Lecture: Reproductive System / Fetal Development Flashcards
What are specialized reproductive cells?
Gametes
What are reproductive organs that produce gametes and hormones?
Gonads
What is the function of ducts?
Receive and transport gametes
What is the function of the general accessory glands/organs?
Secrete fluids into ducts/ excretory ducts
What constitutes the reproductive tract?
Reproductive ducts and the chambers that lead to the outside
What is the male gamete?
sperm
What is “emission”?
When sperm is released into the ducts, where it is mixed with excretions from accessory glands to form semen.
___1___ secrete male hormones called ___2___ the most important of which is ___3___.
- Testes 2. Androgens 3. Testosterone
What is an immature female gamete?
An oocyte
What are the female gonads?
The ovaries
What are the male gonads?
The testes
___1___ secrete female sex hormones, the most important of which are___2___ and ___3___.
- Ovaries 2. Estrogen 3. Progesterone
Where does an oocyte travel?
The oocyte travels through 1 of 2 uterine tubes to the uterus
What happens to the oocyte after sex? (5 steps)
- Fertilization 2. Becomes ova 3. Becomes embryo 4. Becomes fetus 5. Birth
What 3 parts make up the male duct system?
- epididymus 2. ductus deferens 3. urethra
What are the 3 male accessory glands?
- seminal glands 2. prostate 3. bulbo-urethral gland
What are the 2 male external genitals?
- scrotum 2. penis
Dims of the testes
5cm x 3cm x 2.5cm and 10-15 grams each
What is the pair of structures between the entrance of inguinal canal into the scrotum?
Spermatic cords
What are the 3 blood vessels within spermatic cords?
- Deferential artery 2. Testicular artery 3. Pampiniform plexus of the testicular vein
What innervates the spermatic cord?
The genitofemoral nerve
What are the spermatic cords made of?
- Layers of fascia / muscle 2. Ductus deferens 3. Blood vessels
What is an inguinal hernia?
Protruding visceral tissues/organs into the canal
What forms during development when the testes drop?
The inguinal canal
What 2 spaces are linked by the inguinal canal?
The scrotal and peritoneal cavity
What divides the 2 scrotal cavities?
The raphe of scrotum
What is the role of the raphe of the scrotum?
Keeps inflammation from spreading from one testis to the other
What are the 3 layers of the scrotum?
- Tunica vaginalis 2. Dartos muscle 3. Cremaster muscle
What is the tunica vaginalis?
A serous membrane that lines the scrotal cavity, preventing friction
What is the dartos muscle?
A smooth muscle layer in the scrotum that causes wrinkling of the skin
What is the cremaster muscle
A skeletal muscle deep to the dermis tenses the scrotum and raises it toward the body
At what temperature does sperm develop?
1.1°C lower than body temperature
What is tunica albuginea made of and where is it?
It is a dense connective tissue layer in the testes, deep to the tunica vaginalis (scrotal layer)
What does the tunica albuginea form and what is its role?
It forms the septa testis (fibrous partitions) and supports blood vessels, lymphatics, and efferent ductules.
What are inside the lobules of the testes?
approx 800 seminiferous tubules
Where in the gonads does sperm production take place?
In the seminiferous tubules
Seminiferous tubules merge into __________.
Straight tubules
What is the rete testis?
Maze of passageways formed by the straight tubules
What connects the rete testis to the epididymus?
15-20 efferent ductules
What is between the coiled seminiferous tubules?
- Connective tissue capsule surrounds tubules 2. Areolar tissue 3. Blood vessels 4. Leydig cells
What are leydig cells and what do they produce?
Interstitial endocrine cells that produce androgens
What structure is the first of the male reproductive tract?
The epididymus
What is the epididymus?
A coiled tube bound to the posterior border of each testis
What is the specific function of the head of the epididymus?
Receive sperm from the efferent ducts
What is the specific function of the tail of the epididymus? (2)
Connect to ductus deferens and temporarily store sperm
What is the function of the epididymus? (3)
- Monitor and adjust composition of fluid produced by seminiferous tubules.
- Recycling center for damaged sperm
- Stores/protects sperm and facilitates maturation
What kind of epithelial cells line the epididymus?
Pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium with stereo cilia for increased absorption/secretion of tubule fluid
What 2 mechanisms transport sperm through the epididymus?
- Peristalsis 2. Fluid movement
How long is the ductus deferens and where does it start/lead?
40-45cm long, begins @ tail of epididymus, is part of the spermatic cord and ascends through the inguinal canal
What is the ampulla of the ductus deferens?
Enlarged lumen of the ductus deferens just before the prostate and seminal glands where sperm can be stored for months
What kind of epithelial cells line the ductus deferens?
Pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium
How long is the male urethra and where does it start/lead?
18-20cm from bladder to tip of the penis
What are the 3 divisions of the male urethra?
- Prostatic 2. Spongy 3. Membranous
How much of the fluid in semen is produced by accessory glands?
95%
What are the functions of the male accessory glands? (4)
- Activate sperm
- Provide nutrients sperm need for motility
- Propel fluid along tract
- Produce buffers that counter acidity in urethral/vaginal space
What are the seminal vesicles? (dims)
15cm tubular glands embedded in connective tissue
What is exceptional about the epithelial lining of the seminal vesicles?
Extensive folds in epithelial lining are very actively secretory
Which accessory gland produces the majority of semen volume?
the seminal vesicles
Where do the seminal vesicles discharge?
Through the ejaculatory duct @ the juncture of the seminal gland and the ampulla of the ductus deferens
What is the small muscular organ, 4cm in diameter that encircles the proximal portion of the urethra?
The prostate
What is prostatic tissue made of? (2)
30-50 compound tubule alveolar glands
surrounded by smooth muscle fiber
How much of semen volume is produced by the prostate?
25%
Which of the 3 components of seminal fluid is acidic?
prostatic fluid
What is prostatitis?
Inflammation of the prostate causing pain. Common in older men but can happen at any age, is often mistaken for cancer.
What is another name for bulbo urethral glands?
Cowper’s glands
What are the bulbo urethral glands? (dims)
10mm diameter, compound tubular mucus glands
Where are the bulbo urethral glands located?
At the base of the penis, traveling along the spongy urethra
What is secreted by the bulbo urethral glands and what does it do?
Thick alkaline mucus, which neutralizes acids and lubricates the tip of the penis
How much semen volume per ejaculation?
2-5mL
What is indicated by low semen volume?
Problems with the prostate or seminal glands
How much sperm in a typical ejaculation?
20-100 million
What percent of sperm is normal / active in a typical ejaculation?
60%
What are 4 components of seminal fluid (not the fluids themselves)
- Fructose
- Prostaglandins
- Fibrinnogen
- Enzymes
What is the function of fructose in seminal fluid?
Provide ‘food’ for sperm
What is the function of prostaglandins in seminal fluid?
Stimulate muscle contractions in the female and male reproductive tracts
What is the function of fibrinogen in seminal fluid?
Forms temporary semen clot in the vagina
What are the enzymes found in seminal fluid? (4)
- Proteases
- Prostatic enzymes
- Fibrinolysin
- Seminal plasmin antibiotic protein
What is the function of proteases in seminal fluid?
Dissolve vaginal mucus
What is the function of seminal plasmin antibiotic protein in seminal fluid?
Prevent UTI (maybe)
What is the function of prostatic enzymes in seminal fluid?
Converts fibrinogen to fibrin