Module 20 Flashcards
Monotremes
The way reptiles, and some mammels, reproduce through egg-laying.
Anatomical Features of the Male
- Testes
- Ducts
- Accessory sex glands
- Urethra (shared between urinary and reproductive systems
- Penis (shared between reproductive and urinary systems)
Anatomical Features of the Female
- Ovaries
- Uterine (fallopian) tubes
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Accessory sex glands
- Vagina
Functions of the Male Reproductive System
- Testes produce sperm
- Testes produce testosterone
- Ducts transport, store, and assist in maturation of sperm
- Accessory sex glands secrete bulk of seminal fluid
- Penis encloses urethra as passageway for excretion of urine
- Penis and urethra are used to introduce semen into female by coitus and ejaculation.
Functions of the Female Reproductive System
- Ovaries produce oocytes
- Ovaries produce progesterone, estrogens, inhibin, and relaxin
- Uterine (fallopian) tubes transport oocyte to the uterus.
- Uterine tube is site of fertilization
- Uterus is site of implantation of fertilized ovum and supports development of fetus.
- Accessory sex glands secrete fluid during coitus
- Vagina receives penis during coitus
- Cervix and vagina are passageways for childbirth.
Spermatazoa
Spermatazoa are produced in the hundreds of millions; a single one is called a spermatozoon. They are produced in the testes, mature in the epididymis, then, upon demand, travel through ducts to be ejaculated from the urethra of the penis.
Scrotum
The scrotum supports and encloses the testes. It has 2 muscles:
- dartos: subcutaneous surrounds sac
- cremaster: in spermatic cord
Testes
Testes make a continuous supply of sperm.
- spermatogenic cells make sperm
- Sertoll (sustenfacular) cells support spermatogenesis
Testes also secrete testosterone and other androgens
- Leydig (interstitial) cells
Ducts and Accessory Glands for the Male
- Ductus deferens carries sperm from seminiferous tubules to prostate
- There, prostate and seminal vesicles add secretions and the mixture is dumped into urethra
- Bulbourethral glands add secretions just prior to ejaculation.
Penis
Erectile tissue consists of sponge-like venous passages which fill up with congested blood to make the penis erect
- Corpora cavernosa (right and left)
- Corpus sponglosum
Urethra passes sperm or urine
Uncircumcised men have prepuce (“foreskin”) covering glans.
Gamete production and Transport
- Gametes are critical for sexual reproduction
- Male gametes + female gametes = new member of the species
- Male gametes (spermatazoa) produced in the testes, matured in the epididymis, travel through ductus deferens and urethra to be ejaculated into the female.
- There, fertilization joins male and female gametes.
Sperm Path through Male
Spermatazoa takes a complicated path to ejaculation:
- Released into lumen of seminiferous tubules of testes
- Mature in epididymis, wait for ejaculation
- Upon sexual stimulation leading to ejaculation, travel via ductus deferens (secretion from bulbourethral glands prepares urethra
- Critical fluids from seminal vesicles and prostate added
- Ejaculated through the urethra of erect penis.
Spermatogenesis 1: A Spermatozoon is Born
- Spermatogonia are the stem cells. These cells divide at the basement membrane
- Gametes mature progressively as they move from basement membrane to lumen
1. Speratogonia
2. Primary spermatocytes
3. Secondary spermatocytes
4. Early spermatids
5. Late spermatids
6. Spermatazoa (sperm cells)
Spermatoazoa on the Move
Sperm are the only cells in the human body with flagellae. This allows them to be motile. Spermatazoon is basically a “missle” (mitochondria for rocket fuel + flagellum) with a “payload” of paternal DNA.
Spermatogenesis 2: The Waiting Room
- After being produced in seminiferous tubules of testes, spermatazoa move to rete testes and cross imaginary border into the epididymis.
- In epididymis, pass through efferent ducts to ductus epididymis.
- Ductus epididymis is where sperm wait up to 14 days to mature. During maturation, they acquire mobility and ability to fertilize ovum
- Smooth muscle layer surrounding epididymis responds to sexual arousal by contracting, expelling sperm
Spermatogenesis 3: The Tubes
Upon leaving the epididymis, the spermatazoa are forced into the ductus deferens
- Meanwhile, the bulbourethral glands secrete a small amount of alkaline fluid to lubricate and buffer the pH of the urethra.
- The ductus meets the urethra at the prostate. Secretions from the seminal vesicles and prostate are added here.
- Now the fluid is semen
Speratogenesis 4: Ejaculation
- Ejaculation is a sympathetic reflex coordinated by lumbar spinal cord
- Internal urethral sphincter closes to prevent leakage of urine and backflow of sperm
- Peristaltic waves in epididymis, ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory ducts, and prostate
- Contractions of muscles at root of penuis
bulbosponglosus
ischlocavemosus
superficial transverse perineus - Emission results
Semen Facts
- About 2.5 to 5 mL of semen in the average ejaculation. - About 100 million (10^8) spermatazoa per mL. (below 20 million mL is usually defined as male infertility)
- Slightly alkaline: pH 7.2-7.7. This neutralizes the acidity of the male urethra and the female vagina
- Clots about 5 minutes after ejaculation. No one knows why. Has different clotting proteins than blood
- After another 10-20 minutes, it reliquifies. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is one of the anti-clotting agents.
Seminal Fluids
Seminal fluid contributes nutrients, buffering, and fluid medium for delivery of ejaculate.
- Seminal vesicles contribute pH, fructose, prostaglandins (fructose is the major nutrient which powers sperm motility)
- prostate contributes zinc. citrate, and the enzyme acid phosphates (used in forensic testing) Prostate also gives a milky quality.
Oocytes
Gametes are produced in the ovaries. The uterine tubes (fallopian tubes) convey the gamete (an ovum) from the ovaries to the uterus (Latin: womb).
- If fertilization occurs, implantation in the uterine wall will follow.
- If no fertilization occurs, then the uterine lining and ovum/embryo are flushed out of the uterus by the process of menstruation.
Ectopic Pregnancy
When an ovum implants in any place other than the uterus. (Example: the uterine tubes) It’s a life threatening condition for both mother and child.
Function of the Female Reproductive Organs
Ovary: stores and matures eggs. Secrets estrogen. Another name for ovary is oophor (Greek: producing)
Uterine Tubes: Conduct egg from overy to uterus. The usual site of conception. Also called fallopian tubes (Greek: Trumpet)
Uterus: Site for embryo implantation. Also called hystero (Greek: womb)
Vagina: Muscular opening to permit insertion of penis. Flexible channel for childbirth.
Vulva: External opening (Introitus) for reproduction. External urethral orifice allows urination.
Follicular Development
In general, the female reproductive years lie between menarche (the time of first menstruation) and menopause (the time of last menstruation).
- Prescursors to the ova undergo their last cell division before birth and remain in a quiescent state as primary oocytes until after menarche.
- Under the influence of pituitary hormones, and hormonal feedback from ovaries, one of the follicles surrounding a primary oocyte begins to change.
- Granulosa cells surround the primary oocyte and the follicle is now called a primary follicle.
- Later, fluid fill pocket develops. As soon as it does, the follicle is then called a secondary follicle.
- Finally, when fluid predominates, the follicle is called a mature follicle, or Graafian follice. This name indicates that the follicle is due to rupture, a process called ovulation.
The Follicular Cycle and Oocyte Formation
Confusingly, the stages for the oocyte and the follicle are called by the same names (primary, secondary) but they’re not the same thing. So, we have a primary oocyte sitting in a secondary follicle.
The hormones released are luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH). They are secreted by the anterior pituitary as a response of the hypothalamus secreting gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH).
FSH is released early in the menstrual cycle and promotes the maturation of a primary follicle into a secondary follicle, then to a mature follicle.
Hormones control the follicular cycle, the follicular cycle controls hormones.
Rupture of the Mature Follicle
In response to a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) once a month, the mature follicle ruptures and releases a secondary oocyte
Follicular Development Steps in the Ovary
- Primordial follicle
- Primary follicle
- Secondary follicle
- Mature (Graafian) follicle: about 2 cm diameter
- Ovulation - secondary oocyte expelled
- Corpus luteum
- Degenerating corpus luteum
- Corpus albicans (scar tissue)
- Secondary and mature follicles secrete estrogens
- After follicle ruptures and secondary oocyte is released, the follicle becomes filled with a yellowish waxy substance called corpus luteum. (Latin: yellow body)
- The corpus luteum secretes progesterone and estrogens to maintain the lining of the uterus to prepare the body for implantation.
- In any case, after about 14 days, the corpus luteum “burns out” and no longer secretes hormones and becomes a corpus albicans (white body), a knot of scar tissue.
Gamete Production and Transport in the Female at Release of Secondary Oocyte.
The female gamete is the ovum
- Secondary oocyte released from ovary at ovulation
- Swept up by fimbriae of uterine tube
- Oocyte may encounter sperm in uterine tube
- If it does, the secondary oocyte undergoes division to form ovum
- If spermatozoon and ovum unite, zygote is formed.
- Zygote travels to uterus where it implants.
Histology of Uterine Wall
The uterine layers are named from Greek: “metra” meaning “womb”
Endometrium: nearest the lumen and has 3 layers
1. simple columnar epithelium
2. stratum functionalis
3. stratum basalis
The stratum functionalis is shed monthly in the menstural cycle. Also contains glands.
Myometrium: muscular layer, very thick
Perimetrium: Serosa
Blood Supply of the Uterus
Understanding blood supply of the uterus is essential for understanding of menstrual cycle and implantation of embryo.
- Internal iliac arteries to uterine arteries to arcuate arteries to radial arteries
- Radial arteries branch into spiral arterioles (to stratum functionalis) and straight arterioles (to stratum basalis)
- Venous drainage: uterine veins to internal iliac VV.
Blood Supply of the Uterus During the Uterine Cycle of Menstruation
- Spiral arterioles supply stratum functionalis
- Stratum functionalis is shed during menstrual cycle
- Arterioles and venules of stratum functionalis are shed with endometrium during menstruation, then regrow from stratum basalis during proliferative phase.
The Uterine Cycle
- Complete loss of stratum functionalis during menstruation
- Stratum functionalis rebuilt during proliferative phase
- During secretory phase, glands of endometrium proliferate and endometrium becomes a secretory organ as well as “potting soil” for zygote.
The amount of menstrual flow varies widely. The average is 36 mL per cycle; more than 80 mL is considered menorrhagia, or abnormal bleeding.
Correlation of Ovarian and Uterine Cycles
- Early in the menstrual cycle, during the last half of menstruation and at the beginning of endometrial proliferaion, FSH released from anterior pituitary causes one lucky primordial follicle in one ovary to start developing. It then becomes a primary follicle because it was stimulated by follicle stimulating hormone. As blood levels of FSH remain high, the primary follicle develops into a secondary follicle
- The maturing follicle in turn secretes estrogens to help maintain growth and development of stratum functionalis of the endometrium. At midpoint, 14 weeks, burst of FSH and LH trigger ovulation
- Ruptured follicle becomes a corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine organ that secretes progesterone and estrogens. These support endometrium while it awaits for implantation.
- If no implantation occurs, low progesterone, estrogen, LH, and FSH levels allow the shedding of the endometrium - menstruation.
Inhibin and Relaxin
- Inhibin: inhibits the release of FSH (mostly) and LH (somewhat) from anterior pituitary.
- Relaxin: secreted by corpus luteum, relaxes smooth muscle of the uterus. It also plays a key role in childbirth (parturition) by dilating the cervix and increasing flexibility in the pubic symphysis.
Development of Internal Reproductive Organs
All 5wk embryos start out with indifferent gender. Sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene on Y chromosome leads to development of male gonads and genitalia.
Errors in this process:
- classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (0.008%)
- androgen insensitivity syndrome (0.008%)
- “true” hermaphrodites (0.001%)
- Total about 50,000 in USA