Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Human Reproduction > Gametogenesis > Flashcards

Gametogenesis Flashcards

1
Q

What is fecundity?

A

The potential for reproduction

  1. Gamete production
  2. Fertilisation
  3. Carrying a pregnancy to term
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is fertility?

A

The measure of reproduction

  1. Number of children born per person, couple or population
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is fertility rate?

A

The number of births per time period per person, couple or population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What causes cessation of fecundity in males?

A
  1. Loss of libido
  2. Erectile dysfunction (due to diabetes or vascular pathology)
  3. Vascular pathology
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What causes cessation of fecundity in females?

A

Menopause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the climacteric?

A

Period of life when fertility and sexual desire in women are in decline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is amenorrhoea?

A

Lack of periods

Primary = no periods ever
Secondary = periods stop
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What causes menopause?

A
  1. Ovarian decline and failure
  2. Fewer oocytes of lower quality leads to chromosomal anomalies
  3. Follicular decline leads to hormone changes and secondary amenorrhoea
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When does fecundity begin?

A

Puberty

Girls initiate puberty about 2 years earlier than boys

Average age of onset of puberty has been coming down, possibly due to artificial light

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where are the germ cells in the testis?

A

In seminiferous tubules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Where are the germ cells in the ovary?

A

In follicles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are testicular germ cells called?

A

Spermatogonial stem cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are ovarian germ cells called?

A

Primordial oocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In what stage of differentiation are the testicular stem cells during fetal life?

A

Mitotic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In what stage of differentiation are the ovarian stem cells during fetal life?

A

Enter first meiotic division and arrest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How many testicular stem cells survive?

A

Most germ cells survive to adulthood

Large population of renewable cells remains at puberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How many ovarian stem cells survive?

A

Most germ cells die at around the time of birth

Relatively few oocytes left by puberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How many sperm are made per day?

A

30 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What fluid are spermatozoa released in?

A

Testicular fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What fluid are oocytes released in?

A

Follicular fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does inhibin do?

A

Inhibits FSH

In females, output rises pre-oocyte release and remains high after it

Produced by Sertoli cells and granulosa cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the temperature in the testis?

A

4-7 degrees below body temperature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How does the testis maintain a lower temperature?

A
  1. Position outside the body
  2. Pampiform plexus cools arterial blood
  3. Divided into compartments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the role of the blood/testis barrier?

A

Testis is a privileged site

  1. Prevents penetration of tubular wall so that immune cells cannot gain access
  2. Prevents penetration from basal component and adluminal compartment
  3. Consequences of breakdown leads to autoallergic orchitis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What do Sertoli cells do?

A

Produce inhibin and testicular fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Where are the Leydig cells located?

A

Outside the tubules in the interstitium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Where does meiosis occur in spermatogenesis?

A

In the spermatocytes as they move from the basal to the luminal part of the tubule

28
Q

What is spermiogenesis?

A

Maturation of round spermatids through elongating spermatids to spermatozoa

29
Q

What is spermiation?

A

Release of spermatozoa luminally into testicular fluid

30
Q

How long does spermatozoa production take?

31
Q

How long is the interval of groups of spermatogonia initiating development?

32
Q

Give four functions of androgens

A
  1. Stimulate accessory sex gland growth and secretion in men
  2. Stimulate secondary sex body hair patterns in both men and women
  3. Exert anabolic and myotrophic effects to affect body shape
  4. Metabolised in target tissues to forms with differential activity
33
Q

What controls production of testicular androgen?

A

The pituitary gland

GnRH released from hypothalamus controls pituitary

34
Q

What does hyphophysectomy cause?

A

Leydig cell regression

35
Q

What precedes rise in androgens at puberty?

A

Rise in LH

36
Q

Where does LH bind in the testes?

A

Receptors on Leydig cells

37
Q

What are the gonadotrophins?

A

FSH and LH

38
Q

What is the dictyate stage?

A

Prolonged resting phase when primordial oocytes arrest in meiotic prophase

39
Q

Where does the oocyte develop?

A

Within a follicle

The oocyte-follicular unit

40
Q

When is the major growth phase of the oocyte?

A

Primordial - preantral phase

10 –> 110µm diameter

41
Q

What is the zona pellucida?

A

Glycoproteins secreted by oocyte during primordial - preantral phase

42
Q

What do the stromal cells form?

A

Condense and form thecal cells

43
Q

What triggers the primordial - preantral phase?

A

It is spontaneous

It does not depend on exogenous hormones nor does it produce hormones

44
Q

Give four roles of the granulosa cells?

A
  1. Follicular fluid secretion
  2. Formation of an antrum within the follicle
  3. Convert androgens to oestrogens in the presence of FSH
  4. Produce inhibin
45
Q

What is the cumulus oophorus?

A

Inner layer of corona radiata

Projects into antrum from granulosa cells

Connected to oocyte

46
Q

What happens to the granulosa cells in the preantral - antral phase?

A

Develop FSH receptors

Require FSH

47
Q

What happens to the thecal cells in the preantral - antral phase?

A

Develop LH receptors

Require LH

48
Q

What is the role of thecal cells?

A

Androgen production under LH stimulation

49
Q

How do oestrogens affect granulosa cells?

A

Bind and stimulate granulosa cells that made them

Positive feedback

50
Q

What is the role of inhibin in the ovary?

A
  1. Rising inhibin levels stimulate androgen output by thecal cells
  2. Stimulate conversion to oestrogens by the granulosa cells
51
Q

What happens to oestrogen in the pre-ovulatory follicle?

A

Positive feedback

Rapid increase in oestrogen output

52
Q

What happens to the thecal layer in the pre-ovulatory follicle?

A
  1. Becomes hyperaemic
  2. Increased androgen output
  3. Increased oestrogen output
53
Q

What is the endocrine switch?

A

As follicle approaches ovulation, granulosa cells also develop LH receptors and start synthesising progesterone under LH stimulation

54
Q

When does oocyte meiosis reactivate?

A

Pre-ovulatory follicle

High levels of LH

55
Q

How is the secondary oocyte formed?

A
  1. Prophase nuclear membrane breaks down
  2. Oocyte enters MI, AI and TI as primary oocyte
  3. First meiotic division is unequal and produces a small first polar body and large oocyte
  4. Oocyte enters meiosis II
56
Q

In what stage does the secondary oocyte arrest and ovulate?

A

Metaphase II

57
Q

What triggers ovulation?

A

Large spike in LH

Prostaglandins also involved

58
Q

Where does the follicle surface rupture?

A

The stigma

59
Q

How is the oocyte released to the surface of the ovary?

A

In its cumulus oophorus carried in follicular fluid

60
Q

What do the granulosa cells become following ovulation?

A

Large lutein cells

61
Q

What do some of the thecal cells become following ovulation?

A

Small luteal cells

62
Q

What is the corpus luteum?

A

The post-ovulatory follicle

63
Q

What is the corpus luteum made of?

A
  1. Large luteal cells

2. Small luteal cells

64
Q

What do large luteal cells do?

A
  1. Increase production of progesterone
  2. Convert androgens to oestrogens
  3. Secrete inhibin in large amounts
65
Q

What do small luteal cells do?

A
  1. Produce androgens

2. Pass androgens to large luteal cells

66
Q

What hormone does the corpus luteum require?

Human Reproduction (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions