Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Human Biology > Module 16: The Reproductive Systems > Flashcards

Module 16: The Reproductive Systems Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are the four main functions of the reproductive system?

A
  1. The production of gametes through the process of meiosis.
  2. Fertilization
  3. The development of the fetus inside the female.
  4. The production of reproductive hormones.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the exocrine function of the testes?

A

The exocrine function of the testes is to develop and secrete sperm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the endocrine function of the testes?

A

The endocrine function of the testes is to produce and secrete sex hormones. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in males.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why do the testes descend into the scrotum during development?

A

The primary reproductive function of the testes is the production and secretion of sperm. Spermatogenesis in the human cannot occur at normal body temperature because the enzymes required are most active at 95 degrees.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Spermatogenesis

A

The process by which sperm forms in the testes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The cremaster muscles

A

Extensions of the abdominal muscles that descend into the scrotum on each side. When the scrotum is too cold, the cremaster muscles contract, pulling the testes nearer to the body to increase the temperature. Too warm, and the muscles relax.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where do the sperm mature after formation in the testes?

A

They mature in the epididymides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

After maturation in the epididymides, where do the sperm travel?

A

They travel into the vas deferens.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the vas deferens composed of?

A

Smooth muscle and an inner lining of ciliated mucosa.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where does the sperm travel during sexual activity?

A

The vas deferens move the sperm up around the bladder and to the ejaculatory ducts, which are connected to the seminal vesicles. The ducts push sperm out into the urethra so that it can leave the man and enter the woman for possible fertilization.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Semen

A

The mixture of secretions from the testes and other male reproductive glands that is released during sexual intercourse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Seminal vesicles

A

Two large exocrine glands that open into the ejaculatory ducts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the composition of semen.

A

A fructose-rich, slightly basic fluid mixes with the sperm to form about 60% of the semen. The prostate gland also produces a fluid that mixes with the sperm, contributing about 30% of the semen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the purpose of the fructose fluid in semen?

A

It serves as fuel for the sperm after ejaculation and is also the swimming medium for the sperm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The prostate gland

A

An exocrine gland that surrounds the urethra at the base of the urinary bladder.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of prostatic fluid?

A

It provides a swimming medium for the sperm, but its main funcion is to reduce the acidity of the vagina.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Benign prostate hypertrophy

A

A swelling of the prostate gland, which compresses the urethra, slowing the stream of urine that leaves the bladder. It also compresses the bladder and causes frequent urination.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the function of the mucus secretions of the bulbourethral glands?

A

These little glands secrete mucus early in the stage of sexual excitation. This secretion is viscous and basic, lubricating the urethra to make it easy for the semen to pass through it. It also neutralizes any acid urine that may be in the urethra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Erectile tissues

A

Vascular chambers surrounded by elastic connective tissue. When filled with blood, the erectile tissues cause the penis to enlarge and grow firm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Erection

A

The enlarged, firm state of the penis that results as the erectile tissues fill with blood.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Coitus

A

Sexual intercourse in the human (the process in which the erect penis enters the vagina.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What causes the erectile tissues to fill with blood?

A

Parasympathetic activity causes vasodilation, which increases the blood flow into the erectile tissues. At the same time, the veins leaving the tissues are compressed, so the blood is trapped in the tissues.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What stimulates the parasympathetic division to initiate an erection?

A

Stimulus can occur through touch receptors on the penis or through sexual thoughts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Emission

A

Movement of the male reproductive secretions toward the urethra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What three structures secrete fluids to aid the sperm as it travels to the egg?

A

The seminal vesicles, the prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Ejaculation

A

The movement of semen out of the urethra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the ultimate goal of meiosis?

A

The goal of meiosis is to split up the homologous pairs so that the resulting cell has only one chromosome from each pair. The resulting cells (gametes) are called haploid cells. This gives the cell one allele for every gene on the autosomal chromosomes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

A

The walls of the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

29
Q

What are the two cells that result from the mitosis of a spermatogonium?

A

One cell remains a spermatogonium and the other is a primary spermatocyte, which is the cell that will undergo meiosis.

30
Q

Describe the secondary spermatocyte.

A

This cell has only one chromosome from each homologous pair, but those chromosomes are replicated. Therefore, they have 23 replicated chromosomes.

31
Q

Describe the spermatid.

A

Each spermatid has 23 chromosomes, none of which are replicated. The spermatids have only one allele for every gene.

32
Q

What are the intermediate states of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Spermatogonia
  2. Primary spermatocyte
  3. Secondary spermatocyte
  4. Spermatid
33
Q

What are the three basic sections of the sperm?

A

The head, the midpiece, and the flagellum.

34
Q

Acrosome

A

The tip of the head of a sperm which contains digestive enzymes. This allows the sperm to digest the covering of the ovum to enter it .

35
Q

What two types of cells aid spermatogenesis?

A

Sustentacular cells (Sertoli cells) and interstitial cells (Leydig cells).

36
Q

What are the two functions of sustentacular cells?

A
  1. They form a liquid-tight enclosure called the blood-testis barrier around the developing sperm within the walls of the seminiferous tubules.
  2. They produce a hormone called inhibin.
37
Q

Why is the blood-testis barrier necessary?

A

During development, sperm can create antigens that will be attacked by the body’s immune system. So, the blood-testis barrier seals off the developing sperm so that this doesn’t happen. Because this seals off nutrients and oxygen, the sustentacular cells supply the sperm with the nutrients and oxygen they need.

38
Q

What is the function of inhibin?

A

This hormone is involved in a complex sequence of hormone secretions that ultimately control the rate of spermatogenesis.

39
Q

What is the function of interstitial cells, and where are they located?

A

They secrete testosterone and are found outside the seminiferous tubules in the testes.

40
Q

What are the two functions of testosterone that occur in the womb?

A

The formation of the male reproductive organs and the descent of the testes.

41
Q

Secondary sex characteristics

A

The characteristics that appear at puberty and tend to distinguish men from women. In the male, these include body shape, pitch of the voice, and the distribution of body hair, including growth of the beard.

42
Q

Puberty

A

A series of events that transform a child into a sexually mature adult.

43
Q

Anabolism

A

All of the synthesis reactions that occur in the body.

44
Q

Catabolism

A

All of the decomposition reactions that occur in the body.

45
Q

How does testosterone release begin?

A

It begins with the hypothalamus, which releases gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH).

46
Q

What effect does the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone have?

A

GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release the gonadotropins, which are luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

47
Q

What does luteinizing hormone stimulate?

A

LH stimulates the interstitial cells in the testes to release testosterone. The level of testosterone in the blood causes a negative feedback to the hypothalamus, which controls the secretion of GnRH.

48
Q

What does follicle stimulating hormone affect?

A

FSH affects the sustentacular cells within the seminiferous tubules, stimulating them to increase spermatogenesis.

49
Q

What are the main functions of the ovaries?

A

The ovaries produce the ovum and the major female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries contain follicles, which are tiny sacs of cells that surround and then release the developing ovum. The follicles also produce the hormones.

50
Q

What are the three layers of the uterus?

A
  1. The inner endometrium: a thick layer of vascular epithelium.
  2. The muscular myometrium: a layer of smooth muscle that has the ability to grow larger.
  3. The thin outer perimetrium: the thin outer layer that is a part of the visceral peritoneum.
51
Q

How does the ovum move from the ovary into the uterus?

A

Peristaltic movements of the smooth muscle and beating of the cilia in the uterine tubes slowly move the ovum from the ovary into the uterus.

52
Q

What are the functions of the vagina?

A

It allows for coitus and provides a canal through which the baby travels at birth.

53
Q

The cervix

A

The opening between the vagina and the uterus, a ring of smooth muscle covered with epithelium.

54
Q

What is the function of the clitoris?

A

This is the erectile tissue of the female reproductive system. It provides sexual stimulus for a woman. During sexual acts, the clitoris enlarges to increase its contact with the penis during coitus.

55
Q

Oogenesis

A

The production of haploid germ cells by the ovary.

56
Q

Ovulation

A

The release of a secondary oocyte from a mature follicle.

57
Q

Corona radiata

A

The layer of granulosa cells that stay around the secondary oocyte after its ejection from the follicle.

58
Q

Cleavage

A

The stage of fetal development in which the zygote undergoes mitosis to make more cells.

59
Q

Morula stage

A

The stage in which the developing zygote produces enough cells to form a rough sphere.

60
Q

Blastocele

A

A fluid-filled cavity formed as a result of the cells of the morula pressing against one another.

61
Q

Blastocyst

A

A hollow sphere that contains a single layer of outer cells called the trophoblast, which means feeding layer.

62
Q

Implantation

A

Burrowing of the blastocyst into the endometrium.

63
Q

What three germ layers do cells differentiate into during the gastrula stage?

A

The ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm.

64
Q

What parts of the body does the ectoderm give rise to?

A

The ectoderm produces the skin, nervous system, and some glands.

65
Q

What parts of the body does the endoderm give rise to?

A

The endoderm produces the lining of the digestive tract, the lining of the respiratory system, most glands, and the digestive accessory organs.

66
Q

What parts of the body does the mesoderm give rise to?

A

The mesoderm produces the circulatory system, muscles, and most of the bones.

67
Q

Organogenesis

A

The formation of organs in a developing embryo.

68
Q

Parturition

A

The process of childbirth.

Human Biology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions