Reproduction Flashcards
What is viviparity?
Giving birth to live young, with internalized embryonic development
What are the basic features of reproduction in the three lineages of mammals?
Monotremes - single functioning ovary
Marsupials - basic placenta and brief gestation
Eutherians - advanced placenta and longer gestation
What is the baculum?
Penis bone, a calcified bone that aids in intromission
What is unique about the marsupial penis?
It is bifid - in two halves as females have a double vagina
What is unique about the echidna penis?
It is bifid with four rosettes
What is the function of epithelial spines?
Remove competitors sperm from vaginas
What are the key features of metatherian reproduction?
Two separate uteri and two vaginas, with a third pseudovaginal canal for birth
What are the key features of monotreme reproduction?
Ovaries lead to separate uteri, leading down the urogenital sinus to a single cloaca
What are the features of a duplex uterus?
Two separate uteri, two cervixes. Found in rodents
What are the features of a bipartate uterus?
Two separate stems to the uterus, but a single cervix
What are the features of a bicornuate uterus?
Two stems leading to the uterus
What are the features of a simplex uterus?
Higher primates, human anatomy
What is reproductive delay?
Sperm storage - viable sperm is stored until the time is right for conception e.g. male stoats raping babies, bats hibernate with sperm heads embedded in the uterus
What is the Bruce Effect?
Females will abort in the presence of strange males
What are the three stages of metatherian lactation?
Mammogenesis (preparation of the mammary glands), early lactogenesis (lactation during permanent attachment stage), late lactogenesis (after detachment of the young)
