Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the two groups of sex organs and what does each contain?
Primary Sex Organs - produce gametes (ovaries, testes)
Secondary/Accessory Sex Organs - nourish gametes and transport them (glands, external genitalia)
What are the primary and secondary sex organs of the male?
Primary - Testes (produce sperm & testosterone)
Secondary -
- scrotum,
- epididymis,
- ducts deferens,
- ejaculatory duct,
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral gland
- seminal vesicle
- urethra
- penis
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Testes
- oval shaped gland that produces sperm and testosterone
- contain about 1,000 coiled seminiferous tubules (site of sperm production)
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Scrotum
- dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle that encloses the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord
3
Penis
- copulatory organ that surrounds urethra
- contains three masses of erectile tissue
What is the round structure shown here?
What is their function and what are their cells?
Seminiferous Tubule
- convoluted tubules which are sites of sperm production and maturation within testes
- Spermatogenic Cells - sperm-forming cells
- Sustentacular (Sertoli) Cells - support cells
Indicated by blue arrows:
Spermatogonia
- AKA spermatogenic cells
- stem cells within seminiferous tubules
Green arrow:
What is it?
What is its function?
Sertoli (Sustentacular) Cells
- support cells which surround and nourish spermatogenic cells
- extend from basal lamina of tuble to lumen
- produce secretions
part A
- what is its function?
- where are they?
Leydig (interstitial) Cells
- secretes testosterone into surrounding interstitial fluid
- surround seminiferous tubules
What is the process of sperm cell production called? And what are its two stages?
Spermatogenesis
Stage 1: _Meiosis _
Stage 2: Spermiogenesis - spermatids differentiate into mature sperm
What are the stages of spermatogenesis from spermatogonium to spermatozoa?
- Spermatogonium
- Primary Spermatocyte (single diploid cell)
- Meiosis I
- Secondary Spermatocyte (two haploids)
- Meisosis II
- Early Spermatid (four haploid cells)
- Late spermatid (now have flagella)
- Spermatozoa
What is the order of the reproductive duct system in males from seminiferous tubule to urethra?
- Seminiferous tubule
- Rete testes
- Efferent Ductule
- Epididymis
- Ductus deferens
- Spermatic cord
- Urethra
What do A, B and C make up?
What are its regions (A, B and C) ?
Its function?
Epididymis
- coiled duct posterior to each testis
- connects tubules of testis to ductus deferens
- site of sperm maturation and storage
Regions:
- Head - efferent ductules empty here (A)
- Body - middle portion just posterior to testis (B)
- Tail - end inferior to testis, just before ductus deferens (C)
Vas (Ductus) Deferens
- duct that carries sperm from epididymis to ejaculatory duct
- has thick muscularis layer in its wall
Starred structure:
What is its covering and what does it contain?
Spermatic Cord
- tube of fibrous CT that contains testicular blood vessels, nerves and vas deferens
- runs from inside scrotum, out via the inguinal canal
What is this passage?
inguinal canal
- passage in anterior abdominal wall through which spermatic cord passes
Prostatic Urethra
- part of urethra extending through prostate gland
Membranous Urethra
- part of urethra that travels through urogenital diaphragm
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Spongy Urethra
- AKA penile urethra
- part of urethra that passes through penis
Indicated by red arrow:
External Urethral Orifice
What are the three accessory glands of the male reproductive system?
- Seminal Vesicles (paired)
- Prostate Gland (single)
- Bulbourethral Gland (paired)
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Seminal Vesicles
- pair of glands that produce ~60% of volume of semen
- secretes fluid containing fructose (to nourish sperm) into ampulla of vas deferens
ejaculatory duct
- duct where seminal vesicle meets vas deferens
- conducts sperm and seminal fluid into urethra
Prostate Gland
- round gland surrounding prostatic urethra
- 20-30 tubuloalveolar glands in dense CT and smooth muscle
- secretes ~1/3 of seminal fluid
- site where ejaculatory duct meets urethra
size? location? function?
Bulbourethral (or Cowper’s) Glands
- pair of pea-sized mucus glands at base of penis, inferior to prostate, right at the level of the urogenital diaphragm
- produce mucus that cleanses the urethra of urine and lubricates it just prior to ejaculation
What is this covering?
tunica albuginea
- thick white fibrous capsule covering testis
What do #2 and #3 make up?
tunica vaginalis
- serous covering of the testis
What are the three main parts of the penis?
Root - where it attaches to the body
Shaft - the body of the penis
Glans penis - the enlarged tip of the shaft
Prepuce
- foreskin of the penis
3
corpus cavernosa
- two paired cylindrical bodies of erectile tissue
- dorsolaterally located on the penis
2
corpus spongiosum
- single cylindrical body of erectile tissue surrounding urethra
- fills with blood during erection
1
Urethra
What are the two groupings of sex organs in the female reproductive system (and their respective organs)?
Primary Organs - Ovaries
Secondary/Accessory Organs -
- mons pubis
- labia minora/majora
- clitoris
- vagina
- cervix
- uterus
- fallopian tubes
- fimbria
- mammary glands
Functions of the Female Reproductive System
- produce gametes
- prepares to support developing embryo
- undergoes changes during menstrual cycle
Paired whitish glands here:
- function?
- how are they held in place?
- what is their functional unit?
Ovary
- produce eggs and secrete estrogen and progesterone
- held in place by ligaments and mesenteries
- composed of Ovarian Follicles in which oocytes mature
What’s this entire structure?
Ovarian Follicle
- oocytes surrounded by follicular cells
What are the stages of maturation of an ovarian follicle?
- Primordial Follicle
- Primary Follicle
- Secondary Follicle
- Graafian Follicle
red arrow:
Primordial Follicle
- least mature follicles
- indentified by its single layer of flattened follicular cells surrounding the oocyte
Primary Follicle
- second stage of follicular maturation
- larger oocyte surrounded by one ore more layers of cuboidal follicular cells
- secretes estrogen to stimulate change in uterine lining
Secondary Follicle
- many layers of follicular cells around a much larger oocyte
- fluid-filled space called antrum now present
Graafian Follicle
- AKA vesicular or mature follicle
- secondary oocyte, numerous layers of follicular cells and large crescent-shaped antrum (larger than antrum in secondary follicle
Oocyte
- egg cells
visible layer just inside folliculuar cells
zona pellucida
- translucent glycoprotein coat around oocyte which sperm must penetrate in order to fertilize the egg
Blue arrow
Corona Radiata
- innermost layer of follicular cells surrounding oocyte
- external to zona pellucida
Ovulation
- How does it happen?
- How often?
- About every 28 days a follicle ruptures at the surface of the ovary and the fimbriae usher it into the fallopian tube
1 and #2
Corpus Luteum
- “yellow body” part of follicle which remains in ovary after ovulation
- secretes estrogen and progesterone to stimulate buildup of uterine lining and prepare for possible oocyte fertilization
- in slides, much larger than follicles and have no visible oocytes
- degenerates into Corpus Albicans (“white body”)
What does the black line indicate?
What process occurs here?
Fallopian Tube
- AKA oviduct or uterine tube
- ducts that receive oocyte from fimbriae and conduct it towards the uterus
- attached to uterus, but not ovaries
- fertilization occurs within the fallopian tube
2
Fimbriae
- finger-like projections on oviducts that extend into pelvic cavity
- contain cilia that beat toward the entrance of the oviduct, conducting eggs from ovaries into the duct
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infundibulum
- funnel-shaped lateral margin of fallopian tube
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function?
uterus
- hollow organ between bladder and rectum
- receives, retains and nourishes fertilized egg
- implantation, placenta formation and fetal development occur here
Cervix
- most inferior part of uterus
- muscular ring which projects into vagina
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Fundus
- superior dome-shaped region of uterus where oviducts enter
body of uterus
- main portion of uterus inferior to fundus
- tapers downward toward cervix
Yellow highlighted portion:
isthmus
- slightly narrow region between body of uterus and cervix
What are the three layers of the uterine wall?
- Perimetrium - outer visceral peritoneum
- Myometrium - middle layer; bundles of smooth muscle
- Endometrium - mucosal lining shed during menstruation
Perimetrium
- outer visceral peritoneum
Myometrium
- thick layer of smooth muscle in uterine wall
- contracts during labor to expel the fetus
Endometrium
- innermost uterine layer
- mucus mebrane where embryo implants after arriving from uterine tube
- simple columnar epithelium and lamina propria
- sheds during menstruation if no pregnancy occurs
Green highlighted area:
Vagina
- 4 to 6 inch tube between uterus and external genitalia that accepts the penis during sexual intercourse
- serves as passageway during childbirth
- has muscularis layer in its wall
Fornix
- superior space in vagina formed by cervix’ protrusion into vagina
Folds indicated by pencil and lines:
Rugae
- folds of mucosa
Vaginal Orifice
- external opening of the vagina
Mons Pubis
- mound of skin and subcutaneous CT anterior to pubic symphysis
- covered with pubic hair in postpubescent females
Labia Majora
- pair of external folds of fatty tissue lateral to labia minora
- covered with hair and sebaceous glands
- enclose the openings of the urethra and vagina, merging behind the vagina
Labia Minora
- smaller hairless folds within labia majora
- enclose vestibule
- unite anteriorly to form clitoris
Clitoris
- small mass of erectile tissue at anterior meeting of the labia minora
- corresponds to the male penis
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Prepuce
- fold of labia minora that covers clitoris
What is the space between the labia minora called?
Vestibule
- contains the vaginal orifice and urethral opening
Urethral Opening
AKA external urethral orifice
- Highlighted green area
Urethra
- muscular tube that carries urine from bladder to exterior
What is this diamond-shaped area?
Perineum
- bounded by pubic symphysis, ischial tuberosities and coccyx
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Urogenital Diaphragm
- double layer of pelvic fascia with included muscle between ischial and pubic rami
- traversed by vagina, gives passage to membranous urethra and encloses urethral sphincter
What are the milk-producing glands called?
They are specialized versions of what kind of glands?
mammary glands
- specialized sweat glands
- 15-20 lobes, lactiferous duct of each opens at nipple
- present in both sexes, functional in lactating females only
What is this entire layer?
How is it distinguishable from other layers in slides?
(not just the arrow)
Endometrium
- innermost layer of uterus
- borders the endometrial cavity
- simple columnar epithelium and underlying lamina propria with simple tubular uterine glands (indicated by red arrow; these help distinguish it in slides)
What is the dark purple layer arcing above the smaller layer riddled with tubules?
myometrium
- thick muscular middle layer of uterus
- three intertwining layers of smooth muscle
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Perimetrium
- outermost uterine layer; visceral peritoneum
- loose CT with lymphatic vessels
