Reproductive system

Question 1

What are ex hormones, and what are the three main types?

Answer 1

Ex hormones are steroid hormones that control sexual development and reproduction. The three main types are androgens, estrogens, and progestins.

Question 2

What is a gonad, and what hormones do testes and ovaries produce?

Answer 2

A gonad is a gland that produces sex hormones. Testes primarily produce androgens, while ovaries primarily produce estrogens and progestins.

Question 3

What do the testes primarily synthesize, and what is their function?

Answer 3

The testes primarily synthesize androgens, mostly testosterone, which stimulate puberty and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Question 4

What does gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus do?

Answer 4

GnRH signals the anterior pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Question 5

What is the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the testes?

Answer 5

LH stimulates Leydig cells to release testosterone.

Question 6

What is the role of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the testes?

Answer 6

FSH keeps Sertoli cells active.

Question 7

What happens if there is too much testosterone in the blood?

Answer 7

-Sertoli cells secrete inhibin, which inhibits FSH secretion.

-LH secretion from the pituitary is inhibited.

• GnRH secretion from the hypothalamus is inhibited.

Question 8

GnRH

Answer 8

gonadotropin releasing hormone

Question 9

LH

Answer 9

luteinizing hormone

Question 10

FSH

Answer 10

follicle stimulating hormone

Question 11

What is spermatogenesis, and where does it occur?

Answer 11

Spermatogenesis is the production of sperm from germ cells called spermatogonia. It occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, where Sertoli cells support meiosis and provide nutrients.

Question 12

How long does the full process of spermatogenesis take?

Answer 12

The full process of spermatogenesis takes about 9-10 weeks.

Question 13

How many sperm are produced daily during spermatogenesis?

Answer 13

Approximately 130 million sperm are produced each day by around 125 million tubules.

Question 14

Where are sperm stored until ejaculation?

Answer 14

Sperm are stored in the epididymis until ejaculation.

Question 15

What do the ovaries primarily synthesize, and what is their function?

Answer 15

The ovaries primarily synthesize estrogens, mostly estradiol, which stimulate puberty and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Question 16

What does GnRH from the hypothalamus signal the anterior pituitary to release?

Answer 16

GnRH signals the anterior pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Question 17

What does LH do in the ovaries?

Answer 17

LH stimulates the release of estrogens.

Question 18

What does FSH do in the ovaries?

Answer 18

FSH stimulates the release of progestins, mainly progesterone.

Question 19

What starts the female reproductive cycle?

Answer 19

The release of GnRH from the hypothalamus, which stimulates the pituitary to release FSH and LH into the blood.

Question 20

What happens on day 1 of the female reproductive cycle?

Answer 20

FSH stimulates oocytes to begin meiosis. Each oocyte is surrounded by follicle cells, and one follicle usually reaches maturity.

Question 21

What happens around day 14 of the female reproductive cycle?

Answer 21

Estrogen secretion by the follicle peaks, stimulating large amounts of GnRH, which leads to increased secretion of FSH and LH.

Question 22

What happens after LH stimulates the follicle around day 14?

Answer 22

LH stimulates the follicle to rupture, releasing the ovum into the oviduct (fallopian tube). The ruptured follicle becomes a corpus luteum, which acts as an endocrine gland.

Question 23

What hormones does the corpus luteum secrete, and what are their functions?

Answer 23

The corpus luteum secretes estrogens, progesterone, and inhibin.

-Progesterone stimulates the growth of the uterine lining (endometrium).

-Progesterone and inhibin both inhibit FSH and LH.

Question 24

What happens if the ovum is not fertilized?

Answer 24

The corpus luteum shrinks, and progesterone and inhibin levels drop. By about day 26, FSH and LH secretion is no longer inhibited, and the ovarian cycle prepares to restart.

Question 25

What happens on day 1 of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 25

Day 1 marks the beginning of follicle development in the ovary, while the endometrium from the previous cycle breaks down and exits the body.

Question 26

What happens between days 1 to 5 of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 26

Blood and tissues from the breakdown of the endometrium are removed from the body through the vagina. When the flow ceases, the endometrium begins to redevelop.

Question 27

What happens around day 14 and by day 28 of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 27

round day 14, ovulation occurs, and if fertilization doesn’t happen, the endometrium disintegrates by day 28, starting the cycle again.

Question 28

How do birth control pills prevent ovulation?

Answer 28

Birth control pills keep estrogen and progesterone levels high, inhibiting FSH, which prevents the follicle from maturing and ovulation.

Question 29

What happens after about 450 ovarian cycles?

Answer 29

Menopause occurs, marking the cessation of ovulation and menstruation.

Question 30

What regulates gametogenesis, and how does it differ for ova and sperm?

Answer 30

Hormones regulate gametogenesis, which is meiosis. The process differs for ova and sperm.

Question 31

How does oogenesis differ from spermatogenesis?

Answer 31

-Oogenesis has resting periods, while spermatogenesis occurs continuously.

-Sperm are produced throughout life, but people with ovaries are born with all oocytes.

-In oogenesis, cytokinesis is unequal, with one cell keeping most of the cytoplasm and the other three becoming polar bodies.