Reproductive Physiology

Question 1

Male sex hormones

Answer 1

Androgens

Question 2

Scrotum

Answer 2

Sac in which the testes are suspended

Question 3

Accessory glands of male reproductive system

Answer 3

Prostate and cowper’s glands and seminal vesicles
They add secretions to sperm to form semen

Question 4

Anatomy of testes

Answer 4

Covered by a serous membrane/ tunica vaginalis

Tunica albuginea divides them into lobules that contains many seminiferous tubes which unite in epididymis which links to vas deferens then to urinary tract

Their cells are spermatogenic, sertoli and leydig cells

Question 5

Seminiferous tubes

Answer 5

Site of production of spermatozoa

Question 6

Epididymis

Answer 6

Narrow tightly coiled tube attached to each of the testicles

Question 7

Sertoli cells

Answer 7

Nourish and protect developing sperm cells

Composed of a basal and lumenal component

Question 8

Spermatogenesis

Answer 8

Occurs between Sertoli cells

Spermatogonia mitosis to primary spermatocytes meiosis I to haploid secondary spermatocytes meiosis II to 4 spermatids which mature to spermatozoa

Question 9

Maturation of spernatids

Answer 9

Occurs in epididymis
Flagellum and acrosome develop
Mitochondria multiply

Question 10

Hormonal regulation of male reproductive system

Answer 10

Hypothalamus secretes GnRH which stimulate the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH

LH stimulates Leydig cells to secrete testosterone

FSH bind to sertoli cells to stimulate spermatogenesis and to release inhibin and androgen-binding proteins

Question 11

Testosterone

Answer 11

Cause target cell responses

Bind to androgen receptor

Stimulates secondary sex characteristics, growth hormone secretion and development of reproductive structures by the wolffian duct

Question 12

Negative feedback of testosterone

Answer 12

Binds to receptors on hypothalamus and anterior pituitary which shuts off secretion of gnrh and LH

Inhibin also binds to anterior pituitary to shut off FSH

all this decreases testosterone

Question 13

Female reproductive organs

Answer 13

Ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, vulva

Question 14

Vagina

Answer 14

Muscular tube

Question 15

Vulva

Answer 15

External organs

Question 16

Ovaries

Answer 16

Produce gametes and hormones

Consist of germinal epithelium, tunica albuginea, ovarian cortex, ovarian medulla, ovarian follicles, mature follicle, corpus luteum

Question 17

Germinal epithelium

Answer 17

Layer of simple epithelial cells that cover the ovaries and produce ovum

Question 18

Tunica albuginea

Answer 18

Dense, connective tissue

Question 19

Ovarian follicles

Answer 19

Fluid-filled sacs where an immature egg grows

Question 20

Mature follicle

Answer 20

Ruptures to release the mature egg

Question 21

Corpus luteum

Answer 21

Temporary collection of cells that form on ovary every menstrual cycle

Question 22

Uterus

Answer 22

Muscular structure that is a passageway for sperm to deposit in vagina

Its the growth chamber for fetus and the source of menstrual fluid if fertilization doesn’t occur

Question 23

Anatomy of uterus

Answer 23

Made up of fundus (dome-shaped), body (uterine cavity), isthmus (small and constricted), cervix (narrow)

Question 24

Fallopian/ uterine tubes

Answer 24

Hollow, muscular tubes that transport oocytes from ovaries to uterus

Question 25

Uterine wall layers

Answer 25

Myometrium, endometrium, and perimetrium

Question 26

Rise of FSH

Answer 26

Triggers ovarian cycle

Question 27

ZP3

Answer 27

Sperm receptor which causes an acrosomal reaction

Question 28

Gnrh

Answer 28

Controls the ovarian and uterine cycles Secreted by hypothalamus and stimulates release of FSH and LH by pituitary island

Question 29

FSH

Answer 29

Initiates follicular growth and helps egg to mature and prepare for release

Question 30

Follicle components

Answer 30

Consists of egg, estrogen-secreting cells and fluid

Question 31

LH

Answer 31

Stimulates further development of ovarian follicles leading to them maturing which causes a peak of GnRH and LH triggering ovulation

Question 32

Ovulation

Answer 32

Follicle rupturing to release egg and form corpus luteum Egg travels through fallopian tube for 5-6 days to cavity of uterus

Question 33

Corpus luteum

Answer 33

Secretes estrogen, progesterone, relaxin and inhibin These hormones lead to the development of female reproductive structures, secondary female characteristics

Question 34

Menstrual cycle

Answer 34

Endometrium undergoing changes based on hormone levels Consists of follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase

Question 35

Uterine cycle

Answer 35

1) menses, the degeneration of endometrium 2) proliferative phase, restoration of endometrium 3) secretary phase, endometrial glands enlarge and their secretion rates increase