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Biosciences A > Reproductive System > Flashcards

Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

Major Female Structures

A

Mammary Glands
Major Organs: Ovary/ ovaries, Uterine/Fallopian tube, Uterus, Vagina

External Genitalia: Clitoris, Labia Minora, Labia Majora

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2
Q

Functions of a female reproductive system:

A

Responsible for gamete production (oogenesis in the ovary)
Hormone production (estrogen, progesterone, inhibin and relaxin), reception and transport of sperm from the male, house fertilized ovum, maintains pregnancy and provides passageway for childbirth, lactation, synthesis, secretion and ejection of milk from mammary glands

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3
Q

Major structures of the Male system?

A

Testis, testes, epididymis, Ductus/ vas deferens

Accessory glands: Seminal Vesicle, Prostate, Bulbourethral gland

External genitalia: Penis, Urethra, Scrotum

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4
Q

What is the difference between men and women’s reproductive system?

A

Womens external system does not contribute to reproduction

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5
Q

Functions of the Male system

A

Responsible for gamete production (spermatogenesis in the testes)
Structures specialized for maturation, storage, transport and protection of sperm
Hormone production: Testosterone

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6
Q

Anatomy of the Female System:
Mammary Glands

A

Branched glands (modified sweat glands) comprised of a series of ducts surrounded by connective tissue and fat (white channels) surrounded by adipose tissue.
Arranged lobes that culminate at the nipple, lobes are composed of milk producing lobules (milk production and secretion occurs in response to hormones present during pregnancy). Males have breasts but no ducts to milk

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6
Q

Anatomy of the Female System:
Ovary

A

Female gonads; paired organs that create the gamete. Site of production and maturation of female gametes via oogenesis (ova=plural & ovum =one). Produce Ova within ovary but where the ovum is able to be fertilized by sperm. Produces hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Infundibulum contact the ova first

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7
Q

Anatomy of the Female System:
Uterine/ Fallopian tube

A

Connects ovary to uterus, Passageway for sperm and site of fertilization. Three components;

Proximally: Isthmus
Middle: Ampulla
Distally: Infundibulum with fimbriae

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8
Q

Anatomy of the Female System:
Uterus, Cervix, Vagina

A

Uterus: Hollow thick walled organ that is the site of menstruation and houses a developing foetus. Three layers;
Outer perimetrium: Serosa, glide and move
Middle myometrium: Smooth muscle
Inner endometrium: Mucosa (topmost layer, sheds monthly if not pregnant), tissue and blood

Cervix: most distal region of the uterus, separating it from vagina, involved in mucous production (important for cleaning) and facilitates childbirth, dilates when pregnant, entirely close instead of a small hole where sperm travels through

Vagina: Passageway for childbirth and menstrual flow, acidic and hostile, repels infection and foreign materials (sperm are foreign and acidic)

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9
Q

Anatomy of the Male reproductive system:
Scrotum:

A

Sac of skin containing the testes (exterior to pelvic cavity for cooler temperature). Two muscles are present deep to the scrotum and involved in temperature;
Dartos muscle: Wrinkling of scrotal surface, warm weather the scrotal surface will be smooth, in cold to preserve heat it will wrinkle
Cremaster muscle: altering location of testes relative to pelvis, contracts to lift them up, in cold weather it will contract and be lifted up to be closer to the pelvic cavity to stay warm. Testes need to be 2 degrees cooler as if they get too hot they die. Testes sit in scrotum, which allows testes to sit outside the body

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10
Q

Anatomy of the Male Reproductive system:
Testes

A

Male gonads: paired organs, site of production of male gametes (sperm/spermatozoon via spermatogenesis, produce the hormone testosterone, drives production of sperm,

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11
Q

Anatomy of Male Reproductive system
Penis

A

Delivery of sperm into the vagina, vagina is not a fan of sperm, sperm need to get as close to the cervix as possible

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12
Q

Anatomy of Testes

A

Internally testes are divided into lobules, each lobule contains a highly coiled (convoluted) tube called seminiferous tubule (site of spermatogenesis, sperm development) within this there are;

Spermatogenic cells e.g. cells that are varying stages of spermatogenesis
Sertoli cells e.g. supporting cells that span from the basement membrane of the tubule to the lumen

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13
Q

Ductal system:
Epididymis

A

Receives physically mature sperm from the seminiferous tubule. Is a coiled duct that serves as the site of functional maturation of sperm e.g. develop motility (process takes 12-16 days). Sperm travel here directly after seminiferous tubule in testis have to be moves where they can move flagella

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14
Q

Ductal System:
Ductus/ Vas Deferens

A

Receives mature sperm from epididymis, a long duct that transports ejaculated sperm (peristalsis) up and around the back of the bladder. This moves up the vas deferens and travels to accessory glands to have additions of semen

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15
Q

Ductal System
Urethra

A

A long duct that acts as a passageway for both urine (bladder) and semen (previous ductal system structures). Extends from the bladder to the end of the penis

16
Q

Accessory glands of the male reproductive system

A
  • Glands that produce components of semen

Seminal vesicles:
- Paired glands that secrete fluid to aid in motility of sperm
- Comprises approx. 65% of semen

Prostate
- A large gland that surrounds the urethra and secretes fluid to provide energy for sperm
- Comprises approx. 30% of semen

Bulbourethral gland
- Paired glands that secretes a thick alkaline fluid to aid in protection of sperm
- Comprises <1% of semen
Sperms can survive for days in a woman’s reproductive system

17
Q

Semen:

A

Mixture of sperm (4%) and glandular secretions (96%). Contains nutrients and chemicals to protect, activate and facilitate sperm movement. Contains prostaglandins to reduce viscosity of cervical mucous in females to stimulate sperm entry into uterus

Function: Has an alkaline pH to neutralize acidic environments, ability to suppress immune responses of female reproductive tract, coagulation factors allow for adherence to vaginal wall,

18
Q

Oogenesis: Female

A

Sequence of events (mitosis and meiosis 1 and 2) leading to mature gametes (ova- also referred to as secondary oocytes).

Non-continuous process e.g. development pauses before birth (as primary oocytes) and reinstates at puberty.

Once puberty begins, only one primary oocyte is selected to complete its developmental process each monthly cycler (remainder stay dormant).

Oogenesis begins in foetal life and a female has a lifetime supply of primary oocytes at birth.

In utero a baby is developing ova and gametes pause at birth (primary oocyte stage) and nothing will happen until puberty and once it begins (menstrual cycle) only one is chosen to mature every month (turn into a secondary ooctye)

We have a lifetime supply of ova in ovaries form birth (immature), halves when your born, runs out during menopause

Process starts with one oogonium and results in one ovum (secondary oocyte), (not an ovum until ovulated out)
Until ovulation, oocytes are housed within a follicle, made up of supportive cells, for nourishment and protection
Ova each contain 23 chromosomes - we have 46, 23 from males

19
Q

Spermatogenesis (Males)

A

Sequence of events (mitosis and meiosis 1 and 2) leading to mature gametes (sperm).

Occurs within seminiferous tubules. Depends on testosterone production. Takes approx. 64 days to get from a spermatogonium to get a sperm (compared to women who take 12-14 years, menstrual cycle). Approx 300 million new sperm daily. Begins at puberty and continues through life.

Process starts with spermatogonium and through mitosis and meiosis, results in 4 physically mature sperm (spermatozoon). Spermiogenesis occurs in the final stage which results in the characteristic shape of sperm. Contains 23 chromosomes.

Spermiogenesis: where they develop from round cells to sperm like shape

1 mature gamete in oogenesis and 4 mature gametes in spermatogenesis

20
Q

Female Ovarian and Uterine Reproductive Cycles:

A

Ovarian: Preovulatory, Ovulation, Post Ovulatory

Uterine: Menstrual, Proliferative, Secretory

Crossover:
Preovulatory = Menstrual and Proliferative
Ovulation = Proliferative and Secretory
Post-ovulatory = Secretory

A series of cyclic changes to the uterine and endometrial lining each month (uterine cycle). Occurs in females who are in reproductive years and not pregnant, after puberty and pre-menopausal, stops when pregnant. If fertilization of the ovum does not occur, menstruation begins shedding.

21
Q

Key concepts of Ovarian and Uterine Cycles

A

Hormonal control:
Gonadotropic hormones from the anterior pituitary, ovarian hormones from the ovaries

Follicular changes:
Follicles are oocytes and supportive cells

22
Q

Hormones of the Female Reproductive system:

A

Gonadotropic hormones (acts on the gonads): Secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to stimulation by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, stimulates the secretion of; Luteinizing hormone (LH): Sure causes ovulation of ovum from follicle, surge cause formation of corpus luteum. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): stimulates the follicle development

Tertiary ovarian follicle development + ovulation = Oestrogen

Corpus luteum formation + Mature corpus luteum = Oestrogen and Progesterone

Both act on the endometrial lining of the uterus

23
Q

Pre-ovulation phase of the cycle:

A

Follicular changes:
- FSH from anterior pituitary acts on the primary follicle (primary oocyte and supportive cells) which develops into a secondary follicle
- Continued FSH secretion causes maturation of secondary follicle into a tertiary follicle (mature follicle)
- Maturing follicle secretes oestrogen
Endometrial changes
- Oestrogen from maturing follicle causes thickening of the recently shed layer of the endometrium (shedding occurred during menstruation)

24
Q

Ovulation Phase of the cycle:

A

Follicular changes
- LH levels surge, causing rupture of mature follicle and release of ovum from the ovary
- Remaining follicular cells start to develop into corpus luteum

Endometrial changes
- Ovulation occurs over a short timeframe (1-2 days) so no major changes occur to the endometrium in this time e.g. still thickening in response to high levels of oestrogen
Sperm stays in vagina for a week, so a week leading up to and during ovulation is dangerous

25
Q

Post-ovulatory phase of the cycle:

A

Follicular changes
- Remaining follicular cells have now fully developed into the corpus luteum which secretes both oestrogen and progesterone
- If a fertilized ovum does not implant into the uterine wall, the corpus luteum degenerates and becomes the corpus albicans (dead corpus luteum) e.g. cessation of the oestrogen and progesterone secretion
Endometrial changes
- In response to oestrogen and progesterone, the endometrium further thickens and increases the blood supply in preparation for the implantation of fertilized ovum
If no implantation occurs, and there is cessation of oestrogen and progesterone secretion the topmost layer of the endometrium degenerates and sheds (menstruation)

- If fertilization of ovum is successful and the resulting embryo implants into the uterine wall, the corpus luteum does not degenerate into the corpus albicans
- Instead the embryo secretes a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) this mimics LH which keeps the corpus luteum alive until the placenta develops (thus pregnancy is maintained and both monthly ovarian and uterine cycles cease)
- hCG test is a blood test and is what you would get tested to see if you are pregnant, needs to double every day and if not there is a miscarriage
26
Q

Fertility across the lifespan:

A
  • Oogenesis begins during foetal development, whereas spermatogenesis beings at puberty onset
    • Females have their lifetime supply of gametes at birth (although immature) whereas males continuously produce sperm from puberty onward
    • Neither males of female are fertile until puberty
    • From puberty, oogenesis results in the production of one mature ovum per month whereas spermatogenesis results in approx. 300 million new sperm daily
    • Female fertility steadily declines with age due to declining number of ova (causing less regular ovarian cycle) the ovulation of the last ovum is known as menopause
    • Males remain fertile until death, however the number and quality of sperm decreases with age
27
Q

What hormone is secreted by the corpus luteum after ovulation?

A

Progesterone

28
Q

Which cells secrete testosterone?

A

Leydig cells

29
Q

What is the site for sperm production?

A

Seminiferous tubules

30
Q

What is the name of the uterine phase where the thickness of the endometrium doubles?

A

Proliferative phase

31
Q

Which hormone triggers ovulation?

A

LH

32
Q

Spermatogenesis: Process

A
  1. Sperm cells are produced in the seminiferous tubules walls. In these walls are Sertoli cells scattered throughout them which nourish them by giving nutrients and blood products
  2. These spermatogonia (derived from stem cells), divide (mitosis) and half of these mature into primary sperm cells
  3. They attach to Sertoli cells, mature, and develop into secondary sperm cells
  4. The secondary cell matures and forms an oval shape and is transported and stored in the epididymis of the testes
33
Q

Oogenesis: Process

A
  1. Egg cells in the ovaries are present at birth and remain dormant until ovulation and an egg is released. Some eggs may mature, some may never
  2. egg cells remain the primary ovum until the time for its release, then it undergoes cell division. One of the two split eggs (secondary ovum) grows in the ovary until it reaches maturation
  3. Once mature, it reaches the fallopian tubes where it is suitable for fertilization.
34
Q

Ovulation: Process

A

When the egg is released on the 14th day of the ovulation cycle, if it is not fertilized by sperm, it is released to start menstrual bleeding.

35
Q

What is the uterine cycle? What are the 4 phases?

A
  1. Menstruation:
  2. The follicular phase: Stimulates the create of follicles and usually only one will form into an egg.
  3. Ovulation: Mature egg released from an ovary through the fallopian tube
  4. Luteal phase: After ovulation the cells in the ovary (corpus luteum) releases progesterone and the uterus thickens in to prepare for pregnancy. If no pregnancy, then the corpus luteum sheds and the menstrual bleeding starting again

Biosciences A (12 decks)

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