Reproductive System

Question 1

What does the male reproductive system consist of?

Answer 1

• testes
• genital ducts
• accessory glands
• penis

Question 2

What do testes produce?

Answer 2

sperm

Question 3

What do genital ducts and accessory glands do?

Answer 3

• produce secretions required for sperm activity
• contract to propel spermatozoa

Question 4

What 3 cell types do the seminiferous tubules produce?

Answer 4

• germ cells
• sertoli cells that support and nourish the developing spermatozoa
• Leydig cells that secrete androgens and testosterone

Question 5

What is gametogeneiss?

Answer 5

the production of gametes from haploid precursor cells

Question 6

What are the 3 main components of the testis and what cells do they contain?

Answer 6

• seminiferous tubules - spermatogenic series cells and sertoli cells
• interstitium - Leydig cells
• rete testis - cuboidal epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat

Question 7

What is the function of the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 7

production of male gametes (spermatozoa) that support cells for spermatogenesis

Question 8

What is the function of the interstitium in the testis?

Answer 8

synthesis of androgenic hormones, principally testosterone

Question 9

What is the function of the rete testis?

Answer 9

convey spermatozoa to ductulus efferents and then to epididymis

Question 10

What are the cell types of the epididymis and what is its function?

Answer 10

columnar epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat to store and mature spermatozoa

Question 11

What are the cell types of the vas deferens and what is its function?

Answer 11

columnar epithelium cells with cilia and smooth muscle coat to carry sperm to urethra during ejaculation

Question 12

What are the main components of the prostate?

Answer 12

central, transition and peripheral zones and fibromuscular stroma

Question 13

What is the epithelium of the prostate?

Answer 13

2 cell layers: luminal tall columnar and basal cell layers

Question 14

What is the function of the prostate?

Answer 14

produce secretions that mix with seminal fluid

Question 15

What are the cell types of the seminal vesicle and what is its function?

Answer 15

cuboidal to columnar epithelium with muscular wall to produce seminal fluid

Question 16

What are the 2 components of the penis?

Answer 16

• corpus spongiosum and corpora cavernosa
• urethra

Question 17

What are the cell types of the corpus spongiosium?

Answer 17

spongy fibrous tissue containing anastomosing vascular sinuses (the erectile tissue)

Question 18

What are the cell types of the urethra and what is its function?

Answer 18

• urothelium proximally and pseudostratified columnar epithelium distally
• it’s the duct for ejaculation and micturition

Question 19

What is semen?

Answer 19

the product of ejaculation

Question 20

What are the 6 components of the female reproductive system?

Answer 20

• paired ovaries
• uterine tubes
• uterus
• cervix
• vagina
• external genitalia

Question 21

What are the 6 major functions of the female reproductive system?

Answer 21

• 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)

Question 22

What happens during the ovarian cycle?

Answer 22

1 primordial follicle out of 20 undergoes ovulation and the corpus albicans regress completely

Question 23

What is the uterus?

Answer 23

pear-shaped organ whose mucosal lining endometrium provides the environment for foetal development

Question 24

What does the myometrium do?

Answer 24

expand greatly during pregnancy and provide protection for the foetus and mechanism for the expulsion of the foetus at birth

Question 25

What are the 3 phases of the cycle of change the endometrium proceeds through?

Answer 25

1. menstrual phase – endometrial shedding because of failure of fertilisation or implantation in the ovum
2. proliferative phase (14 days) – the endometrial stroma proliferates and becomes thicker and vascularised, and ovulation occurs
3. secretory phase (28 days) – release of progesterone from corpus luteum promotes secretion by the endometrial glands

Question 26

What are oral contraceptives composed of?

Answer 26

synthetic versions of oestrogens (e.g. oestradiol) and progesterones

Question 27

How do oral contraceptives work?

Answer 27

• 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

Question 28

What is the vagina?

Answer 28

a muscular tube that extends upward and backward from the vulva to the uterus

Question 29

Where does the upper and lower wall of the vagina lie?

Answer 29

• upper - above the pelvic floor
• lower - in the perineum

Question 30

What does the wall of the vagina consist of?

Answer 30

stratified squamous epithelium, smooth muscles and an outer adventitial layer

Question 31

What do superficial cells in the vagina do?

Answer 31

produce glycogen metabolised by vaginal commensal bacteria to form lactic acid

Question 32

What is the lamina propria of the oviduct and uterus?

Answer 32

endometrial stroma similar to mesenchyme; richly cellular, fine reticular fibres and few collagen fibres

Question 33

What is the epithelial lining of the oviduct?

Answer 33

simple columnar, ciliated and non-ciliated cells

Question 34

What is the epithelial lining of the uterus?

Answer 34

simple columnar with groups of ciliated cells; extends into lamina propria to form tubular (uterine) glands

Question 35

What is the epithelial lining of the endocervix?

Answer 35

tall columnar mucus secreting cells

Question 36

What is the epithelial lining of the vagina?

Answer 36

non-keratinised stratified squamous