Reproductive System

Question 1

becoming male/ female

Answer 1

first 5-6 weeks after conception- embryos are undifferentiated
6 weeks- gonads go through switch, swith gonad pathways + become either ovary or testes
ovary= oestrogen produced- sex hormones will dictate development of external genitala, also important at pubertu
7-8 weeks- have basic structure of male embryo formed, individual will be male/ female at birth

Question 2

males

Answer 2

testes produce spermatozoa (expelled from the body in semen during ejaculation)
testis develops in the posterior abdominal wall, migrates to an external position- to do with internal body temp (too hot or the body for the sperm to survie)

Question 3

spermatogenesis

Answer 3

development of sperm cells in the testis
stage 1- mitosis forming primary spermatocytes
stage 2- meiosis I = primary spermatocytes to secondary spermatocytes
meiosis II = secondary spermatocytes to spermatids (haploid)

stage 3= spermiogenesis
final stage= maturation of spermatids to spermatoza

Question 4

females

Answer 4

ovaries produce immature ovum- oocytes (travel along the uterine tube towards the uterus)
vagina connects the uterus with the exterior of the body

functions
produces sex hormones + sexual gametes
protection + support of developing embryo during pregnancy
nourishes new born child
goes through cylcic changes- menstrual cycle (complex interplay between hormones and organs in brains, ovaries and uterus)

Question 5

ovary

Answer 5

follicles are the functional units of female reproductive system

Question 6

menstrual cycle

Answer 6

ovarian cycle:
follicular phase + luteal phase
uterine cycle:
menses (beginning of cycle), proliferative phase, secretory phase

Question 7

follicular phase

Answer 7

lasts 14 days from first day of menstruations
where egg develops in follicle
fuelled by FSH
produces oestrogen
destruction of cells of the functional zone (if no fertilisation) which is repaired in proliferative phase to be ready for an egg
ovulation occurs at the end of this phase- where egg is released from follicle (helped by leutinising hormone)- egg enters abdominal cavity and is released in uterus
during ovulation body temp is at its lowest

Question 8

luteal phase

Answer 8

14 days
corpus leutium will develop from exploded follicle
production of oestorgen and progesterone
Progesterone stimulates uterus to be ready for conception
body temp higher during luteal phase

Question 9

changes in hormones

Answer 9

increase in oestrogen in follicular phase
sharpe increase in progesteromne during luteal phase
LH stimulates egg release (ovulation)
during menopause hormone changes will be more eratic

Question 10

sex spectrum

Answer 10

typical male has XY chromosome and female has XX
genetic variation + chance events in development mean that some people do not fall into either category
some people are classified as having differences or disorders of sex developments (DSDs)- meaning chromosomes do not match their sex anatomy

Question 11

regulatory hormones in males

Answer 11

LH- stimulates production of testosterone
FSH- stimulates spermatogenesis
testosterone- stimulates development of male secondary sex characteristics and spermatogenesis