Lecture Reproductive System Flashcards
What hormone is produced by the kidney that has an effect on RBC production?
Erythropoietin
What does Retroperitoneal mean?
Behind the peritoneal cavity
What is the layer of fat that cushions the kidney?
Adipose capsule
Difference between peritubular and vasa recta?
Location– “tubular”- tubules, vasa recta- loop
What vessel/structure is between the afferent and efferent arterioles?
Glomerulus
Anything that enters the space of the glomerular capsule is called _____?
Filtrate
Where do you find Podocytes?
Wrapped around the glomerular capillaries
What are the two kinds of dialysis?
Hemodialysis & Peritoneal dialysis
What is the floor of the bladder w/out rugae called?
Trigone
When are homologous pairs important?
During meiosis
mitosis v. meiosis
• Amount of chromosomal material at end?
• Type of cells produced?
• Number of divisions?
Chromosomal amount at end-46 v 23
Cells– Body cells v sex cells (gametes)
Divisions-1v2
What are chromosomes made of?
DNA
When does the DNA replicate?
Interphase before division
Why have meiosis?
Cut chromosome # in 1⁄2 for fertilization
How many cells are produced in meiosis?
Usually = 4, but depends on whether male or female in humans
Development is not determined until
6 weeks or later
Homologous structures
Female Male
1) Labia majora 1) Scrotum
2) Labia minora 2) Penis shaft
3) Clitoris 3) Glans penis
4) Ovary 4) Testis
XX
Females
XY
Males
TDF gene
Testis-Determining Factor: On Y chromosome triggers secretion of testosterone
Presence of testosterone in the 7th week leads too?
Male development
Absence of testosterone leads to
Female development
Descend by following gubernaculum
Testes
If testis doesn’t descend =
Cryptorchidism. Should descend by one year.
A pouch of skin Sperm production is inhibited
by core TB
Scrotum
A skeletal muscle which tenses the scrotum & brings testis closer to the body
for temperature regulation
Cremaster muscle
; extends into septa and divides the
dense fibrous layer
testis into lobules.
Tunica albuginea
Covers tunica albuginea parietal & a visceral layer); these serous membranes reduce friction between surfaces
Tunica vaginalis
Meiosis (spermatogenesis)
Seminiferous tubules
Between the seminiferous tubules
• Do not produce sperm
• Produce testosterone
Interstitial Cells
Drain into a maze of passageways called the rete testis
Seminiferous tubules

Efferent ductules join rete testis to epididymus, 23 feet long, lining is simple columnar epithelium with long cilia
Epididymus
Sperm cells from the seminiferous tubules do not actively swim; they attain functional maturity during 2 weeks spent in the epididymis
Sperm maturation
For the rapid transport of sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.
Ductus (vas) deferens
Column of fascia, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, connective tissue & ducts that descend with the testes
Spermatic cord
Ascends through the inguinal canal. Weakness here may cause a hernia.
Ductus deferens
Allows for sexual intercourse & contains a portion of the male urethra, three columns of erectile tissue
Penis
Two columns of erectile tissue
Corpora cavernosa
A single column of erectile tissue that surrounds the penile urethra; glans penis at the tip
Corpus spongiosum
Accessory glands produce
95% of semen
Contributes ≈60% of the volume of semen –
mostly prostaglandins & fructose; alkaline pH.
Seminal vesicles
Promote opening of cervix
Prostaglandins
Nourishes sperm
Fructose
High pH counteracts low pH of the?
Vagina
Inferior to the bladder, contributes ~30% of the volume of semen, contains- Seminalplasmin &
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Prostate gland
Antibiotic effect
Seminalplasmin
Helps to liquify semen after ejaculation
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Small; secretes a thick alkaline mucus which neutralizes acids and provides lubrication; contributes ≈5%
Bulbourethral (Cowper’s) gland
Stem cell = spermatogonium Meiosis produces four sperm cells = 4 spermatozoa
Spermatogenesis
Occurs in Seminiferous tubules
Spermatogenesis
Takes 4-5 weeks to complete. Takes place within the cytoplasm of large sustentacular cells
Spermatogenesis
Form a spiral around the midpiece of a sperm
Mitochondria
The head of a sperm contains
the nucleus that is densely packed with DNA
Strong enzymes of sperm get concentrated in the
Acrosome cap
Excess cytoplasm is lost resulting in a small cell without energy reserves. Results in?
immature spermatozoa
Produce gametes. Produce estrogen & progesterone
Ovaries
A layer of simple cuboidal epithelium
that covers the ovary is actually the ovary’s visceral peritoneum
Germinal epithelium
The dense connective tissue layer just under the germinal epithelium
Tunica albuginea
The outer layer where the production &
maturation of gametes occurs.
Cortex
The inner layer that carries the blood vessels Blood supply is through the various ovarian ligaments
Medulla
Before birth females have made all the
Gametes they will ever make; mitosis of oogonia (female stem cells) cease
Female gamete stuck in Prophase I
Primary oocyte
7 million 1o oocytes
In uretro
2 million 1o oocytes
At birth
300,000-400,000 1o oocytes
At onset of puberty
In a typical woman’s entire reproductive life, only
400-500 gametes will finish meiosis I to become 2o oocytes
The 1o oocytes remain stuck in prophase 1 until the
Onset of puberty
The hormones of puberty stimulate one (sometimes two)
1o oocyte per month to complete meiosis I. This results in a 2o oocyte & a polar body (with most cytoplasm in the oocyte)
It is NOT an ovum, but a _____ that is ovulated!
2o oocyte
Fusion of sperm with the 2o oocyte stimulates the
Completion of meiosis II ( a second polar body then results)
Ovum exits for a very short time before it becomes a?
Zygote
Also called oviduct or uterine tube; hollow muscular tubes ≈5 in. long
Fallopian tubes
Expanded funnel contains many finger like projections called fimbrae; lined with cilia
Infundibulum
Most of the middle portion of the tube; the
usual site of fertilization
Ampulla
Short segment adjacent to the uterine wall
Isthmus
Development outside the uterus
Ectopic pregnancy
Enter the uterine wall at uterine ostium
Fallopian tube
Weak peristalsis occurs in
smooth muscle in the days around ovulation; oocyte takes 3-4 days to make the trip
In the uterus: The portion of the body superior to the uterine ostia
Fundus
Uterus: The largest main portion
Body
Uterus: Inferior constriction of the body
Isthmus
Uterus: The inferior uterine terminus that extends from the isthmus to the vagina
Cervix
Layers of the uterine wall
1) Perimetrium – an outer, serous layer
2) Myometrium – a thick smooth muscle layer
3) Endometrium – an inner layer of glandular mucosa, thickness varies over the monthly uterine cycle
Pap smear: What cells are sampled? What is it testing for?
Cells sampled- Cervix
Testing for-Uterine cancer
For sexual intercourse, as well as birth canal
Vagina
Nonkeratinized stratified
squamous and rugae
Vagina
The cervix protrudes into the superior end of the vagina, the vaginal recess that surrounds this cervical protrusion is called the?
Fornix
Ovarian cycle
1000’s of primary follicles are present at birth; contain 1o oocytes
How many primary follicles develop?
Many develop (primary 1o oocyte)
How many secondary follicles develop?
Only one develops (primary 1o oocyte)
Secondary (2o) oocyte
Vesicular follicle
Results from a surge of LH from the anterior
pituitary at end of follicular phase (1-14 days); some follicular cells exit ovary also- the corona radiata
Ovulation
Ovarian cycle
Corpus luteum: old follicle fills with blood; becomes an endocrine structure (secreting estrogen & progesterone); turns a yellow color; if no pregnancy it degenerates into corpus albicans, falling hormone levels trigger menses & the end of the luteal phase; if a pregnancy results, HCG from the developing pre-embryo & placenta maintains the corpus luteum thru 3 months
Produces Progesterone and Estrogen to maintain endometrium
Corpus luteum
Continues to produce Progesterone under influence of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Corpus luteum
Placenta eventually produces P & E through birth
Corpus luteum
Uterine glands grow to increase?
Thickness
