reproduction Flashcards
What is the testis?
gonad (sexual gland) in male or female
When does testicular descent occur?
during gestational development
What are the testis and epididymis (duct) anteriorly anchored by?
the diaphragmatic (cranial) ligaments
What are the testis and epididymis (duct) posteriorly anchored by?
the Gubernaculum testis
What happens to the testis as the body grows?
Hint - GDT through the tunnel
- gubernaculum shrinks
- diaphragmatic ligament and gubernaculum degenerate
- testes descend through inguinal canal
How often do positional defects in the testes occur and what can they include?
(Hint - crypto something)
- around 2%
- cryptorchidism (absence of 1-2 testes from scrotum)
What can positional defects cause?
Hint - obvious, the big C and clinical anatomy
- reduced fertility
- increased risk of testes related tumours
- increased susceptibility to inguinal hernias
What is the penis composed of?
- root
- shaft
- head and neck
Where in the penis does the urethra run?
throughout
opens into ducts via accessory organs
Where is the base/root of the penis attached?
Hint - which hip bone?
below pubic symphysis
How is the the crura of corpora attached to the penis?
via ligament to bone
What are the corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum and what do they surround?
erectile tissues – both surround the urethra
What do the bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands secrete?
Hint - gallbladder of reproductive system and promoting smoothness
alkaline mucus to lubricate and neutralise urinary acids
What do preputial glands produce?
Hint - PREPUtial glands
a waxy secretion (smegma) between prepuce (foreskin) and glans pubis
Which 3 components make up the head of the penis?
Hint - PEG
- prepuce (foreskin)
- glans penis
- external meatus
State the 3 stages of the erection process.
Hint - vasodilator compound, increase then decrease
- NO causes vasodilation in deep penile arteries
- increased blood flow into corpora cavernosa (blood filling erectile tissue)
- compression of veins so reduced venous blood flow by constriction
What type of process is erection?
Hint - the less common one like oxytocin
+VE feedback mechanism
What are the testes?
hint - shape and number
paired, oval structures
What is the tunica albuginea?
thick wall which encloses cavity divided by septa
What does each cavity dividing the septa in the tunica albuginea contain?
(Hint - Septa and Tunica albuginea)
seminiferous tubules (s. tubules)
Describe the movement of the sperm starting from the s. tubules.
(Hint - SREE and no. 3 is something external)
S. tubules into chamber →rete testis (anastomosing network of tubules) → efferent ducts → epididymis.
Within the epididymis through which different sections does sperm travel?
(Hint - 3 Cs of sperm traveling, no. 1 sounds like Cahoot)
caput → corpus → cauda
Which structure binds the epididymis to the testis and what is it involved in?
(Hint - gonad in males and females)
- the tunica vaginalis
- involved in sperm maturation
Via which structure do sperm leave the urethra?
Hint - the one which comes before in the alphabet
ductus deferens
What do the prostate gland and seminal vesicles empty into?
the urethra
Why is hormonal-based therapy given for prostate cancer?
prostate gland is androgen-dependent
What are the extra-tubular histological features of the testis?
(Hint - LIMB)
- interstitial cells
- leydig cells
- macrophages
- blood vessels
What are the tubular histological features of the testis?
Hint - SPF
- peritubular cells
- fibroblasts
- SM cells (peristalsis of tubule)
What are the intra-tubular histological features of the testis?
(Hint - 5 variations of S; Brinkworth lectures)
- spermatogonia (outside blood-testis barrier)
- sertoli cells (somatic)
- spermatocytes
- spermatids
- spermatozoa
Which part of the tubule are sertoli cells attached to?
Hint - like nurses in NHS
base of tubule
Where in the tubule of the testis do spermatogonia lie?
Hint - not in it and not above it
beneath the tubule
Which structures between sertoli cells make up the blood-testis barrier?
(Hint - a secure type of junction)
tight junctions
What do post-spermatogonia stages develop within and then progress towards through maturation?
- within sertoli cells
- towards lumen of tubule
What do immature spermatozoa shed into?
the lumen
Which action moves sperm into the rete testis?
peristaltic action (waves)
Which 5 parts does the adult female reproductive system consist of?
(Hint - VUCOV)
- vulva (labia minora and majora and clitoris)
- uterus
- cervix (internal os and external os)
- oviducts/fallopian tubes (fimbriae, ampulla, isthmus)
- vagina (inc. hymen)
Define folliculogenesis.
maturation of the ovarian follicle
State the 4 main regions of the ovary.
Hint - GOOTuntaag
- germinal epithelium
- tunica albuginea
- ovarian cortex
- ovarian medulla
For each stage of oogenesis, state the meiotic events which occur:
a) no follicle (fetal period)
b) primordial follicle (before birth after birth)
c) primary follicle (after puberty)
d) antral follicle
e) ovulated ovum
f) fertilised ovum
a) oogonium (mitosis)
b) primary oocyte (meiosis I started - arrested in diplotene)
c) primary oocyte (meiosis II started)
d) secondary oocyte (polar body 1 - ovulation)
e) secondary oocyte (polar body 1 - arrested at metaphase I and fertilisation)
f) fertilised ovum - polar body 2 + sperm
(note that primary oocytes are always FSH and LH-dependent)
Define oogenesis.
creation of eggs
State the 4 stages of oogenesis.
Hint - 1) division, 2) maturation, 3) half meiosis and 4) release and mess cleaned up
- oogonia mitosis in foetal life
- oogonia mature → primary oocytes (50-60 days)
- undergo meiosis but arrested at diplotene (chromatids cannot separate) - cells in dictyate stage
- oocytes destined to mature released by ovary - remaining dictyate germ cells apoptose in last trimester
When does puberty occur in females and what happens at this point?
- by 1st ovulation (release of an egg)
- first menses/menarche occurs (menstruation)
For each secondary sexual characteristic state the hormone that causes it and the location of release:
a) breasts and genitilia
b) pubic and axillary hair
a) oestrogen, from the ovary
b) androgens, from ovary and adrenal gland
What is the age on onset of puberty dictated by?
genes, environmental and nutritional factors
What is primordial germ cells?
earliest germ cells
Where do primordial germ cells originate (week 3 post-conception)?
embryonic epiblast, close to yolk sac
After primordial germ cells originate where do they migrate and through which structure (day 24 p.c.)?
- through hind-gut
- to genital ridge
(mechanism disputed)
What do primordial germ cells enter and where do they first settle on during spermatogenesis?
- enter presumptive seminiferous tubes (hoops) with pro-Sertoli cells
- settle on tubule wall first
Where is spermatogonia (spermatozoa precursor) formed during spermatogenesis?
(Hint - outside a wall)
outside blood-testis-barrier
State the stages of spermatogenesis starting from primordial germ cells denoting them using an arrow (→).
(Hint - r g in every single cell type; one begins with g)
PGC’s (proliferate by mitosis) → gonocytes → pro-spermatogonia → spermatogonia (end of the foetal stage)
What do some spermatagonia become during the prepubertal phase and what do they acquire?
(Hint - to do with growth and differentiation)
- become stem cells
- acquire self-renewal capacity
What does peri-natal spermatogonial division produce?
Hint - the next stage from spermatogonia
spermatocytes
When do spermatocytes arrest?
in prophase of 1st meiotic division
What is spermatocytic arrest?
Hint - germs and sperms
- interruption of germinal cells
- which elicits altered spermatozoa formation
What is all post-stem-cell development before sperm release classified as?
syncitia (multinucleated cell from multiple fusions)
In rodents what are A0 cells considered?
stem cells that give rise to generations of A spermatogonia
State the stages of stem cell development in rodents using arrows (→).
(Apaired, Aaligned, A1-4) → intermediate → B
What does stem cell development in rodents allow?
dramatic expansion of small stem cell pool
What are considered stem cells in primate (i.e. humans)?
Adark cells
State the stages of stem cell development in primates (i.e. humans) using arrows (→).
(Hint - like getting a tan skin gets darker)
Apale (proliferative) → intermediate → B
What does stem cell development in primates allow?
large reserve of stem cells w/ relatively few proliferative divisions
For each type of spermatocyte, stage of division and the role taken within the cell:
a) preleptotene spermatocytes →
b) leptotene s’cytes →
c) zygotene s’cytes →
d) pachytene s’cytes →
e) diplotene s’cytes →
f) 1st meiotic division →
g) secondary s’cytes →
h) 2nd meiotic division (N/A)
a) S-phase
b) chromatin remodelling
c) chromatin remodelling
d) transcription, translation; increase in size
e-f) enter meiosis
g) NB: haploid - homologous chromatids have separated
h) N/A
What is spermatogenesis?
development of spermatids
What is a round spermatid?
Hint - TN and less DNA
- the transition proteins of spermatid are replaced with nuclear proteins
- they have no DNA and so no transcriptional ability
Round spermatids are present at the onset of which cellular structures?
onset of flagellum and acrosome development
What is an elongating spermatid?
Hint - PT
- protamines replace transition histones
- transcriptionally inactive
What changes are made to form an elongating spermatid?
Hint - when you lose excess weight you are taller and move faster
- reduction in nuclear size
- flagellum fully-developed (motility)
- cytoplasm shrinks away (forms droplet)
What is a maturation phase spermatid?
Hint - graduated sperm and then cleaned up by nurses
- structure of a mature spermatozoa
- cytoplasmic droplet phagocytosed by sertoli cell
During spermination, where is a maturation phase spermatid shed into?
lumen of tubule
What is a sertoli cell?
nurse cell of testacles
State phases of spermiogenesis to form a sperm (mature, haploid male gametes)?
(Hint - preparation and then two sets of division)
- growth
- meiosis I and cytoplasmic division
- meiosis II and cytoplasmic division
What does formation of polar bodies allows oocytes to do?
reduce genome so fertilisation can occur