Reproductive System Flashcards
What does the male reproductive system consist of?
- testes
- genital ducts
- accessory glands
- penis
What do testes produce?
sperm
What do genital ducts and accessory glands do?
- produce secretions required for sperm activity
- contract to propel spermatozoa
What 3 cell types do the seminiferous tubules produce?
- germ cells
- sertoli cells that support and nourish the developing spermatozoa
- Leydig cells that secrete androgens and testosterone
What is gametogeneiss?
the production of gametes from haploid precursor cells
What are the 3 main components of the testis and what cells do they contain?
- seminiferous tubules - spermatogenic series cells and sertoli cells
- interstitium - Leydig cells
- rete testis - cuboidal epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat
What is the function of the seminiferous tubules?
production of male gametes (spermatozoa) that support cells for spermatogenesis
What is the function of the interstitium in the testis?
synthesis of androgenic hormones, principally testosterone
What is the function of the rete testis?
convey spermatozoa to ductulus efferents and then to epididymis
What are the cell types of the epididymis and what is its function?
columnar epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat to store and mature spermatozoa
What are the cell types of the vas deferens and what is its function?
columnar epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat to carry sperm to urethra during ejaculation
What are the main components of the prostate?
central, transition and peripheral zones and fibromuscular stroma
What is the epithelium of the prostate?
2 cell layers: luminal tall columnar and basal cell layers
What is the function of the prostate?
produce secretions that mix with seminal fluid
What are the cell types of the seminal vesicle and what is its function?
cuboidal to columnar epithelium with muscular wall to produce seminal fluid
What are the 2 components of the penis?
- corpus spongiosum and corpora cavernosa
- urethra
What are the cell types of the corpus spongiosium?
spongy fibrous tissue containing anastomosing vascular sinuses (the erectile tissue)
What are the cell types of the urethra and what is its function?
- urothelium proximally and pseudostratified columnar epithelium distally
- it’s the duct for ejaculation and micturition
What is semen?
the product of ejaculation
What are the 6 components of the female reproductive system?
- paired ovaries
- uterine tubes
- uterus
- cervix
- vagina
- external genitalia
What are the 6 major functions of the female reproductive system?
- production of female gametes
- reception of male gametes (spermatozoa)
- provision of a stable environment for the fertilisation of ova by spermatozoa
- provision of an environment for the development of the foetus
- expulsion of the developed foetus to the external environment
- nutrition of the newborn (placenta)
What happens during the ovarian cycle?
1 primordial follicle out of 20 undergoes ovulation and the corpus albicans regress completely
What is the uterus?
pear-shaped organ whose mucosal lining endometrium provides the environment for foetal development
What does the myometrium do?
expand greatly during pregnancy and provide protection for the foetus and mechanism for the expulsion of the foetus at birth
What are the 3 phases of the cycle of change the endometrium proceeds through?
- menstrual phase – endometrial shedding because of failure of fertilisation or implantation in the ovum
- proliferative phase (14 days) – the endometrial stroma proliferates and becomes thicker and vascularised, and ovulation occurs
- secretory phase (28 days) – release of progesterone from corpus luteum promotes secretion by the endometrial glands
What are oral contraceptives composed of?
synthetic versions of oestrogens (e.g. oestradiol) and progesterones
How do oral contraceptives work?
- by maintaining steady hormone levels and suppressing the release of LH and FSH to prevent ovulation
- progesterones thicken cervical mucus, which makes it harder for sperm to reach the uterus
What is the vagina?
a muscular tube that extends upward and backward from the vulva to the uterus
Where does the upper and lower wall of the vagina lie?
- upper - above the pelvic floor
- lower - in the perineum
What does the wall of the vagina consist of?
stratified squamous epithelium, smooth muscles and an outer adventitial layer
What do superficial cells in the vagina do?
produce glycogen metabolised by vaginal commensal bacteria to form lactic acid
What is the lamina propria of the oviduct and uterus?
endometrial stroma similar to mesenchyme; richly cellular, fine reticular fibres and few collagen fibres
What is the epithelial lining of the oviduct?
simple columnar, ciliated and non-ciliated cells
What is the epithelial lining of the uterus?
simple columnar with groups of ciliated cells; extends into lamina propria to form tubular (uterine) glands
What is the epithelial lining of the endocervix?
tall columnar mucus secreting cells
What is the epithelial lining of the vagina?
non-keratinised stratified squamous
