Reproductive System Flashcards
Name the 2 types of reproduction
Sexual, and asexual
Which 2 key process does sexual reproduction involve?
Meiosis and fertilisation
Define “reproduction”
The production of new offspring
What is a gamete?
A sex cell
Name an organism that reproduces asexually
Bacteria
What is produced via meiosis?
Male & female sex cells (sperm and ova)
How many chromosomes do gametes have?
23
Are gametes diploid or haploid cells?
Haploid (they contain half the amount of chromosomes)
What is another name for the male gamete?
Sperm
What is another name for the female gamete?
Ova
What is the name of the single cell created by the process of fertilisation?
A zygote
How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?
46 (a full set - 23 from the sperm and 23 from the ova)
What ensures genetic variability?
The mix of genes inherited by an offspring from each parent, via the process of meiosis and the fusing of the male and female gametes.
List 3 key functions of the female reproductive system.
- Formation of ova (female gametes)
- Reception of spermatozoa (male gametes)
- Provide a suitable environment for fertilisation/foetus
- Parturition (childbirth)
- Lactation
What is ‘parturition’?
Childbirth
Does the male or female reproductive system have more functions?
The female reproductive system has more functions
List 2 key functions of the male reproductive system
- Production of spermatozoa (male gametes)
2. Transmission of sperm to the female
Why do sperm have lots of mitochondria?
To give them lots of energy to swim
Name the accessory glands to the female reproductive system
The breasts
What are the mammary glands?
Exocrine glands that specialise in the production and ejection of milk.
They are essentially modified sweat glands that produce milk.
How do the mammary glands develop?
Gradually through pregnancy, where they get bigger and bigger under the influence of oestrogen.
Which hormone is responsible for the development and maturation of the mammary glands?
Oestrogen
Within the body, oestrogen is always promoting ______.
Growth
Which hormone causes the endometrium and myometrium (in the womb) to grow?
Oestrogen
Describe the lobes of the mammary glands
Each mammary gland consists of 15-20 lobes, separated by adipose tissue.
The lobes contain small grape-like clusters of glands called alveoli.
How many lobes does each mammary gland consist of?
15-20
Other than in the lungs, where else would you find ‘alveoli’ in the body?
In the mammary glands (within the lobes)
Which hormone stimulates lactation?
Oxytocin
What are the breasts supported by?
Suspensory ligaments
What supports the breast between the skin and the underlying fascia, keeping it in shape?
Suspensory ligaments
In regards to the breast, what is ‘dimpling’ and what can it be caused by?
Small, focused indentation in the breast. It can be caused by damage to the suspensory ligaments by a breast tumour.
What function does the male breast tissue have?
None. Male breast tissue is rudimentary.
What is growth of male breast tissue an indicator of?
Excess oestrogen (potentially caused by liver problems - not deactivating oestrogen as it should be doing)
What is lactation?
Milk secretion
Which cells, surrounding alveoli in the mammary glands, contract to help propel milk into lactiferous ducts?
Myoepithelial cells
Which hormone is stimulated by suckling, causing milk ejection?
Oxytocin
After birth, which hormone stimulates lactation?
Prolactin
Name the structure in the breast where milk is stored.
Lactiferous sinuses
Where is prolactin produced/released from?
The anterior pituitary gland
Where is oxytocin produced/released from?
The posterior pituitary gland
Which 2 hormones together result in lactation?
Oxytocin and prolactin
Which part of the female reproductive system contracts to initiate labour?
Uterus
List 3 functions of the uterus.
- Pathway for sperm
- Site of zygote implantation
- Location of foetal development
Name the 3 layers of tissue that make up the uterine wall.
- Perimetrium (outer layer)
- Myometrium (3 smooth muscle layers)
- Endometrium (inner layer)
Which layer of the uterine wall is highly vascular?
Endometrium
Name the 2 layers of the endometrium
Stratum Functionalis & Stratum Basalis
Which layer of the endometrium sloughs off during menses?
The stratum functionalis
How many smooth muscle layers does the uterus have?
3 - in the myometrium layer
Describe the uterus
The size and shape of a pear that has been inverted
What does ‘stratum’ mean?
Layer
What is the bleeding associated with the menstrual cycle caused by?
The breakdown of the stratum functionalis within the endometrium of the uterus.
What is endometriosis?
A condition where endometrial tissue leaves the uterus and deposits somewhere else (i.e, in the ovary, fallopian tube, or pelvis).
The uterus consists of 3 key anatomical areas. Name them.
The fundus, body and cervix
What is the fundus?
The top of the uterus
Which structure separates the body of the uterus from the vagina?
The cervix
Which hormone can sperm secrete to enable them to travel through the muscle of the cervix?
Relaxin
Where in the female reproductive system will most fertilisation take place?
The fallopian tube
What is the uterus held in place by?
Ligaments
Name one of the ligaments that hold the uterus in place
The broad ligament
Which organs sit anterior and posterior to the uterus?
Bladder (anterior)
Rectum (posterior)
What is the name given to a fertilised ova?
Zygote
What is the endometrium?
The highly vascular, inner layer of the uterus.
Which hormone maintains the endometrium for the second half of the menstrual cycle?
Progesterone
Which hormone builds the endometrium and which hormone maintains it?
Oestrogen builds it, progesterone maintains it.
What is the name given to a zygote, during its first 8 weeks of development?
Embyro
What does an embryo become after 8 weeks, until birth?
A foetus
What is the main role of the placenta?
To maintain the pregnancy. It is the site of nutrient and waste exchange between the mother and foetus, and produces hormones necessary for the pregnancy and labour.
What is the placenta directly attached to?
The endometrium
Once fully formed, how many distinct regions is the placenta divided into?
2 - the maternal side and the foetal side
Why is there a membrane separating the maternal and foetal sides of the placenta?
Because the baby’s circulation and the mother’s circulation are separate from each other. This is to prevent the sharing of substances that could be very harmful (protective barrier).
Which structure connects the embryo/foetus with the placenta?
The umbilical cord
How long is the umbilical cord?
50 - 60cms
At what point in the pregnancy is the placenta fully formed?
At 12 weeks, but it is fully functioning in it’s duties from 8 weeks.
What does the umbilical cord do?
Brings oxygen and nutrients to the foetus and removes wastes and carbon dioxide (the foetus doesn’t itself breathe, eat or eliminate whilst in the womb).
Give 4 examples of diseases/microorganisms/substances that can pass through the placenta during pregnancy.
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- HIV
- Polio
- Alcohol
- Many drugs
- Viral infections
- Stress hormones
Blood cells cannot cross the placenta. True or false?
True.
Give one reason why it’s important that blood cells cannot cross the placental membrane between mother and child.
They may have different, opposing blood groups.
List the hormones produced by the placenta.
Oestrogen Progesterone hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) hPL (Human Placental Lactogen) Relaxin CRH (corticotropin releasing hormone)
Why is it important that the placenta produces progesterone during pregnancy?
Because progesterone maintains the stratum functionalis layer of the endometrium, which sustains and nourishes the foetus.
What would be the result of a lack of progesterone during pregnancy?
Miscarriage
Why is it important that the placenta produces oestrogen during pregnancy?
Because oestrogen promotes growth of breast tissue and myometrium.
Which structure in the female reproductive system produces progesterone and oestrogen for the first 8 weeks of pregnancy?
Corpus luteum, in the ovary
Which of the placental hormones is only found in the body during pregnancy (pathologies aside), and therefore is detected for the purposes of pregnancy tests?
hCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Which hormone is associated with morning sickness?
hCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Which of the placental hormones can occasionally be found in men and can indicate testicular cancer?
hCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
If a male did a pregnancy test and it was positive, which pathology could this indicate?
Testicular cancer (hCG is a testicular cancer marker)
What can the acupressure point PC6 (between the ligaments in the wrist) help with in pregnancy?
Relieving morning sickness and nausea
What is the role of the placental hormone Human Placental Lactogen (hPL)
Increasing the amount of glucose and fats in the maternal blood (to nourish the foetus)
Which body structures does the hormone Relaxin specifically work on?
Ligaments
Which placental hormone helps to increase pelvic space and pliability during childbirth?
Relaxin
What does CRH (Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) do?
Triggers release of cortisol from the adrenals.
What is the relevance of the hormone CRH in pregnancy?
It prevents rejection of the foetus and placenta by the mother (it slightly suppresses the immune system)
Which placental hormone stops the mother’s body rejecting a foetus?
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)
Why do a lot of autoimmune conditions spontaneously resolve during pregnancy / for a few months afterwards?
Due to the slight suppression of the immune system by cortisol, released by the kidneys as a result of the placental hormone CRH.
What is placenta praevia?
A placental complication whereby the placenta attaches to the lower part of the placental wall, potentially blocking the opening of the cervix.
Why is the risk of placenta praevia higher with multiple births (twins/triplets)?
Because there are more placentas in the uterus.
Why is placenta praevia a problem in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy?
Because the risk of detachment from the cervix and haemorrhage is high.
What can painless ante-partum vaginal bleeding in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy indicate?
Haemorrhaged placenta praevia
What is the preferred form of delivery in a pregnancy with placenta praevia?
C-section
What is Placenta Accreta?
A placental complication whereby there is an abnormally deep attachment of the placenta through the endometrium, into the myometrium.
Name and explain the 2 types of Placenta Accreta
- Placenta Increta = The placenta invades the myometrium
2. Placenta Percreta = The placenta grows through the uterine wall into the surrounding viscera (i.e, the bladder)
What is the normal cause of Placenta Accreta?
The endometrium (stratum basalis layer) is too thin for the placenta to attach properly, so the placenta has to ‘dig in deeper’ when implanting.
Name 3 medical procedures that can make Placenta Accreta more likely in a future pregnancy.
- Previous C-Section
- Curettage (scraping procedure)
- Fibroid removal
What is the main risk posed by Placenta Accreta?
A post partum haemorrhage
What is a Placental Abruption?
Rupture of the blood vessels that adhere the placenta to the uterine wall.
Leads to separation of the placenta from the uterus.
List 2 risk factors for placental abruption.
Smoking Maternal hypertension (pre-eclampsia)
What does ante-partum mean?
Before birth
What are the 2 main signs of placental abruption?
Abdominal pain and ante-partum bleeding
What is pre-eclampsia?
Increase of the mother’s blood pressure during pregnancy
What is one of the main risks of pre-eclampsia?
Placental abruption
A placental abruption after 20 weeks of pregnancy is an obstetric emergency. Why is this?
Because the developing foetus is then starved of nutrients from the mother and wastes cannot be adequately removed.
What are monozygotic twins?
Identical twins (same genetic information)
What are dizygotic twins?
Non-identical twins
What type of siblings that result from the same pregnancy originate from a single fertilised ovum and share a single placenta?
Monozygotic (identical) twins
Are more twins monozygotic or dizygotic?
Dizygotic (non-identical) = 70%
Monozygotic (identical) = 30%
What is the role of the fallopian tubes?
- Provide a route for sperm to meet the ova.
2. Provide a route for the ova to reach the uterus
What is the name given to the finger-like projections that surround the ovary and sweep the ova into the fallopian tube?
Fimbriae
The fallopian tubes have 2 features that make them suitable for their role in carrying an ova from the ovary to the uterus. What are these features?
- Ciliated epithelial layer ‘sweeps’ the ova along.
2. Smooth muscle layer performs peristalsis to move the ova along.
What are the ovaries?
The female gonads, which exist as paired glands.
What do the ovaries look like?
Almonds!
What do the ovaries do?
- Produce female gametes
2. Secrete sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone
Which 2 hormones are created by the ovaries?
Oestrogen and progesterone
How many immature sex cells (gametes - eggs) are females born with and when do they mature?
Between 20,000 and 2 million
They mature at puberty
What are oocytes?
Ova / eggs
What is oogenesis?
The formation of female gametes (ova) in the ovaries
At what stage of life does oogenesis / the production of primary oocytes occur?
During foetal development. Women are born with a set amount of ova for life and will not produce any more after birth.
What is a secondary oocyte?
The fully-formed, mature form of an ova, which is suitable for fertilisation.
At what stage of a woman’s life do her primary oocytes become secondary oocytes?
Puberty