Reproduction Flashcards
Role of Ovaries
Secrete oestrogen and progesterone
Role of testosterone
Controls the development of male secondary sexual characters and aid sperm production
Role of pituitary gland
Releases LH and FSH
What is release of LH and FSH controlled by?
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), which is released by the hypothalamus
3 main steps of gametogenesis
Proliferation of germ cells
Meiosis
Maturation
Temperature for spermatogenesis
Slightly lower than body temperature
What are the seminal vesicles?
Fructose
Prostaglandin
What is the role of the seminal vesicles?
Provides 60% of semen volume
Secretes fibrinogen
Role of the prostate
Secretes alkaline fluid & citric acid
Provides clotting enzymes & PSA
Role of bulbourethral gland
Produces mucus like substance
Male accessory sex glands
Seminal vesicles
Prostate
Bulbourethral gland
How many seminiferous tubules are in each testing?
400-600
What are the testes mostly made of?
seminiferous tubules
How many spermatozoa do the semiferous tubules produce per day?
100 million
Walls of the seminiferous tubules
Contain primitive germ cells which mature and move to the lumen
Where do the seminiferous tubules drain into?
The head of the epididymis and then the vas deferens
What cells are found in between the seminiferous tubules?
Leydig or interstitial cells
Role of leydig and interstital cells
Produce testosterone by LH
Sertoli cells
Support cells in the seminiferous tubules
Regulators for spermatogenesis
Glycogen rich
How long does spermatogenesis take?
74 days
What do primitive germ cells mature into?
Primary spermatocytes
What happens to the primary spermatocytes?
Undergo meiosis, dividing into secondary spermatocytes and then spermatids
What do spermatids mature into?
Spermatozoa
Number of spermatids formed from a single spermatogonium
512
When do spermatozoa acquire mobility?
Forward motility is acquired in the epididymis and involves protein activation
What is the primary oocyte surrounded by?
Follicular cells
Role of oestrogen
Controls the development of secondary sexual characters
Role of progesterone
Stimulating uterine changes during the menstrual cycle
Affecting the breast tissue development
What makes oestrogen in oogenesis?
Granulosa cells
Theca interna
What happens on the 14th day of the cycle?
The follicle ruptures, releasing the ovum (ovulation)
What happens just before ovulation?
The first meiotic division is completed
When does the second meiotic division begin and end?
The secondary oocyte (ovum) immediately begins the second meiotic division once it is released
It stops at metaphase and is only completed when a sperm enters the oocyte
Where are the fallopian tubes located?
Extend from the uterus to the ovaries
Where does fertilization occur?
Fallopian tube
What do the fallopian tubes contain to help move the egg?
Cilia
Fimbrae
Located on the ends of cilia
Catch the egg as it leaves during ovulation
Uterus
Thick muscular sac at the front of the pelvic cavity
Where is the uterus located?
Just behind the urinary bladder
Vagina
Muscular tube leading from the vaginal orifice to the uterus
Vulva
External organs of the female which are found surrounding the openings of the urethra and the vagina
How long is the oocyte viable for?
12-24 hrs
What triggers 2nd meiotic division?
Sperm contact with egg membrane
Morula
Ball of approx 64 cells
Totipotent cells
