M5: Male Reproductive Cycle and Birth Flashcards
What three endocrine glands are involved in the male reproductive cycle?
- hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
- Leydig cells
what does LH stimulate in male?
stimulates production of testerone
what does FSH stimulate in males?
production of a protein that maintains testoesterone and high enough level for spermatogensis to take place
how is sperm produced?
via meiosis in the sperm tubules and is stored in testes till maturity
features of sperm?
- enlarged head of sperm contains haploid nucleus
- tail of sperm cell whips from side to side to enable movement
what three layers do sperm need to cross to reach egg cell?
- cornona radiata
- zona pellucida
- inner barrier
what happens during the corona radiata?
physically push through first membrane due to a release of enzymes
what happens during the zona pellucida?
protective cap of sperm comes in contact with glycoprotein of barrier and fuses will cell membrane head
what happens during inner barrier?
proteins only allow one sperm to penetrate this barrier and other sperm cells are destroyed by enzymes
What two things must occur in birth?
muscles in the uterus must contract and the tissue of the cervix must soften
What initiates labour?
prostaglandins secreted by endometrium
What is released as a pain killer for both?
beta-endorphin
