Module 7: Assessment- Reproductive System

Question 1

Structures and Functions of
Reproductive Systems

Answer 1

Primary (essential) organs
 Secrete hormones
 Produce gametes (ova and sperm)
* Female gonads: ovaries
* Male gonads: testes

Secondary (accessory) organs
 Transport and nourish ova and sperm
 Preserve and protect fertilized ova

Question 2

3 Main Roles of Male Reproductive System

Answer 2

3 main roles:
 Production and transportation of sperm
 Deposition of sperm in female reproductive tract
 Secretion of hormones

Question 3

Testes

Answer 3

Testes
 Ovoid, smooth, firm organs lie within the loose
protective scrotal sac
 Seminiferous tubules form spermatozoa
 Spermatogenesis is the process of sperm production
 Interstitial cells that lie between seminiferous tubules
and produce male sex hormone testosterone

Ducts transport sperm from testes to outside of body
through:
 Epididymis transports sperm as they mature—exit
through ductus deferens
 Ejaculatory duct passes downward through prostate
gland, connecting with urethra
 Urethra extends from bladder, through prostate, ends
in slit-like opening (meatus)

Glands produce and secrete semen
 Seminal vesicles form part of ejaculatory ducts that
enter prostate
 Prostate gland lies beneath bladder and is in contact
with rectal wall
 Cowper’s glands lie on each side of urethra
 Secretions make up most of fluid in ejaculate and
create an alkaline, nutritious medium

External male genitalia consists of penis and
scrotum
 Penis consists of shaft and glans (tip)
 Prepuce is the foreskin at the junction of the shaft and
glans
 Shaft consists of erectile tissue and urethra

Question 4

3 Roles of Female Reproductive System

Answer 4

3 roles
 Production of ova
 Secretion of hormones
 Protection and facilitation of development of fetus in
pregnant female

Question 5

Ovaries

Answer 5

Pelvic organs
 Ovaries
* Responsible for ovulation, which diminishes throughout life of a woman (atresia)
* Secretion of two major reproductive hormones:
estrogen and progesterone

Question 6

Pelvic Organs

Answer 6

Pelvic organs
 Fallopian tubes
* Transports ovum toward uterus, facilitating fertilization or implantation
* Fimbriae are fingerlike projections at distal ends of
fallopian tubes that help extract mature ovum
* Average 4.8 in (12 cm) in length

Pelvic organs
 Vagina
* Tubular structure 3 to 4 in long
* Lined with squamous epithelium
* Secretions of cervical mucus, desquamated epithelium, and a watery secretion during sexual stimulation

Uterus found between bladder and rectum
 Consists of fundus, body, cervix
 Vagina is a tubular structure
 Pelvis consists of four bones held together by
ligaments

External genitalia (vulva)
 Mons pubis
* Labia majora
* Labia minora
 Vestibule
 Clitoris
 Skene’s and Bartholin’s glands

Breasts
 Secondary sex characteristic that develop in
response to presence of estrogen and progesterone
 Subject to cyclic hormonal changes
 Extend from second to sixth ribs
* Tail of Spence is the upper outer quadrant into axilla
* Areola is the pigmented, dome shaped center

Question 7

Neuroendocrine Regulation of
Reproductive System

Answer 7

FSH
 Stimulates production of ova or sperm
LH
 Contributes to maturation of ova or sperm
* Role of progesterone in menstrual cycle in females
* Triggers testosterone production in male

Progesterone
 Maintains rich vascular state in uterus
 Needed to maintain implanted ovum
 Involved in bodily changes during pregnancy

Estrogen
 Essential to development and maintenance of
secondary sex characteristics, proliferative phase
of menstrual cycle, uterine changes in pregnancy
 Made by ovaries in females, adrenal cortices in
males
 Testosterone made by testes
 Responsible for development and maintenance of
secondary sex characteristics

Question 8

Menarche

Answer 8

Menarche
 First episode of menstrual bleeding
 Indicates puberty has been reached
 Usually occurs at 12 to 13 years of age
* May occur as early as 10 years of age
 Anovulatory cycles cause irregular menstrual cycles
for 1 to 2 years after menarche

Question 9

Menstrual Cycle

Answer 9

Menstrual cycle
 Proliferative or follicular phase
 Secretory or luteal phase
 Menstrual or ischemic phase

Menopause
 Physiologic cessation of menses
 Associated with declining ovarian function
 Complete after 1 year of amenorrhea (absence of
menstruation)

Question 10

Sexual Response

Answer 10

Complex interplay of psychologic and
physiologic phenomena
 Influenced by several variables such as stress,
illness
 Similar for males and females
 Excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution
phases

Question 11

Male Sexual Response

Answer 11

Excitement phase
 Stimulated from numerous sympathetic,
parasympathetic, and pudendal nerve endings
 Large venous sinuses in erectile tissue of penis
becomes congested with blood, resulting in erection
 Tautness facilitates vaginal insertion

Plateau phase
 Erection is maintained
 Slight increase in vasocongestion results in a small
increase in diameter
 Increase in testicle size
 Glans penis may become reddish-purple

Orgasmic phase
 Ejaculation
* Contraction of musculature that propels sperm outward through meatus
 Orgasm
* Characterized by rapid release of vasocongestion and
muscular tension through rhythmic contractions
* Occurs primarily in penis, prostate gland, and seminal
vesicles

Resolution phase
 Involution of penis
* Gradual return to its unstimulated, flaccid state
* Sinuses hold only a small amount of blood
* Skin becomes loose again

Question 12

Female Sexual Response

Answer 12

Excitation phase
 Similar to changes that occur in male during
excitation
 Clitoris becomes congested
 Vaginal lubrication increases
* Cervical, Bartholin’s gland, and vaginal wall secretion

Plateau phase
 Vagina expands, and uterus is elevated
 Orgasmic phase
 Slight relaxation of cervical os
 Muscular tension rapidly released through rhythmic
contractions in clitoris, vagina, and uterus

Resolution phase
 Organs return to their preexcitation state
 Females do not have to go through resolution
(refractory recovery state) before they can be
orgasmic again
 Females can be multiorgasmic without resolution
between orgasms

Question 13

Gerontologic Considerations
Effects of Aging on Reproductive
Systems

Answer 13

Females
 Altered estrogen production associated with
menopause are responsible for many changes
* Decreased circulating estrogen and other sex steroids
* Breast and genital atrophy
* Reduced bone mass
* Increased rate of atherosclerosis

Males
 Testosterone levels decline in males as they age
 Physical, psychologic, sexual manifestations are
gradual
* Increased prostate size
* Decreased sperm production, scrotal muscle tone, size and firmness of testicles
* Erectile and sexual problems may occur

Men and women
 Sexual practices can be affected
* Gradual change in sexual response
* Negative social attitude toward sexuality in older adults
 You play a vital role
* Provide accurate and unbiased information
* Emphasize normality of sexual activity

Question 14

Diagnostic Studies of
Reproductive Systems

Answer 14

Urine and blood studies
 Measure and help detect many problems including:
* Ovarian function, syphilis, gonadal function, pregnancy, infertility, menstrual irregularities, causes of amenorrhea, ↓ libido/impotence, prostate cancer, testicular cancer/anomalies

Cultures, smears, and nucleic acid amplification
tests
 Measure and help detect
* Syphilitic lesions, vaginal abnormalities, gonorrhea,
Chlamydia, trichomoniasis

Cytologic studies
 Papanicolaou (Pap) test
 Nipple discharge test

Radiologic studies
 Mammography
 Ultrasound (US) of breasts, pelvis, testes
 Ultrasound-guided biopsy
 CT scan of pelvis
 MRI

Question 15

Invasive Reproductive Procedures

Answer 15

Invasive procedures
 Hysteroscopy
 Hysterosalpingogram
 Colposcopy
 Conization
 Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
 Culdotomy
 Culdoscopy and culdocentesis
 Laparoscopy
 Dilation and curettage (D and C