Male and Female Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
Seminiferous Tubules (STs)
Produce sperm
Leydig Cells
Secrete testosterone
Spermatogenesis
Starts at puberty, takes 70-80 days
Sertoli cells
In the STs, new sperm are embedded and these cells nourish and control development of the sperm
Endometrium
Lining of the uterus, egg implants here during pregnancy
Ovary
Produces eggs from follicles
Follicles
Many begin maturation during each cycle, fastest growing one wins and ovulates an egg
Oviducts
Fallopian tubes, convey egg to uterus, fertilization occurs in tubes
Menopause
Menstrual cycle stops because most follicles are gone
FSH
Stimulates maturation/growth of follicles
What happens if you run out of follicles?
You run out of estrogen
FSH and LH
Required to stimulate estrogen secretion, estrogen secretion dramatically increases because follicle gets bigger
High levels of Estrogen
Cause hypothalamus to switch from negative to positive feedback and stimulates endometrial growth so egg can implant
LH Surge
Caused by positive feedback, causes ovulation
Ovulation
Release of egg
Placenta
Site where egg implants in the endometrium
Corpus Luteum (CL)
Follicle remnants after ovulation, produces estrogen and progesterone
No pregnancy
CL degenerates after 7 days causing P and E to drop, endometrium to die and menstruation to begin
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Egg produces this if fertilization occurs, hormone that prevents CL from degeneration, rescued CL produces E and P that maintains health of uterus during the first month of pregnancy, placenta takes over after
What stops ovulation during pregnancy?
High progesterone from CL and placenta during pregnancy by blocking LH surge
How do early pregnancy tests work kits work?
Detect changes in HCG
How can you make a birth control pill?
Mimics corpus luteum, blocks progesterone action and gives prostaglandis
