Principles of reproductive physiology

Question 1

What is a gonad?

Answer 1

1) Testes
2) Ovaries

Question 2

What are the sex hormones?

Answer 2

1) Testosterone
2) Estrogen
3) Progesterone

Question 3

What is meant by accessory sex glands?

Answer 3

glands that produce supportive sex secretions

Question 4

What is a reproductive tract?

Answer 4

Ducts specialized in transport/housing gametes

Question 5

What are the major organs of the male reproductive tract?

Answer 5

1) Tetes (spermatogenesis and hormone production)
2) Scortum (encloses, protects, and maintains the temperature of the testes)
3) Epididymis (stores and conveys sperm cells to ductus vas deference)
4) Ductus vas deference (convey sperms to be ejaculated)

Question 6

What are the male sex accessory glands?

Answer 6

1) Seminal vesicles (provides the bulk of semes, fructose to nourish, Prostaglandins to increase motility)
2) Prostate (secretes alkaline fluid to neutralize the acidic components and enhance sperm motility)
3) Bulbourethral glands (secretes fluid that lubricates the end of the penis)

Question 7

What are the parts of the urethra?

Answer 7

1) Prostatic urethra (in the prostate)
2) Membrane urethra (after the prostate before the penis)
3) Spongy urethra (In the penis)

Question 8

What are the lobules of the testes?

Answer 8

1) Seminiferous tubules contains:
- Spermatogenic cells (spermatogonium)
- Sertoli cells (support and provide nutrients)

2) Interstitial compartment:
- Leyding cells (produces testosterone)

Question 9

Describe the process of spermatogenesis

Answer 9

• Spermatogonia (diploid) converts to sperm (haploid) in 74 days

They only mature fully when ejaculated

Question 10

What are the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis?

Answer 10

1) Testosterone (from the leyding cells which promotes the growth and division of germinal cells)

2) luteinizing hormone (From the anterior pituitary which stimulates the leyding cells to produce testosterone)

3) Follicle-stimulating hormone (From the anterior pituitary which stimulates the Sertoli cells to convert spermatids into sperm)

4) Estrogen (formed by Sertoli cells under the influence of FSH)

5) Growth hormones (it is essential for the early division of spermatogonia)

Question 11

Describe the composition of Sperms

Answer 11

1) 10% fluid % spem from vas deference
2) 60% from seminal vesicles (PG & Fructose)
3) 20-30% From prostate gland (alkaline)

• 50-120 MILLION/ML each ejaculate is around 2-5ml so 100-600million per ejaculate
• Survives up to 2 days outside body
• pH 7.35-7.50

Question 12

What are the organs of the female reproductive system?

Answer 12

1) Ovary (produces oocyte and female reproductive hormone)
2) Uterine tube (conveys secondary oocyte/embryo)
3) Uterus (protects and sustains the embryo during pregnancy)
4) Vagina (receives sperm and conveys uterine secretion outside the body)
5) External genital organs:
- Labia majora
- Labia Minora
- Clitoris

Question 13

Describe the process of oogenesis

Answer 13

• Primordial germ cells - oogonium (diploid) - primary oocyte (prophase of meiosis I “until puberty”) - first meiotic division - secondary oocyte (haploid “arrested in metaphase 2”) - second meiotic division - ovum (haploid)
• Polar bodies get rid of the extra genetic material from the oocyte

Question 14

Describe the ovarian cycle

Answer 14

• Single ovary each month, and prepares the endometrium for implantation

1) Follicular phase (12-14 days)
2) Ovulation (Day 14)
3) Luteal phase (12-14 days)

The main hormones are FSH & LH

Question 15

Describe the follicular phase

Answer 15

1) Growth of follicles
2) Proliferation of granulosa cells and secretion of gel-like covering (Zona Pellucida)
3) Secretion of estrogen
4) Graffin follicle

Question 16

What is the main hormone of the follicular stage?

Answer 16

Estrogen

Question 17

Describe the Ovulation process

Answer 17

1) Release of oocyte
2) LH surge causes ovulation
3) First meiotic division
4) Progesterone secretion
5) LH & FSH convert the granulosa & thecal cells into progesterone-secreting cells

Question 18

Describe the luteal phase

Answer 18

1) Formation of corpus luteum (from remnants of theca and granulosa follicles)
2) Secretion of mainly estrogen and progesterone to maintain pregnancy

Question 19

Describe the endometrial cycle

Answer 19

1) Proliferative phase (11 days)
2) Secretory phase (12 days)
3) Menstrual phase (5 days, progesterone and estrogen decreases, vasospasm of endometrium BV, normally 40ml of blood and 35ml of serous fluid is lost)

The main regulators are estrogen (causes the proliferation of epithelial cells, glands, and BV) and progesterone

they also increase lipid and glycogen deposition in stromal cells for the preparation of implantation during the secretory phase

Question 20

The peak of hormones in order

Answer 20

1) FSH mainly (follicular/proliferative phase)
2) Estrogen + LH (LH = secretion of egg)
3) Progesterone is the highest (menstrual/luteal phase)

Question 21

What regulates the level of FSH?

Answer 21

Inhibin produced by granulosa cells (main producers of estrogen and progesterone)