Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the testes?
Are the male gonads/primary reproductive organs. Male sex hormones and sperm are produced in the testes.
What is epididymis?
It is a structure located along the posterior border of the testis consisting of coiled tubules that store sperm cells. Site of sperm maturation and storage. They are stored there until they are ready for transport up the vas deferens.
What is the vas deferens?
A tube that carries sperm from the testis into the ejaculatory duct
What are the seminal vesicles?
Is a structure that secretes fructose and prostaglandins. Fructose provides energy for the sperm cell.
What is the prostate GLAND
It keeps the urinary and reproductive tracts separate. It closes the urinary tract during sexual excitement. It also secretes an alkaline buffer to protect the sperm cells against the acidic environment of the vagina.
What is the Cowper’s gland?
It secretes a mucus-rich fluid to the seminal fluid pre-ejaculation to protect the sperm cells from the acids found in the urethra associated with the passage of urine.
What is the penis?
Muscle stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system due to sexual arousal. Dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow. During this time erectile sinuses in the penis fill with blood causing an erection.
What is the ejaclactory duct?
Is a tubule formed at the union of the vas deferans and the seminal vesicle ducts and the opening to the urethra. Propels seminal fluid to the urethra during an orgasm
What is the scrotum?
The external sac that contains the testes and keeps them cool.
What are the stages of sperm formation?
The seminiferous tubules are where sperm formation begins, they are lined with sperm-producing cells called spermatogonia. Here spermatogenesis occurs where spermatogonia (immature sperm cells) cells divide and differentiate into mature sperm cells, called spermatids which contain 23 - half the body’s necessary chromosomes. Specialized cells called Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules nourish the developing sperm until they mature.
What are the components of the sperm cell?
The sperm is made up of a head, midpiece, and tail. The head contains the nucleus that is capped by the acrosome which contains enzymes to penetrate the egg cell. The midpiece contains the mitochondria which provides energy for the sperm to move. The tail containing the flagellum is primarily responsible for the motility of the sperm.
What is the male hormonal control for reproduction?
The primary male hormone is testosterone, which is produced by the interstitial cells of the testes. testosterone stimulates the secondary sex characteristics in males. The pituitary gland produces and stores gonadotrophic hormones that regulate the functions of the testes: FSH and LH. FSH is follicle-stimulating hormone which is responsible for the production of sperm cells in the seminiferous tubules. While LH is luteinizing hormone responsible for the production of testosterone in the interstitial cells. Negative feedback systems entire that the body is always having adequate sperm cells. When testosterone levels are low the hypothalamus will secrete GnRH to release FSH and LH to bring levels back up to homeostasis (this maintains sperm count and hormone levels). If/When sperm cells count is high Sertoli cells will produce a hormone called inhibin which sends a feedback message to the pituitary to inhibit the further release of FSH, also releasing the production of GnRH.
What is the Ovary?
The female gonads or reproductive organs. female sex hormone and egg cells are produced in the ovaries. Also, produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
What are the fallopian tubes?
One of the two tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus and provide a location for fertilization to occur.
What is the uterus?
The largest organ in the female reproductive system it is a muscular organ, it is where the embryo and fetus develop during normal pregnancies. Contracts during childbirth.
What is the cervix?
A muscular band that separates the vagina from the uterus. Allows menstrual blood to pass through it from the uterus to the vaginal canal. It dilates during labour.
What is the vagina?
The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outer environment; the birth canal.
What is the clitoris?
Female erectile tissue between labia.
What is the endometrium?
The glandular inner lining of the uterus.
What are the events of the Menstrual cycle?
Flow Phase - DAYS 1-5, shedding of the endometrium where the corpus luteum died and the hormone (estrogen and progesterone) levels are high
Follicular Phase - DAYS 6-13, development of ovarian follicles before ovulation. Here estrogen is secreted under the control of FSH
Ovulation - DAY 14, a mature egg is released from a follicle due to the hormone LH
Luteal Phase - DAY 15-28, when the corpus luteum is formed from the remaining ovulated follicle. The Corpus luteum secretes progesterone and estrogen.
