Male and Female Reproductive Systems Flashcards
What surrounds the testes?
Dense fibrous CT - tucina albugina
What is the order from seminifernous tubules to epididymis?
Seminfernous tubules - straight tubules - 20 efferent ductules - epididymis
What is a seminiferous tubule?
Site of spermogenesis
What are the different germ cells from outermost to innermost?
Spermatogonia - primary spermatocytes- secondary spermatocytes- spermatids- spermatoza
What are serotili cells?
Line seminiferous tubules and support and nourish developing germ cells
What is the name of the cells in surrounding CT of seminferous tubules that produce testosterone?
Leydig cells
What is the role of sertoli cells?
Maintence of blood-testis barrier
provides nutrition and chemical stimulation for spermatogenesis
Germ cells sit in invaginations of serotli cell cytoplasm
What happens to spermatozoons once leaving the seminiferous tubules?
Still functionally immature and incapable of coordinated locomotion or fertilisation
What is the epididymis?
A tubules 7m in length; highly coiled and twisted
What lines the epididymis?
Pseudostratified colunar epithelium with stereocilia
What are the functions of the epididymis?
Stores spermatozoa and faciliates their maturation
Recycling centre for damaged sperm
Monitor and adjust composition of tubular fluid
What are the ductus deferens?
Ascend into abdominopelvic cavity through the spermatic cord**??
What lines the ductus deferens?
Columnar epithelium with sterocilia
What is the wall of the ductus deferens composed of?
Thick smooth muscle
What causes ejactulation?
Contraction of wall muscles in ductus deferens move spermatozoa from the epididymis to urethra during ejactulation
What are the three glands of the male reproductive system and label them on a diagram?
prostate
Seminal vesicle
Bulbourethral (cowper’s) gland
How much semen comes from the tubules and epididymis?
5%
What is the prostate?
Small muscular organ; encircles prostatic urethra
What does the prostate prodcue?
Weakly acidic thin, milky fluid
What do the seminal vesicles produce?
High levels of fructose that sperm convert to ATP
What do the flagella in the seminal vesicles do?
begin to beat becoming motile
What does the duct from the seminal vesicles and vas deferens form?
Ejactulatory duct which joins prostatic urethra
What is the role of the cowpers glands?
Empties into the penile urethra
Secrete thick alkaline mucus to provide lubrication for the glans penis and helps neutralise acids within the urethra
What are the two regions of the ovary?
Medulla and cortex
What is the outer layer of the ovary made of and what is the name given to it?
Dense CT
Tucina albuginea
What happens in the cortex of the ovary?
Oocyte and follicular development occurs and secretes hormones
What is the medulla made up of?
Loose CT with blood vessels from hilum
Where does the production of the female gametes and how often does it occur?
Ovarian follicle and once a month (ovarian cycle)
What is the process where the oocytes that degenerate by puberty?
Atresia
How many oocytes are liberated for fertilisation?
450
What is a primordial follicle?
Primary oocyte surrounded by a simple squamous layer of follicular cells
What triggers primordial follicles to undergo development to become primary follicles?
Rising levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) stimulates the primordial cells
What is a primary follicle?
A primary oocyte and several layers of granulosa cells and zone pellucida
What is the role of follicular cells?
Provides nutrition to the oocyte
What structural changes happens to the primary follicles for them to become secondary follicles?
follicular wall thickens and cells begin to secrete small amounts of fluid which is present in the follicular antrum
How many secondary follicles are present after the first 8-10 days of the ovarian cycle?
1
Where do theca cells come from and what are the two types?
Derived from fibroblasts
Theca interna
Theca externa
What is a graafian follicle and when does it develop?
tertiary follicle and develops at day 10-14
What does the graafian follicle do?
Stretches the ovarian wall - creating a prominent bulge on the surface of the ovary
How does the primary oocyte become a secondary oocyte?
The oocyte surrounded by corona radiata -CR projects into the expanded central chamber surrounded by the fluid- filled antrum
What happens during ovulation?
Follicular wall ruptures, oocyte complexed released
How is the uterine wall prepared for pregnancy?
Cells proliferate to form a short - lived endocrine structure called the corpus luteum - synthesis progesterone
What is the corpus albicans?
pale scar tissue produced when when fibroblasts invade the corpus luteum
What are the fallopian tubes?
Highly folded mucosa lined within ciliated columnar epithelium- site of fertilisation
surrounded by layers of smooth muscle
What is the role of the fallopian tubes?
secretes lipids and glycogen to nurture the oocyte
What is the myomentrium?
3 indistinct layers of smooth muscle
What is the endometrium?
Glandular muscosa consisting of tubular glands CT stroma and highly vascular
What are the three phases of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle?
Proliferative
Secretory
Menstrual
