Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the functions of the male reproduction system?
- production of male gametes
- production of testosterone
- introduction of male gametes into the female reproductive organs
- production of hormones such as AMH in the male embryo and ABP + inhibin in adults
What are the main parts of the male reproductive system?
- testis
- epididymus
- ductus deferens
- accessory sex glands (vesicular glands/prostate/bulbourethral)
- external genitalia/penis
What are some features of the testis?
- foetal migration to scrotum for most species
- surrounded by parietal and visceral vaginal tunics + tunica albuginea
A vaginal tunic of the testis is composed of ____________ and has ________ + ________components
- mesothelium + a connective tissue layer (out-pouching of peritoneum)
- parietal (upon removal: blends + attached to CT of scrotum)
- visceral (upon removal: surrounds the testis + epididymus)
__________ is a capsule of dense CT which lies under the visceral vaginal tunic and separates seminiferous tubules from the mediastinum
- tunica albuginea
_____________ are highly convoluted loops lined by spermatogenic epithelium, with interstitial cells (leydig cells) between them
- seminiferous tubules
What is this image of? What are some features?
- seminiferous tubules
- lined by spermatogenic epithelium, which is surrounded by lamina propria of collagen and elastic fibers, with interstitial (leydig) cells located between the tubules
What are some features of seminiferous tubules and their functions?
- spermatogenic cells: progressive maturation through spermatogenic A +B, primary + secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa
- spermatozoa: immotile, in lining of seminiferous tubules
- serotoli cells: line tubules, support spermatogenic cells
- myosin cells: located outside basement membrane of each tubule, move spermatozoa out of tubules
Label this figures abbreviations
- sertoli cell (SC)
- myoid cell (M)
- fibroblast (F)
- spermatogonia (SG)
- primary spermatocyte (PS)
- early spermatid (ES)
- late spermatid (LS)
Tall cells that extend from the basement membrane to the lumen of the tubule, have pale oval/triangular nuclei, and in distinct cell borders are ____________, which function to:
- Sertoli cells
- support, protect, nourish spermatogenic cells
- secrete supporting seminiferous tubule fluid
- protect (via tight jxns) spermatids from immune system
- hormone production
Explain what is occurring during steps 1-4
How does hormone production in sertoli cells function?
- release of androgen binding protein (ABP) in response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increases testosterone concentration in seminiferous tubules
- synthesize anti-paranephric duct hormone (APND) in embryo preventing formation of female genitalia
- release inhibin to suppress secretion of FSH (pituitary “-“ feedback)
What cell(s) is shown in the photo? What are its features?
- interstitial/leydig cells
- occur in clusters between seminiferous tubules
- small, round, dark, eccentric nucleus
- cytoplasm is very eosinophilic and often foamy due to lipids
- secrete testosterone (+ estrogen in boars)
- controlled by ICSH (interstitial cell stimulating hormone) aka luteinizing hormone (LH)
What produces testosterone? What are its functions?
- interstitial/leydig cells
- high concentrations necessary to maintain spermatogenesis
- responsible for secondary male sex characteristics + libido
- other androgenic effects: stimulates development + secretory activity of male accessory glands
- anabolic effect: stimulates growth of skeletal muscles + bones
What is the spermatic pathway?
- seminiferous tubules -> straight tubules -> rete testis -> efferent tubules -> epididymus -> ductus (vas) deferens -> urethra
What are the kinds intertesticular ducts? What are their features?
- straight tubules, rete testis, + efferent ductules
- lined by epithelium varying from squamous to cuboidal to columnar
- rete testis like a sponge that sperm empties into
- efferent ductules have a distinct undulating profile
The __________ empties into the ___________ which lead to the epididymus duct
- rete testis, efferent ductules
What are some features of intertesticular ducts?
- site of spermatogenesis
- site of production of sex hormone
- surrounded by a tunicae (tunics)
- parenchyma composed of seminiferous tubules lined w/ spermatogenic epithelium
- interstitial contains leydig cells —> testosterone
What is this? What are its parts?
- epididymus: one very long coiled tubule surrounded by epithelial tissue
- head (a)
- body (b)
- tail (c)
- vas deferens (d)
What is this? What are its features?
- epididymal duct
- very long
- lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium w/ stereocilia (increase absorption)
- smooth muscle cells in wall, abundant in tail region
- main functions are fluid resorption (90%) and secretion of glycoproteins, proteins, glycolipids, and lipids
- site of sperm maturation (head, body) and storage (tail)
What is this? What are its features?
- ductis deferens (vas deferens)
- lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium w stereocilia
- prominent muscularis for peristaltic contractions that propel spermatozoa
- in ruminants + stallions: near the junction w/ the urethra, ductus deferens forms a male accessory gland -> ampulla
What are the accessory sex glands and their purpose?
- vesicular glands (seminal vesicles)
- ampullary glands
- prostate glands
- bulbourethral glands
- function: add substances to semen to promote fertilization
- lined by simple cuboidal or columnar pseudostratified epithelium
- TUBULOALVEOLAR
What feature is shown in this image? What is its function?
- vesicular glands/seminal vesicles
- *not present in carnivores
- produce fructose: source of energy for sperm
What is shown in this image? What are its features?
- prostate gland
- multilobulated gland surrounding urethra
- surrounded by fibroelastic capsule
- branched tubuloalveolar gland
- produces buffers to neutralize acidity of seminal plasma
- glandular tissue (g) surrounded by fibromuscular stroma (s) forming multiple lobules surrounded by smooth muscle (m)
What is shown in this image? What are its features?
- bulbourethral gland
- empty into urethra in pelvis
- mucous secretion acts as lubricant in urethra
What are features of the penis?
- consists primarily of erectile tissue and the urethra covered by unhaired skin
- corpus cavernosa: paired masses of erectile tissue, irregular vascular spaces lined w/ endothelium between CT trabeculae
- corpus spongiosum: single mass of ereciletissue surrounding urethra, more delicate
What are the different kinds of penis? What species are they linked to?
- vascular (stallion/primates)
- fibroelastic (bull, ram, boar)
- intermediate (cat, dog)
What is shown in the image? What are its features?
- urethra (male)
- 3 parts:
- prostatic
- pelvic
- penile
-function: removal of urine + passage of semen
- mostly lined by transitional epithelium
What are the features of a prepuce?
- external + internal layers
- external: normal haired skin
- internal: covered w/ fine hairs, sweat glands, sebaceous glands for variable distance
-boars have a preputial diverticulum: keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
- smegma = sloughed epithelial cells + urine
What are functions of the female reproductive system?
- production of female gametes (ova > oogenesis)
- endocrine function —> production of sex hormones (mostly estrogen + progesterone)
- reception of male gametes (spermatozoa) + provision of suitable environment for fertilization
- provide environment for foetal development (uterus)
- nutrition of newborn
What are the main parts the female reproductive system?
- ovaries
- oviducts (fallopian/uterine tubes)\
- uterus
- cervix
- vagina
- external genitalia (vestibule/vulva)
- associated glands
- mammary gland (covered in integumentary tissue)
What are the two main functions of ovaries?
- produce female gametes + produce sex hormones
What is shown in the image? What is its basic structure?
- ovary
- cortex: broad peripheral zone containing follicles in various developmental stages
- medulla: contains connective tissue, nerves, blood, and lymph vessels
**in horses, the areas are reversed,with cortical tissue focused around the ovulation fossa
What is shown in this picture? Describe its features
- cortex of ovary
- E —> surface is lined by a low cuboidal epithelium (germinal/surface epithelium)
- TA —> tunica albuginea: connective/fibrous tissue (stains blue)
- under the tunica albuginea —> numerous follicles that contain oocytes in various stages of development
- the TA is the outer cortex below the surface epithelium
Describe the flow of developmental events of oogonia
____________ is the process in which follicles do not ovulate and degenerate; with oocytes, soma pellucida and folllicular cells reabsorbing
- follicular atresia
In ____________, upon sexual maturity, one or more ____________ follicles (dormant from birth) undergo maturation during each reproduction cycle. This process is dependent on ?
- folliculogenesis, primordial
- follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) from the adenopophysis (pituitary gland)
What is a structure containing an oocyte surrounded by specialized cells; whose size, content, and wrapping vary depending on developmental stage?
- ovarian follicles
What is this image of? What are some features?
- primordial folllicles
- primary oocyte in primordial follicle enclosed by flattened, simple squamous follicular cells
- retained in resting stage since formation in the fetal ovary
What is this image of? What are some features?
- primary follicle
- primary oocyte enclosed by a simple cuboidal layer of follicular cells
-start forming after puberty (FSH, LH)
What is this image of? What are some features?
- secondary follicle
- oocyte enclosed by several layers of follicular cells
- oocyte completes meiosis i —> secondary oocyte (most species)
- follicular cells proliferate via mitosis and are called granulosa cells
What are the layers of secondary follicles and their features?
- zona pellucida: thick glycoprotein layer located at the interface between the oocyte and the granulosa cells
- theca interna cells: large, pale-staining, spindle shaped cells that are steroid producing/metabolizing cells
- granulosa cells: require receptors for follicle simulating hormones (FSH) important in development of follicle
What is this image of? What are some features?
- tertiary follicle
- become longer, small liquid-filled areas appear between the granulosa cells (antrum)
- antrum enlarges, the oocyte is surrounded by a layer of follicular cells (corona radiata) and sit on a aggregate of granulosa cells (cumulus oophorus)
What is this image of? What are some features?
- mature (graafian) follicle
- secondary oocyte detaches from cumulus oophorus and floats free in follicular fluid
- now ready to ovulate
- follicular cells acquire luteinizing hormone receptors (LH) necessary for development of corpus luteum
What is this image of? What are some features?
- corpus luteum (CL) —-> ovulation > blood into antrum —> corpus hemorrhagiam (CH)
- capillaries from stroma invade and convert it into a temporary endocrine organ (CL) vital to maintaining pregnancy —> secretes progesterone
- lutenization is the process by which the granulosa + theca cells transfer into luteal cells (hypertrophy + hyperplasia)
- in response to LH and FSH, lutein cells produce progesterone/estrogen
- yellow pigment (lutein) appears in the luteal cells of carnivores, mares, and cows (not in sows/ewes/goats)
What is this image of? What are some features?
- corpus albicans (CA)
- involution of corpus luteum resulting in a white fibrous scar
What’s are some features of the oviduct/s (uterine tube/s)?
- muscular tube from ovary to uterus
- 3 sections:
- infundibulum w/ fimbriae
- ampulla
- isthmus
What are the functions of the oviducts?
- receive ovum
- ovum picked up by fimbriae of the infundibulum + directed into oviduct lumen
-provide favorable environment for fertilization (ampulla) - epithelial secretions promote capacitation of sperm
- ovum picked up by fimbriae of the infundibulum + directed into oviduct lumen
- transport zygote to uterus for implantation (isthmus)
- cilia assist transport
What is this image of? What are some features?
- mucosa of the oviducts
- epithelium is columnar w/ motile cilia on most cells
- non-ciliated cells: have secretory granules in the cytoplasm, secretion provides nutrients to the ovum
What is this image of? What are some features?
- uterus
- sterile + inert environment for development of conceptus
- nutrient/oxygen/waste exchange via placenta
- muscles of uterus contribute to birth
What is this image of? What are some features?
- endometrium
- glandular mucosa divided into 2 zones:
- functional zone (f): superficial that degenerates after pregnancy or estrus (hormonal dependent)
- basal zone (b): layer that remains after pregnancy or estrus
What is this image of? What are some features?
What is this image of? What are some features?
- cervix
- thick walled, muscular structure
- endocervix: faces uterus
- ectocervix: faces vagina
- function:
- provides a seal that prevents organisms and substances entering from cranial vagina
- functions as gatekeeper by holding products of conception within uterus until parturition
What is this image of? What are some features?
- endocervix
- epithelium: simple columnar w/ mucus secreting cells
- mucosa may have prominent primary, secondary, and tertiary folds
- muscularis: inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers (continuous w/ uterus + vagina)
- serosa
What is this image of? What are some features?
- ectocervix
- lined by stratified squamous epithelium
What is this image of? What are some features?
- vagina
- fibromuscular tubes/ three layers:
- mucosa
- muscularis
- serosa(cranial) + adventitia (caudal)
What are some features of vaginal mucosa?
- numerous folds (rugae) separated by channels of variable depth
- mostly stratified squamous epithelium w/ patches of simple columnar epithelium + mucus producing cells
What are some features of vaginal muscularis?
- smooth muscles arranged circularly (inner) and longitudinally (outer)
T/F: Cyclical change in hormones cause varying thickness in vaginal epithelium and varying degrees of keratinization
True; can be viewed in routine vaginal smears
What is a zygote?
- embryo + foetal membrane
What are the parts of the foetal membrane?
- yolk sac, amnion, chorion, and allantois
What are the functions of the foetal membrane?
- viviparous animals (form placenta)
- supply + storage of nutrients
- respiratory exchange
- excretion
- mechanical protection
- transfer of ImG/passive immunity (humans > K9/feline»_space; equine/bovine)
- in mammals, hormone production
What is the pathway of an embryo?
What are the features and functions of the placenta?
- Chorion: layer that contacts the mother, in most species fused w/ allantois (chorioallantois/allantochorion)
- Allantois: contains fetal urine + other fluids arising from the membrane itself
- Amnion: smooth translucent membrane that surrounds the fetus + holds amniotic fluid
What are the kinds of placentas?
What kind of placenta is this?
- zoonary
What kind of placenta is this?
- zoonary
What kind of placenta is this?
- diffuse
