Reproductive System Flashcards by Olivia Griffin

What is adolescence?

Transitional phase from childhood to adulthood
Teenage years 13-19 years of age
Huge increased period of growth and development
>Physical and sexual maturation
>Social and economic independence
>Development of identity

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What are the reproductive hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland?

Lutenizing hormone (LH)
In girls-
Increased levels trigger ovulation
In boys-
Stimulated Leydig cells to make testosterone

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
In girls-
Initiates follicular growth
In boys-
Induces Sertoli cells- spermatogenesis

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Describe the role of oestrogen

Made in the ovaries
FSH stimulates the ovarian production
Promotes development of secondary sexual characteristics

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Describe the role of progesterone

Mammary gland development in females
>Develops with prolactin during pregnancy
Thickens endometrium for implantation

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Describe the role of testosterone

Secretes primarily in the testicles in males
Some secretion in the ovaries
Male levels 7-8 times higher than females
Development of secondary sexual characteristics
>Penile/cliteral englargement
>Increased libido
>Hair growth
>Increased muscle mass
>Broader shoulders
>Voice deepening

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Describe the effects of testosterone

Aggression
Active attitude
Increases in sex develops

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Describe the effects of PMS

Tension or anxiety
Depressed/crying
Mood swings and irritability or anger
Appetite changes and food cravings
Insomnia
Social withdrawal
Poor concentration
Joint or muscle pain
Headache
Fatigue
Weight gain related to fluid retention
Abdominal bloating
Breast tenderness
Acne flare-ups
Constipation or diarrhoea

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What are some emotional changes in adolescence?

Mood swings
Fluctuations of hormones
Frustrations (child to adult)
Wanting independence and control 
Peer influences
Body image
Self esteem
Sexual desires

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What is adrenarche?

Onset of androgen dependent changes e.g. public and axillary hair, BO, acne

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What is thelarche?

Onset of female breast development

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What is puberty?

Development of secondary sexual characteristics. attain reproductive capacity

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What is menarche?

Onset of menstruation

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Describe the endocrinology of puberty

Hypothalamus
-gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) (LHRH)
Pituitary gland
-Lutenizing hormone (LH)
-Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

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What hormones effect on the ovaries?

LH and FSH

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What effect does oestrogen have in girls

Breast growth
Vaginal growth
Clitoris growth

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What effect does progesterone have on girls?

Vaginal and uterine growth

Initiation of cyclical changes in endometrium and ovary

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What are the stages of puberty in girls?

Breast growth
Acceleration in hight velocity
Pubic and axillary hair growth
Menarche

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Describe thelarche in girls

Occurs in response to oestrogen secretion from the ovaries
Approximate age at commencement of breast budding: 11 1/2 years of age
Characteristic changes in the shape of the breast occur during puberty: Tanner staging

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Describe adrenarche in girls

Pubic and axillary hair growth become evident after breast budding
Early pubic hair is sparse, fine and straight, changes in character progress through puberty until adulthood
Distribution extends from the labia to the inner thigh

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Describe menarche (first period)

Unusual to see before Pubic Hair Stage 4
Around 13 years
Approximately 1-2 years of growth left: 5cm

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Describe the development of ovarian follicles

20 weeks gestation
>7 million germ cells
Birth
>1-2 million
Menarche
>500,000
Menopause
>100

Describe LH in boys

Stimulates Leydig cells to produce testosterone

Describe FSH in boys

FSH binds to receptops on the Sertoli cells, enhancing spermatogenesis

Outline the stages of puberty in boys

Testicular growth
Growth of penis, pubic and axillary hair growth
Acceleration in height velocity
Voice deepens, facial hair growth

What are the genital stages?

Stage I (Preadolescent)- The testes, scrotal sac, and penis have a size and
proportion similar to those seen in early childhood.
• Stage II - There is enlargement of the scrotum and testes and a change in the
texture of the scrotal skin. The scrotal skin may also be reddened, a finding not
obvious when viewed on a black and white photograph.
• Stage III - Further growth of the penis has occurred, initially in length, although
with some increase in circumference. There also is increased growth of the
testes and scrotum.
• Stage IV - The penis is significantly enlarged in length and circumference, with
further development of the glans penis. The testes and scrotum continue to
enlarge, and there is distinct darkening of the scrotal skin.
• Stage V - The genitalia are adult with regard to size and shape

What are the primary sex organs?

Male- testes

Female- ovaries

What are the secondary sex organs?

Male- ducts, glands, penis

Female- uterine tubes, uterus, vagina

Describe the function of testes

Produce sperm cells
Developed from germ cells in seminiferous tubules
Secrete testosterone by interstitial/Leydig cells

Describe the function of Leydig cells

Found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle
Produce testosterone in the presence of LH
-LH binds to receptors within the cell

Describe the properties of the scrotum

Protects the testes and maintains the temperature of the testes 2 degrees lower than body temperature
Dual chambered
Located under the penis
One is typically lower than the other

Describe the properties of epididymis

Storage site of sperm cells
Absorbs about 90% of the fluid secreted by the testis
Sperm remain stored here for 40-60 days
>absorbed if not ejactulated prior to that time

Describe the properties of semen

Fluid expelled during orgasm
>also present in pre-ejaculate
Mixture of secretions from
>Epididymis
>Seminal vesicle
>Prostate
>Bulbourethral glad 
Major constituents
>sperm
>fructose
>clotting and anticoagulant factors
>prostaglandins

Describe fructose in semen

Produced by the seminal vesicles

Provides a source of energy for the sperm

Describe the clotting and anticoagulant factors of semen

Produced by seminal vesicles and prostate
Semen clots like blood
About 15-30 minutes later, anticoagulant factors dissolve the clot

Describe prostaglandins in semen

Produced by the prostate and seminal vesicles

Stimulate peristaltic contractions of the femal reproductive tract that may help draw semen into the uterus

Describe the function of the acrosome in sperm

Enzymes are used to dissolve a path to penetrate the egg

Describe the function of the nucleus in sperm

Carries genetic material

Describe the function of the mitochondria in the sperm

Produce ATP for sperm motility

Describe male sexual reproduction

Erection of the penis, allowing it to penetrate the female vagina
Ejaculation, expelling semen into the vagina

Describe the process of ejaluation

Initiated by sympathetic nerve impulses
The ducts and accessory glands contraction, emptying their contents into the urethra 
The urethral sphincters constrict
The bulbospongiosus muscles of the penis contract rapidly and rhythmically, propelling semen from the urethra
Sperm 
>viable for 2 days
>100 reach the egg
>1 fertilizes the egg

What is the refractory period

A period following ejaculation and lasting anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours
Impossible to attain another erection and orgasm

Outline the functions of the ovaries

Produce oocytes (oogenesis)
>primary oocytes undergo a process of degeneration called atresia. Only 2 million remain at the time of birth, and by puberty, only 400,000 remain
>Only one oocyte is ovulated each 28-day cycle
Produce hormones
>oestrogen
>progesterone
>inhibin
>androgens
The release of an oocyte does not alternate between the two ovaries and seems to be random
After removal of an ovary, the remaining one produces an egg every month

What are the functions of the fallopian tubes

The cilia beat towards the uterus

Describe the function of the uterus

Harbours the embryo
Provides nutrients
Expels the foetus at the end of its development

What cells are the vagina made of ?

Stratified squamous epithelium

What is the function of the vagina ?

Bacteria ferment glycogen to lactic acid, resulting in low vaginal pH

What are the accessory glands to the vagina?

Bartholin’s, skene’s gland

What’s the purpose of accessory glands

Keep the vagina moist and provide most of the lubrication for intercourse

Describe the process of primary oogenesis

Oogenesis
>egg production
Beginning in adolescence, FSH stimulates the primary oocytes to complete meiosis I, which yields two haploid daughter cells of unequal size. One will become the egg with large amounts of cytoplasm. The other, a polar body, will serve only as a dumping ground for the extra set of chromosomes

Describe the secondary oocyte cycle

Proceeds as far as metaphase II and then arrests until ovulation. If it is fertilized, it completes meiosis II and produces a second polar body. The large remaining egg unites its chromosomes with those of the sperm and produces a zygote

Describe the female sexual cycle

A 28-day cycle of sequential changes caused bu shifting patterns of hormone secretion starts at the first day of menstruation
Changes in the ovaries constitute the ovarian cycle which is subdivided into 3 phases: the follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase
The parallel changes in the uterus are called the menstrual or uterine cycle

What are the subdivisions of the menstrual/uterine cycle

Menstruation
Proliferative phase
Secretory phase

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Reproductive System Flashcards

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