LO8: Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the testes?

A

Slightly flattened oval structures enclosed in a tough fibrous capsule, they are located with in the scrotum

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2
Q

What are the primary organs of the male reproductive system?

A

The testes.

They form sperm and the sex hormone testosterone

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3
Q

What does each lobule of the testes contain?

A
  • a seminiferous tubule: produce sperm and empty ducts which unite to form the epididymis
  • interstitial cells: located between the seminiferous tubule and function to produce and secrete testosterone
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4
Q

What is the epididymis?

A

A single coiled duct that adheres to the posterior surface of each testis
Functions as the site of maturation and temporary storage of sperm

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5
Q

What is the vas (ductus) deferens?

A

A muscular tube that passes upward along the posterior side of the epididymis
They travel through the inguinal canal into the pelvic cavity to the back of the urinary bladder where they each unite with the fact of one of the seminal vesicles to form the ejaculatory duct

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6
Q

What is the spermatic cord?

A

A connective tissue sheath that encloses the blood vessels and vas (ductus) deferens

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7
Q

When is each ejaculatory duct formed?

A

When vas deferens unites with the duct from a seminal vesicle. The two ejaculatory ducts are located within the prostate and empty in to the prostatic urethra

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8
Q

Where are the seminal vesicles located?

A

Posterior to the urinary bladder

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9
Q

What do the seminal vesicles secrete?

A

A viscous fluid that contains:

  • a sugar called fructose which nourishes the sperm and provides energy production
  • prostaglandins which stimulate contractions with in the female reproductive tract aiding sperm transportation towards the egg
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10
Q

What % of the volume of semen does the fluid from the seminal vesicles constitute?

A

60%

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11
Q

Where is the prostate gland located?

A

Inferior to the urinary bladder and surrounds the urethra

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12
Q

What does the prostate gland secrete?

A

An alkaline fluid which functions to enhance the mobility of sperm

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13
Q

How does the growth of the prostate work?

A
  • -Small in size from birth to puberty
  • From then it grows rapidly over the next several years
  • From 30-45 it remains the same size
  • Then after that it enlarges in about half of all men enough to press on the urethra
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14
Q

What are the bulbourethral glands?

A

2 small pea sized glands located inferior to the prostate gland on either side of the urethra
-They produce an alkaline fluid that neutralized the acidity in the urethra and provides lubrication for intercourse

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15
Q

What is semen?

A
  • A mixture of sperm cells and secretions from the seminal vesicle, prostate gland, and bulbourethral gland
  • Semen has a slightly alkaline pH
  • Contains fructose which nourishes the sperm and prostaglandins which aid sperm movement through the female reproductive tract
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16
Q

What is the average number of sperm present in each millilitre of semen?

A

120 000 000

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17
Q

What does the penis consist of?

A

The shaft which is enlarged at its distal end to form the glans
This cone shaped glans contains the external urethral orifice

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18
Q

What covers the glans as a sheath?

A

A loose fold of skin called the prepuce or foreskin

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19
Q

What is the penis composed of internally?

A

3 cylindrical masses of erectile tissue, these columns contain spaces which fill with blood upon sexual stimulation

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20
Q

What is the scrotum?

A

A pouch of skin that hangs from the perineum, it is divided into two chambers each occupied by a testis

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21
Q

What is spermatogenesis?

A

The process of sperm production, it occurs continuously throughout the reproductive life of a male

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22
Q

How many chromosomes does a mature sperm have?

A

23
22 body chromosomes
1 sex chromosome (either x or y)

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23
Q

Where is the acrosome located?

A

On the top of the head of the sperm. Its a cap that contains enzymes that:
-aid the sperm to penetrate the ovum during fertilization

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24
Q

What is the mid piece?

A

Its located behind the head and contains millions of mitochondria which provide the energy necessary to move the tail
-The wave like motion of the tail provides the motility of the sperm

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25
Q

Where are the sperm stored?

A

In the epididymis and vas deferens until ejaculation

-As they pass through the epididymis they mature and gain the ability to move independently

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26
Q

What are the factors necessary in order for sperm to be produced, matures and function properly?

A
  • An environmental temperature (2-3 degrees below body temp 34) in order to develop
  • The presence of FSH which stimulates the seminiferous tubules to produce sperm
  • Testosterone which is required for the production of sperm
  • Nutrients to keep the sperm alive
  • Slightly alkaline medium necessary for mobility
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27
Q

What are the environmental factors which may lead to DAMAGED sperm?

A
  • overcrowding
  • stress
  • smoking
  • chemical air pollution
  • radiation
  • poor nutrition
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28
Q

How long can sperm survive in the female genital tract?

A

48 hours

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29
Q

What is testosterone produced by?

A

Interstitial cells of the testes

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30
Q

What hormone stimulates the production of testosterone?

A

Luteinizing hormone which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland

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31
Q

What is testosterone responsible for?

A
  • enlargement of male reproductive organs
  • development of male secondary sex characteristics
  • production and maturation of sperm
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32
Q

What are the male secondary sex characteristics?

A
  • skeletal and muscle development
  • changes in the larynx causing a deeper voice
  • development of axially and pubic hair along with apocrine sweat glands
  • facial hair
  • aggression
  • libido
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33
Q

What are the primary organs of the female reproductive system?

A

Ovaries

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34
Q

What do the ovaries produce?

A

The female sex cells, mature ova, and the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone

35
Q

Where are the ovaries located?

A

They are small almond-shaped organs located in the shallow depressions in the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity

36
Q

What is the ovarian ligament?

A

A rounded cordlike thickening of the broad ligament which anchors the ovary to the uterus.

37
Q

What is oogenesis?

A

The process of egg cell formation through meiosis from an oocyte

38
Q

How many oocytes do the ovaries contain?

A

At birth approximately 2 million

By puberty only 400,000 remain viable

39
Q

What is the follicle?

A

A group of cells that provide nutrients to the oocyte and produce hormones

40
Q

What hormone is responsible for oocyte and follicle maturation?

A

Follicle stimulating hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland as the follicle develops it secretes the hormone estrogen

41
Q

When does ovulation occur?

A

When the mature follicle releases an ovum, each ovum contains 23 chromosomes (the sex chromosome is always X)
-Ovulation occurs 14 days prior to the onset of menstruation

42
Q

What hormone triggers ovulation?

A

The luteinizing hormone released form the anterior pituitary gland

43
Q

What is the corona radiata?

A

a layer of follicular cells which is thought to continue to supply nutrients to the ovum

44
Q

After ovulation the portion of the follicle that remains in the ovary changes and forms the corpus luteum, what does the corpus luteum release?

A

The hormones estrogen and progesterone. It continues to function for approx 10 days

45
Q

What does inhibin do?

A

Inhibits FSH secretion

46
Q

What happens if fertilization does not occur?

A

-the corpus luteum degenerates in to a mass of scar tissue called the corpus albicans and stops producing hormones

47
Q

What happens if fertilization does occur?

A

The corpus luteum continues to produce estrogen and progesterone for 2-3 months until the placenta takes over the hormone production

48
Q

What does the onset of menstruation occur?

A

When the corpus luteum stops functioning and the endometrium of the uterus, deprived of hormones degenerates and is shed

49
Q

What are the functions of estrogen?

A
  • stimulating the growth and development of the female reproductive organs
  • initial thickening of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle
  • suppressing FSH and LH secretion from the anterior pituitary gland
  • development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics
50
Q

What are the female secondary sex characteristics?

A
  • breast development
  • axilary and pubic hair
  • widening of the pelvis
  • fat deposition
  • menstruation
51
Q

What are the functions of progesterone?

A
  • assisting estrogen in the final thickening of the uterine lining
  • assisting estrogen in suppressing FSH and LH secretion from the anterior pituitary gland
  • promoting the development of the mammary glands and ducts
52
Q

Where is the uterus located?

A

It is a pear-shaped hollow organ located above the urinary bladder. It is supported by muscles of the pelvic floor and several ligaments

53
Q

What are the areas of the uterus?

A
  • the fundus: the superior portion above the entrance of the uterine tubes
  • the body: which is the wide mid portion
  • the cervix: the inferior narrowed portion that opens in to the vagina
54
Q

What are the layers of the uterine wall?

A

Perimetrium: the outer layer of the wall
Myometrium: the thick middle layer composed of smooth muscle
Endometrium: the innermost mucous membrane composed of a base layer and a superficial layer
*the superficial layer is developed and shed during the monthly cycles, but the basal layer remains

55
Q

What is the function of the uterus?

A
  • aids in developing the fetus

- expel the fetus during labor

56
Q

What do the uterine tubes consist of?

A

a distal end: which has a funnel-shaped end called the infundibulum that terminates with finger-like projections called fimbriae. the distal end opens into the pelvic cavity

a proximal end: which opens into the uterus

57
Q

What is the lining of the uterine tubes?

A

ciliated mucous membrane that move the ovum through the tubes to the uterus

58
Q

Where is the usual site of fertilization?

A

the distal third of the uterine tube, close to the ovary

  • the ovum is capable of being fertilized up to about 24 hrs after ovulation
  • if fertilization does not occur the ovum degenerates
59
Q

Where is the vagina located?

A

The vagina is a tubular canal that extends from the uterus to outside the body and is located between the urethra and the rectum

60
Q

What is the hymen?

A

A mucous membrane that lines the vagina and folds inward to partially cover the external vagina orifice

61
Q

What are the functions of the vagina?

A
  • outlet for menstrual flow
  • receptacle for semen
  • passageway for childbirth
62
Q

Is the vagina acidic or alkaline?

A

Both

  • prior to puberty and post menopausal the pH is alkaline
  • between puberty and menopause the pH is acidic decreasing the chances of infection during child bearing years
63
Q

What is the vulva?

A

The vulva is a collection of structures in the female perineum

64
Q

What is the mons pubis?

A

The rounded pad of adipose tissue in front of the symphysis pubis

65
Q

What is the labia?

A

Folds of skin and underlying fat that extend backwards from the mons pubis to the anus

66
Q

What is the labia majora?

A

Thicker, lateral folds

67
Q

What is the labia minora?

A

Two folds of skin situated between the labia majora

-anteriorly the folds meet to form a small hood of skin called the prepuce that partially covers the clitoris

68
Q

What is the clitoris?

A

A small cylindrical mass of erectile tissue and nerves

69
Q

What is the vestibule?

A

The space enclosed by the labia, it continues the vestibular glands which are located on either side of the vaginal orifice
** the function of these glands is to produce a lubricating fluid to facilitate sexual intercourse

70
Q

What does each breast contain?

A

A mammary gland, each gland has 15-20 lobes
-Specialized cells within each lobe secrete milk when a woman is lactating

*** Because mammary glands contain ducts it is an exocrine gland

71
Q

What is each lobe drained by?

A

A lactiferous duct

72
Q

What is the nipple?

A

A pigmented projection containing the openings of the lactiferous ducts

73
Q

What is the areola?

A

A circular pigmented area surrounding the nipple that enlarge and darkens during pregnancy

74
Q

What stimulated the development of mammary glands?

A

Estrogen and progesterone

75
Q

What does prolactin stimulate?

A

Milk production after child birth

76
Q

What does oxytocin stimulate?

A

Ducts to contract and express milk

77
Q

When do menstrual cycles occur?

A

From puberty to menopause at intervals of 24-36 days except when pregnancy or lactation intervenes

78
Q

What does a typical 28 day cycle consist of?

A
  • the follicular phase (day 1-13) which includes menstruation( day 1-5)
  • ovulation (day 14)
  • the luteal phase (day 15-28) which includes pre menstruation (day 26-28)
79
Q

When is menstruation?

A
  • the first 5 days of the follicular phase
  • the first day of the menstrual flow marks the beginning of a new menstrual cycle
  • during menstruation the anterior pituitary gland will once again stimulate the ovary to develop another follicle
  • *all phases of the menstrual cycle will be repeated unless an ovum is fertilized
80
Q

What does menstruation involve?

A
  • periodic discharge of blood
  • mucus
  • tissue fluid
  • epithelial cells from the surface layer of the endometrium
  • menstrual flow may last from 1-8 days
81
Q

What happens during the follicular phase?

A
  • one dominant oocyte becomes the ovum while its follicle produces the hormone estrogen
  • the FSH stimulates the oocyte and follicle to grow, the hormone estrogen causes the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to thicken during the first half of the menstrual cycle
82
Q

What happens during ovulation?

A
  • The LH reaches a peak when the follicle is mature and causes the follicle to rupture, expelling the mature ovum from the ovary into the peritoneal cavity
  • This occurs on day 14 of a 28 day cycle

** In every menstrual cycle, regardless of its length, ovulation occurs 14 days prior to the onset of the menstrual period

83
Q

What happens during the luteal phase?

A
  • The pituitary gland continues to secrete LH which now acts on the area of the ovary where the follicle remnant remains to develop the corpus luteum
  • Continue to produce estrogen but begin to produce progesterone as well
  • Progesterone secretion is primarily responsible for the final preparation of the endometrium for the fertilized ovum, the endometrium becomes richly supplied with blood providing a thick, succulent bed in preparation for a fertilized ovum
84
Q

What happen during pre menstruation?

A
  • The last 3 days of the luteal phase

- The corpus luteum degenerates to become the corpus albicans and stops producing estrogen and progesterone