes

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15
Q

What is stored in the epididymis?

A

Sperm are stored there for as long as 6 weeks while they ripen to maturity

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16
Q

Describe the Cowpers gland

A

2 small pea sized glands located beneath the prostate glands on both sides of the base of the penis

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17
Q

What is the function of the Cowpers gland?

A

They secrete a clear, sticky fluid that helps to neutralise the acidity of the urethra

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18
Q

Describe the Vas Deferens

A

2 long, thin tubes that serve as a passageway for sperm and a place for sperm storage

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19
Q

Describe the function of the Vas Deferens

A

The contraction of the vas deferens along with the action of the cilia helps transport the sperm through the vas deferens

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20
Q

Describe the seminal vesicles

A

2 small glands that secrete a fluid that nourishes and enables the sperm to move

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21
Q

Where can the prostate gland be found?

A

Surrounding the urethra beneath the bladder

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22
Q

What does the prostate gland secrete?

A

The gland secretes an alkaline fluid that neutralises the acid found in the male urethra and the female reproductive tract

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23
Q

What would happen without the secretions of the prostate gland?

A

Many sperm would die and fertilisation of an ovum would be impossible

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24
Q

Describe the urethra

A

A dual purpose tube that both semen and urine pass through to leave the body. Semen and urine never mix.
Special muscles or sphincters surround the urethra

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25
Q

What happens during urination in the urethra?

A

During urination, one sphincter will relax so that the pressure from the bladder will push urine out from the body

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26
Q

What happens during ejaculation in the urethra?

A

During ejaculation, another sphincter will relax so that semen can flow through the urethra to the outside of the body

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27
Q

What is the penis?

A

The male organ for sexual intercourse, reproduction and urination

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28
Q

What is the reproductive purpose of the penis?

A

To deposit semen in the vagina during sexual intercourse

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29
Q

What does the head of the penis/ the glans contain?

A

Many nerve endings
At birth the glans is covered by a loosely fitting skin called the foreskin

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30
Q

How long is the penis when it erects?

A

5 to 7 inches long

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31
Q

When does an erection occur?

A

When the sponge like chambers in the penis fill with blood

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32
Q

What is semen?

A

A combination of fluid that is produced in the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper’s gland.

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33
Q

What is the purpose of semen?

A

This fluid nourishes and helps sperm move through the urethra

34
Q

What is ejaculation?

A

The passage of sperm from the penis, a result of a series of muscular contractions

35
Q

Describe the Tanner scale

A

Stage 1 - prepubertal
Stage 2 -enlargement of scrotum and testes, scrotum skin reddens; changes in texture
Stage 3 - penis length increases
Stage 4 - increase penis girth, gland development; testes and scrotum larger
Stage 5 - adult genitalia, erections, wet dreams

36
Q

What are the female reproductive organs for?

A

Intercourse, reproduction, urination, pregnancy and childbirth

37
Q

What are the ovaries and where are they located?

A

They’re 2 solid egg-shaped structures.
They are attached to the uterus by ligaments and are the counterpart of the male testicles.

38
Q

What are the 2 main functions of the ovaries?

A
  1. Store and release the ova or female egg cell. Some of the ova disappear; others are dormant until each is ripened and released after puberty
  2. Produces the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone
39
Q

Describe the ova

A

The female reproductive cell.
They are the largest cells in the female body (about size of grain of sand)
The female baby is born with all the ova she will ever have

40
Q

How many ova is a female baby born with?

A

About 200,000 in each ovary

41
Q

How many ova mature and are released over a lifetime?

A

About 400-500

42
Q

What is oestrogen responsible for?

A

Responsible for the secondary sex characteristics and the sex drive in females.
It spurs the onset of puberty and is responsible for ovulation

43
Q

What is the function of progesterone?

A

Protesterone builds up the lining of the uterus called the endometrium in preparation for the fertilised ovum

44
Q

What happens during ovulation?

A

The egg is released from the ovary.
The ovum moves to the surface of the ovary in bursts
The ova falls into the fallopian tube and waits for fertilisation

45
Q

When does ovulation occur?

A

Every 28 days
Happens about the 14th day of the cycle

46
Q

Describe the fallopian tubes

A

2 tubes attached on either side of the uterus
They’re about 4 inches long and 3/16 inch in diameter

47
Q

What are the fallopian tubes also known as?

A

Oviducts

48
Q

What is the function of the fallopian tubes?

A

The fallopian tubes/ the oviducts carry egg cells towards the uterus and sperm cells toward the egg cell
Fertilisation takes place in the upper third of the oviduct

49
Q

Describe the uterus

A

A hollow muscular organ
The uterus is lined with the endometrium
The walls of the uterus have the ability to stretch to the size of a small watermelon
After childbirth, the uterus shrinks back to the original shape in 6-8 weeks, but it can take up to 9 months for the uterus to fully recover

50
Q

What is the main function of the uterus?

A

To protect and nourish a fetus

51
Q

Describe the cervix

A

Is the neck or the opening of the uterus
A normal health cervix is the strongest muscle in the body
It dips down about half an inch the vagina
It’s normally plugged by mucus.

52
Q

What happens to the mucus in the cervix during childbirth?

A

It stays tightly closed during pregnancy but thins and opens for the delivery of the baby

53
Q

What is the vagina?

A

The female organ used for intercourse
It is an empty passageway leading from the vaginal opening to the uterus

54
Q

How long is the vagina?

A

3-4 inches long but will lengthen with arousal

55
Q

What are the vaginal walls made of and what is their purpose?

A

Many small folds of membrane that stretch greatly to accommodate a baby during birth

56
Q

What does the vaginal wall secrete and why?

A

A fluid that helps to make intercourse easier

57
Q

What is the urethra?

A

The opening to the bladder

58
Q

Describe the clitoris

A

A small, pea shaped bump at the front of the labia

59
Q

What does the clitoris contain?

A

A small amount of erectile tissue

60
Q

What does the clitoris increase?

A

Sexual pleasure

61
Q

Describe the stages of a woman’s cycle

A

Day 1 - menstruation begins (bleeding)
Day 5 - menstruation is usually ended
Day 14 - ovum has matured and bursts out of the ovary
Day 15 - after 24 hours the egg is done
Day 26 - in the absence of fertilisation, oestrogen/progesterone levels drop and the endometrium lining breads down
Day 28 - menstruation begins again

62
Q

Where do oocytes develop?

A

In follicles located in the ovary

63
Q

What happens to the follicles in the ovary at the beginning of the menstrual cycle?

A

The follicle matures

64
Q

What happens to the follicle in the ovary during ovulation?

A

The follicle ruptures, releasing the egg.
The follicle becomes a corpus luteum, which eventually degenerates

65
Q

What does internal fertilisation have the advantage of?

A

Protecting the fertilised egg from dehydration on land
The embryo is isolated within the female which limits predation on the young

66
Q

What is the purpose of internal fertilisation?

A

It enhances the fertilisation of eggs by a specific male

67
Q

Discuss the survival rate of offspring through internal fertilisation

A

The survival rate is higher than that for external offspring

68
Q

Discuss the amount of offspring produced through internal fertilisation

A

Fewer offspring are produced through this method that that for external fertilisation

69
Q

Name an example of external fertilisation

A

Broadcast spawning

70
Q

What is an advantage of broadcast spawning?

A

Can result in a greater mixture of genes within a group, leading to higher genetic diversity and a greater chance of species survival in a hostile environment

71
Q

In what organisms is broadcast spawning the only mechanism for fertilisation and colonisation of new environments?

A

Sessile aquatic organisms

72
Q

What are the disadvantages of using external fertilisation?

A

The presence of the fertilised eggs and developing young in water provides opportunities for predation resulting in a loss of offspring
The offspring must mature rapidly
The survival rate of eggs is low

73
Q

Describe the process from zygote to blastula during human fertilisation

A

During cleavage, the zygote rapidly divides into multiple cells without increasing in size.
The cells rearrange themselves to form a hollow ball with fluid filled or yolk filled cavity called the blastula

74
Q

Describe the process from the blastula to blastocyst during human fertilisation

A

The rearrangement of the cells in the mammalian blastula to 2 layers - the inner cell mass and the trophoblast - results in the formation of the blastocyst

75
Q

What happens during gastrulation?

A

The blastula folds upon itself to form 3 layers of cells. Each of these layers is called a germ layer and each germ layer differentiates into different organ systems

76
Q

What happens during organogenesis?

A

Organs form from the germ layers through the process of differentiation. During differentiation, the embryonic stem cells express specific sets of genes which will determine their ultimate cell type

77
Q

How is the neural tube formed and what does it do?

A

In vertebrates the central region of the ectoderm forms the neural tube, which gives rise to the brain and the spinal cord

78
Q

What are somites?

A

Segments along the length of the body in the embryo that will ultimately form ribs, lungs and spine muscle

79
Q

What happens during the first trimester of pregnancy?

A

During the first 2-4 weeks of the 1st trimester, nutrition and waste are handled by the endometrial lining through diffusion
As the trimester progresses, the outer layer of the embryo begins to merge with the endometrium, and the placenta forms
This organ takes over the nutrient and waste requirements of the embryo and foetus, with the mothers blood passing nutrients to the placenta and removing waste from it

80
Q

Describe the development of a baby in the first trimester of pregnancy

A

Internal organs and body structures begin to develop
By 5 weeks, limb buds, eyes, the heart, and liver have been basically formed though many of the organs, such as lungs and liver are not yet functioning
By 8 weeks, the term fetus applies, and the body is essentially formed
At this stage the foetus is about 5cm long

81
Q

Describe the fetal development in the second trimester of pregnancy

A

The fetus grows to about 30cm
It becomes active and the mother usually feels the 1st movements
All organs and structures continue to develop
The placenta has taken over the functions of nutrition and waste and the production of oestrogen and progesterone

82
Q

Describe the fetal development in the third trimester of pregnancy

A

The fetus grows to 3-4kg and about 50cm long
This is the period of the most rapid growth during the pregnancy
Organ development continues to birth (and some systems, such as nervous system and liver, continue to develop after birth)

Reproductive System (2 decks)

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