Reproduction Flashcards
what is the Epididymis
the area where the sperm matures (coiled tubes), after which they move to the ductus (vas) deferens
Where are the testes and why
outside the abdominal cavity in scrotum, for sperm to be viable the testes must descend to keep temperature below body temp
where is sperm produced
inside tubes called the seminiferous tubules
what other cells are inside the testes and what do they produced
interstitial cells which produce male sex hormones like testosterone and androgens
where do maturing sperm move to
the epididymis
what is the Ductus (vas) deferens
the area where sperm is stores, leads to the urethra, long tube from epididymis to urethra
what are the seminal vesicles
2 small glands
joins the ductus (vas) deferens at the bas of the bladder
what do the seminal vesicles make
seminal fluid (about 60%)
creates a slightly basic (pH 7.5) fluid, high in fructose, amino acids, prostaglandins, and buffers
what is prostaglandins
hormones that cause contractions of the vagina to help move sperm
what is the prostate gland
a gland found around the urethra which contributes to alkaline solutions
what is Cowper’s or Bulbourethral gland
a gland that adds to seminal fluid, 2 glands, secretes alkaline fluid to neutralize urine in urethra
what makes up semen
seminal fluid and sperm
what is seminal fluid
a fluid that is basic, contains fructose (sugar) to prove energy for sperm swimming, and prostaglandins a hormones that causes mild contractions in uterus to help sperm move towards egg
what is the urethra
a tube that serves as a double purpose for semen and urine but never at the same time
Semen expelled by rhythmic muscular contractions -> male orgasm
what does the penis do
becomes erect (due to compression of blood vessels) and hard to allow semen to be deposited in the vagina near the cervix
what is the path of sperm
testes - produce sperm
Epididymis - stores and matures sperm
Ductus (vas) deferens - sperm enters
Past the Prostate gland - contribues to alkaline fluid but no sperm travels hers
Urethra - sperm released
what are the functions of the seminal fluid
lubricates the vagina
provide energy for swimming sperm (fructose)
stimulate mild contractions of the vagina (prostaglandins (hormones) )
buffers to counteract acidity in vagina and uterus (sodium bicarbonate)
what is the concentration of sperm in semen
north of 400 million sperm in 3.5 mL of semen
what is the head of sperm called, and what does it contain
the acrosome which contains enzymes necessary for penetration of female egg surface, contains 23 chromosomes
what does the mid piece of sperm contain
mitochondria for energy of the tail
describe the structure of sperm’s tail
same structure as flagella “9 + 2 microtubules arrangements for movement”
what is the major hormone of the male
testosterone
what does testosterone do
essential for development
essential for development and function of male sex organs
maturation of sperm
secondary hair (facial, pubic, etc) impact on baldness
deepens voice (affects larynx and cords)
Increases muscle mass
increases aggression
what controls testosterone level
the hypothalamus and gonadotrophic hormones from the ant pituitary gland
remains relatively constant due to negative feedback loop
describe the loop that affects testosterone levels and sperm productions
Hypothalamus monitors levels, uses gonadotrophin releasing hormone to communicate to ant. pit gland, which releases LH and FSH, which trigger the testes to produce testosterone through interstitial cells, and sperm through the seminiferous tubules.
What is FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (sperm production)
What is LH
Luteinizing hormone (testosterone production)
what are the 6 steps of the ovarian cycle
1) primary follicle contains oocyte and begins producing estrogen
2) secondary follicle contains primary oocyte and produces estrogen and progesterone
3) Vesicular follicle develops
4) Ovulation, secondary oocyte (egg) gets released
5) corpus luteum produces estrogen and progesterone
6) Corpus luteum degenerates
what are the 2 functions of the ovaries
1) produce eggs from follicles (burst from ovary)
2) Produces estrogen (from follicles) and Progesterone (from corpus luteum)
What are the Fallopian tubes also know as
Oviducts
What is ovulation
when an egg bursts from an ovary and enters oviduct
describe the Fallopian tubes
tubes that connect to the uterus and lei close to ovaries
lined with cilia and surrounded with circular muscles
what are fimbriae and what do they do
finger like projections at the end of Fallopian tubes that sweep over ovaries and collect the eggs into the tubes
what are the two purposes of the fallopian tubes
to propel egg towards uterus
to serve as site of fertilization
how often are eggs produced and what happens if they are not fertilized
1 egg a month which lass 6-24 hours unless fertilized
describe the uterus
a thick walled, muscular lining - pear shaped
lined with a layer called the endometrium
site of development of the embryo
what does the endometrium do
helps form the placenta
describe the cervix
entrance to uterus
path for sperm to swim through
produces mucin stands to facilitate sperm
also holds baby in uterus
describe the vagina
the birth canal
receptacle for male’s penis
exit for mental flow
describe the clitoris
sensitive organ analog to males penis
responsible for stimulating female orgasm
no reproductive function
what do follicle stimulating hormones do in females
stimulates the follicle to mature within ovary and causes it to produce estrogen
what do leutinizing hormones do in females
maintains the corpus luteum and causes it to produce progesterone
what is the corpus luteum
a gland like structure that degenerates after 10 days if no pregnancy occurs
produces progesterone
what are gonadotrophin hormones
FSH and LH, regulate ovary production of female sex hormones
what do estrogen and progesterone do
act on the endometrium (uterus lining)
maintain the sexual organs and the secondary sex characteristics and exert feedback control over the hypothalamus and ant pit gland
describe the feedback loop that affects estrogen and progesterone production
hypothalamus triggers Ant pit gland to release FSH and Lh which stimulate ovary to price estrogen through the follicles and progesterone through the corpus luteum
Feedback control is more complicated then male and doesn’t maintain homeostasis so levels vary
what is the ovarian cycle
the development of vesicular follicle, ovulation, development of corpus luteum
1 egg a month
what is the menstrual cycle
a 28 day cycle where the endometrium (uterine lining) builds up and breaks down during menstruation
what is the first 14 days of the ovarian cycle
the follicular phase
when FSH released from the ant pit gland stimulates the development of a follicle (unfertilized egg), the follicle begins secreting estrogen so the level of estrogen steadily increase
what happens around 14 days in the ovarian cycle
Ovulation - the follicle releases egg (LH pens from ant pit stimulation)
what is the 15 through 28 days of the ovarian cycle
Luteal phase
follicle turns into corpus luteum
LH from ant pit stimulates the production of progesterone
as progesterone increase ant pit decrease LH so corpus luteum begins to degenerate
when corpus luteum is gone menstruation occurs
what happens in the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle
low levels of estrogen and progesterone cause thickened uterine lining to degenerate and shed menstruation (period)
what happens in the 6th-13th days of the menstrual cycle
the proliferation phase
estrogen from follicle is increasing which causes a thickening of the uterus wall (endometrium)
extra blood vessels and glands
what happens around day 14 of the menstrual cycle
ovulation
happens between the 15-28 days of the menstrual cycle
secretory phase
increased levels or progesterone cause endometrium to thicken further (2x) and thick mucous secretion
endometrium is ready to receive fertilized egg (zygote)
what happens at the end of the menstrual cycle if the egg is not fertilized
The corpus luteum begins to degenerate therefor progesterone falls
low progesterone and estrogen cause endometrium to be shed menstruation occurs
what happens if pregnancy occurs after the menstrual cycle
the zygote (fertilized egg) imbeds in the thick endometrium and prevents the corpus luteum from degenerating. This keeps progesterone levels up and prevents the endometrium and zygote from being shed
what marks the beginning of pregnancy
Implantation
what happens during implantation
the fertilized egg attacks to the endometrium (uterus wall) several days after fertilization
hormones are produced by the zygote to prevent menstruation
what is HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, a hormone which maintains the corpus luteum which continues to produce progesterone which prevents the endometrium from shedding. Pregnancy tests test for this hormone
how long does the corpus luteum persist for after implantation
3-6 months
what do the endometrium and fetus develop
the placenta and organ of exchange between the maternal and fetal blood systems
what does the placenta do
it continues production of HCG and progesterone + estrogen. Higher levels of those hormones (progesterone and estrogen) shut off release of FSH from ant pit gland which prevents ovulation and maintains the endometrium
when has the placenta developed enough to not need the corpus luteum
by the 10th week, when it is capable of producing the hormones
what does estrogen affect
egg maturation
growth of vagina and uterus at puberty
pubic hair
fat development and distribution
widening of pelvic girdle
breast development
menopause - when both cycles end at 45-55 years of age (leads to heat flashed, dizziness, headaches, and sadness)
what is oxytocin
a hormone released by the post pit gland. begins and controls birth contractions (also involved in milk letdown response in breast feeding)
under control of positive feedback loop
describe the positive feedback loop of oxytocin
a rare example of positive feed back, where each trigger leads to increasing instability
oxytocin trigger birth contractions which triggers release of more oxytocin
what are the three steps of the birth process
- dilation of cervix (1-10cm)
- water breaks (amniotic sac with fluid breaks) - brith - labour and delivery
- After birth - placental comes out
what are zoomastigina
Zoomastigina: Animal like protists with flagella
- have flagella, and so are called flagellates
- no shells or cell walls, absorbed food
- mainly use binary fission but can use meiosis to very genetics
what are Chrysophyta
Chrysophyta: Golden Protists
- contain green, brown algae and diatoms
- have gold and green protists
- have proteins walls not cellulose
- very diverse
- 2000 are diatoms and have silicon or glass like walls, photosynthetic
