Introduction to the Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the male gamete + where is is produced?

Answer 1

Male gamete: spermatozoa
Produced by gonads - male=testes

Question 2

What is the female gamete + where is is produced?

Answer 2

Female gamete: oocyte or ovum
produced by gonads - female=ovaries

Question 3

What is produced during fertilisation + how?

Answer 3

during fertilisation a diploid cell (zygote) is produced

normal fertilisation:
ovum from ovary to ampulla of uterine tube
many spermatozoa from testis to vagina

Question 4

Describe the anatomy of the Pelvic Cavity…

Answer 4

• Lies within the bony pelvis, between the pelvic inlet and the pelvic outlet
• Continuous with abdominal cavity

Question 5

Describe the anatomy of the Pelvic Floor + Opening…

Answer 5

• Pelvic floor: internal wall of skeletal muscle that separates the pelvic cavity and the perineum
• Openings in pelvic floor: allows distal alimentary, reproductive and renal tracts to pass through

Question 6

Describe the anatomy of the Perineum…

Answer 6

Perineum: inferior to pelvic floor, situated between the proximal parts of lower limbs

Question 7

Describe the anatomy of the Pelvic Roof…

Answer 7

Pelvic roof: formed by parietal peritoneum (lining of abdominal cavity)

Question 8

What is the Rectouterine pouch (of Douglas)?

Answer 8

• Double folding of the peritoneum between the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus
• Most inferior part of the peritoneal cavity in an upright female patient (If any excess fluid is present it will collect in this pouch such as pus. Can be drained from here)

Question 9

What is the Vesico-uterine pouch?

Answer 9

Vesico-uterine pouch:
- Double folding of peritoneum between the anterior surface of the uterus and the bladder

Question 10

Describe the surface anatomy of Female Perineum

Answer 10

Question 11

Describe the female reproductive system

organ, accessory, 3 uterine wall layers

Answer 11

• Female reproductive organs
  ovaries
• Accessory reproductive organs
  uterine tubes, uterus and vagina
• Body of uterus wall has 3 layers:
  -perimetrium
  -myometrium
  -endometrium

Question 12

Describe the 2 most common postions of the uterus

Answer 12

• Anteverted - cervix tipped anteriorly relative to axis of vagina
• Anteflexed - uterus tipped anteriorly relative to the axis of the cervix

Question 13

What are ovaries?

shape, location, development position, secretion

Answer 13

• Almond sized and shaped located laterally in pelvic cavity
• develop on posterior abdominal wall and move onto the lateral wall of the pelvis
• secrete oestrogen and progesterone in response to pituitary hormones

Question 14

Name and Identify the Arteries of Female Pelvis

Answer 14

Question 15

Describe the process of Ovulation + Menstruation

Answer 15

• Fertilisation usually occurs in the ampulla
• Implantation occurs in the body of the uterus

Ovulation + Menstruation:
1. Ova released from ovaries into peritoneal cavity
2. Ovum gathered by fimbriae into infundibulum of uterine tube
3. Ovum moved along uterine tube by cilia until it reaches the uterus
4. During menstruation, an unfertilized ovum is expelled by contractions of the myometrium

Question 16

What is an Ectopic pregnancy?

and potential dangers

Answer 16

• fertilized ovum implants outside of the uterine cavity.
  
  • 97% are tubal pregnancy
  • abdominal pregnancy also possible
  • danger of haemorrhage

Question 17

How is a female sterilisted?

Answer 17

Tubal ligation:
* both uterine tubes
* clipped, cut or cauterised
* blocks the lumen

Question 18

Describe the Surface anatomy of the male perineum

Answer 18

Question 19

Describe the developement of the testes:

Answer 19

• during development the testis orginate on the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity
• by birth, they have descende into the scrotum, through the anterior abdominal wall (inguinal canal)
• the tube that sperm pass through follows the testis into the scrotum, the vas (vas deferens)
• the vas connects testis to (almost) the urethra

Question 20

Describe spermatogenesis

where, conditions, number, maturation, pathway

Answer 20

Sperm produced in seminiferous tubules:
- Conditions: 1degrees below core body temp, dartos muscle helps control temp.
- 1500 produced per second
- 64 days for a sperm to mature

Pathway:
- Sperm pass to the rete testis
- Then into head of epididymis
- epididymis becomes vas deferens

Question 21

What does the spermatic cord contain?

3

Answer 21

• vas deferens
• testicular artery
• pampiniform plexus of veins

Question 22

What is torsion of the testis?

Answer 22

• twisting of spermatic cord
• disrupts blood supply
• severe pain
• danger of testicular necrosis

Question 23

Describe the male reproductive system

Answer 23

• Male reproductive organ: Testes
• Accessory reproductive organs - vas deferens, prostate gland, penis
  
  • 3 cylinders of erectile tissue become filled with blood at arterial pressure during erection

Question 24

Describe the pathway of ejaculation

Answer 24

• Sperm pass from the testes via the vas deferens (part of the spermatic cord)
• Each spermatic cord passes through the anterior abdominal wall to reach the pelvic cavity
• Each vas deferens connects with the duct from a seminal gland - ejaculatory duct
• Right and left ejaculatory ducts join together within the prostate and drain into urethra
• Urethra opens at the external urethral meatus of the penis

Question 25

How is a male sterilisted?

Answer 25

Vasectomy:
the vas deferens is transected & its lumen sutured closed

Question 26

SEVEn UP- ejaculation pathway of sperm

Answer 26

Seminiferous tubules,
Epididymis,
Vas deferens,
Ejaculatory ducts,
nothing,
Urethra
Penis