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Biology 12 > Reproductive System > Flashcards

Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

Testes

A
  • contained within scrotum
  • produce sperm and male sex hormones
  • contain 250m of seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells
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2
Q

Seminiferous Tubules

A
  • tightly coiled tubules in testes
  • spermatogenesis occurs here
  • contain Sertoli cells
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3
Q

Interstitial Cells

A
  • lie between seminiferous tubules

- secrete male sex hormones (androgens)

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4
Q

epididymis

A
  • tightly coiled duct lying just outside each teste
  • for maturation of sperm cells
  • 4.5m long
  • if not ejaculated, sperm are reabsorbed after 60 days
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5
Q

ductus/vas deferens

A
  • connect epididymis to urethra

- store and conduct sperm to urethra just prior to ejaculation

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6
Q

seminal vesicles (accessory gland)

A
  • add to seminal fluid/semen via duct joining vas deferens
  • basic fluid of 7.5 neutralizes vaginal acidity
  • contain fructose (sperm energy source) and prostaglandins
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7
Q

prostate gland (accessory gland)

A
  • donut-shaped, surrounds urethra at base of bladder
  • secretions neutralize vaginal acidity and help make sperm motile
  • in older men, prostate may enlarge and pinch off urethra, making urination difficult
  • older men also require prostate check-ups to detect prostate cancer
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8
Q

Cowper’s/bulbourethral gland

A
  • pea-sized, lie beneath prostate on either side of urethra
  • fluid helps neutralize acidity of remaining urine in urethra
  • provides mucus for lubrication within urethra for sperm to swim through and flushes out urea
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9
Q

Urethra

A

combined passageway for sperm and urine

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10
Q

Penis

A
  • male organ of copulation
  • consists of erectile tissue
  • erection initiated by sympathetic nervous system, orgasm by parasympathetic
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11
Q

Pathway of sperm

A

epididymus -> ductus deferens -> urethra

*accessory glands contribute secretions to seminal fluid

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12
Q

Acrosome

A
  • cap on head of sperm, has enzymes

- more than 1 sperm must contribute enzymes to get through protective layer of egg

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13
Q

Head

A

contains 23 chromosomes (haploid)

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14
Q

Midpiece

A

has mitochondria for energy for “swimming”

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15
Q

Tail/flagella

A

provides locomotion/”swimming”

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16
Q

Scrotum

A
  • contains testes

- helps regulate temperature by raising/lowering testes (sperm production needs lower than body temp.)

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17
Q

Spermatogenesis

A

Sperm production

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18
Q

Sertoli cells

A

Support, nourish, and regulate developing sperm cells

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19
Q

Prostaglandins

A

Hormones that create uterine contractions to help propel sperm to egg

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20
Q

Ovaries

A
  • female gonads, oogenesis occurs here
  • females are born w/2 million follicles, each with an immature egg -> 300-400 thousand still viable at puberty -> only 400 mature during reproductive year
  • r & l ovaries alternate releasing 1 egg/month (ovulation)
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21
Q

oviducts/fallopian tubes

A
  • from uterus to ovaries
  • fimbriae help sweep egg into oviduct
  • egg moves to uterus via cilia & muscle contractions
  • egg lives 6-24 hours -> fertilization usually occurs in oviduct
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22
Q

Fimbriae

A
  • fingerlike projections at end of oviducts

- sweep egg from ovary into oviduct

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23
Q

Uterus/womb

A
  • above bladder
  • lining is called endometrium (where fetus implants)
  • implantation and fetal development occur here
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24
Q

cervix

A

muscular opening to uterus

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25
Q

vagina

A
  • cervix to external body surface
  • serves as birth canal, copulatory organ, and exit for menstrual flow
  • folded lining can extend to facilitate birth
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26
Q

clitoris

A
  • role in female orgasm

- analogous to gland on end of penis

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27
Q

the egg

A
  • 100 micrometers in diamater
  • must be fertilized within 24 hours of release to survive
  • granulosa cells surround egg & provide steroids & other growth factors
  • zona pellucida = layer enzymes from acrosome eat through
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28
Q

testosterone

A
  • male hormone
  • causes sex organs to grow & mature at puberty
  • promotes sperm production & maturation
  • development of secondary sexy characteristics (ie. hair, deeper voice, libido/sex drive)
  • increases metabolism by 15-20%
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29
Q

gonadotrophic-releasing hormone (GnRH)

A
  • male hormone
  • used by hypothalamus to control testes
  • stimulates ant. pituitary to produce LH and FSH
  • controlled by negative feedback system
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30
Q

lutenizing hormone (LH) in males vs. females

A
  • males: produces testosterone in interstitial cells

- females: guides cycle of ovulation

31
Q

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in males vs. females

A
  • males: spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules

- females: guides cycle of ovulation

32
Q

estrogen

A
  • female hormone
  • causes development of female genitalia
  • increases thickening of endometrium
  • increases water retention
  • causes uterus to contract & help sperm along
  • develops secondary sex characteristics (ie. broadening hips, breast development, adipose/fat tissue increase)
  • causes ant. pituitary to release LH
33
Q

progesterone

A
  • female hormone
  • development of endometrium in uterus
  • maintains lining in preparation for pregnancy
34
Q

ovarian cycle

A
  • results in ovulation
  • caused by variation in hormone levels
  • average cycle length = 28 days
  • follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase
35
Q

day 1-13: follicular phase

A
  • low levels of estrogen & progesterone stimulate GNRH release by hypothalamus
  • causes ant. pituitary to release FSH & LH
  • FSH causes development of Graafian Follicle, which produces estrogen
  • egg maturation causes small amounts of progesterone & lots of estrogen
36
Q

Graafian Follicle

A
  • development triggered by FSH

- cellular bag containing egg in ovary

37
Q

Day 14: ovulation (ovarian cycle)

A
  • estrogen levels peak causing ant. pit. to release LH
  • LH causes Graafian follicle to burst, releasing egg
  • fimbriae guide it into oviduct
38
Q

Day 15-28: luteal phase

A
  • LH continues to effect Graaf. foll. & changes it to corpus luteum
  • this produces large amounts of progesterone & small amounts of estrogen
39
Q

uterine/menstrual cycle

A
  • effects of estrogen & progesterone on endometrium
  • average is 28 day cycle (in synch w/ovarian cycle)
  • mentruation, proliferative phase, ovulation, secretory phase
40
Q

day 1-5: menstruation

A
  • low levels of estrogen & progesterone cause endometrium to disintegrate & blood vessels to rupture
  • lining breaks off and is eliminated through vagina
41
Q

day 6-13: proliferative phase

A
  • increased estrogen production from G. follicle causes endometrium to thicken & become vascular and glandular
42
Q

day 14: ovulation (menstrual cycle)

A

release of egg changes hormone levels

43
Q

day 15-28: secretory phase

A
  • increased progesterone by corpus luteum causes endometrium to increase in thickness & maturation and mucus secretion in uterine glands
  • endometrium is ready to recieve developing embryo
  • if no embryo implants, corpus luteum breaks down and lack of hormones trigger menstruation to begin
44
Q

Gametogenesis

A

either spermatogenesis or oogenesis

45
Q

Spermatogenesis

A
  • stem cells/spermatogonium divide by mitosis to produce primary spermatocytes
  • pri. spermatocytes -> meiosis 1 = secondary spermatocyte
  • sec. spermatocyte -> meiosis 2 = spermatids
  • spermatids undergo spermiogenesis, then are released into seminiferous tubule
46
Q

Spermatogonium

A
  • stem cells
  • 46
  • have all chromosomes
47
Q

Primary spermatocytes

A
  • produced by spermatogonium
  • 46
  • have all chromosomes
48
Q

Secondary spermatocytes

A
  • produced by primary spermatocytes
  • 23
  • half of chromosomes
49
Q

Spermatids

A

produced by secondary spermatocytes

50
Q

Spermiogenesis

A

spermatids tranform into flagellated sperm (spermatozoa)

51
Q

Oogenesis before puberty

A
  • prior to birth
  • oogenia divide by mitosis -> primary oocytes
  • fetus has all oocytes at 20wks…each has begun meiosis 1 and stopped…no further development until puberty
52
Q

Oogenesis at puberty

A
  • primary oocytes resume development (1/mo)
  • pri. oocyte grows -> meiosis 1 = 1 large sec. oocyte & small polar body (which doesn’t develop further)
  • sec. oocyte proceeds to metaphase of meiosis 2 then stops (only completed if fertilization occurs…entry of sperm re-starts cycle, meiosis 2 completed, sec. oocyte converted into fertilized egg/zygote + 2nd polar body)
53
Q

Oogenia

A
  • stem cells
  • all chromosomes
  • produce primary oocytes
54
Q

fertilization

A
  • sperm pass through egg’s coronta radiata, then through zona pelucida, and then cortical reaction occurs
55
Q

Coronta radiata

A

the egg’s outermost cell layer, sperm pass through it during fertilization

56
Q

Zona Pelucida

A

egg’s second layer, sperm use enzymes in acrosomes to pass through it during fertilization

57
Q

Cortical reaction during fertilization

A
  • egg becomes impermeable -> prevents fertilization
  • cell membrane of egg & sperm fuse
  • egg finishes meiotic division -> creates mature ovum
  • sperm’s tail & mitochondria degenerate (so all mitochondria in humans are of maternal origin)
  • male & female pronuclei fuse to form new nucleus (46 chromosomes)
58
Q

implantation

A
  • may occur several days after fertilization
  • zygote divides as it moves down fallopian tube
  • at uterus, embryo embeds itself into thickened endometrial lining
  • placenta produces Human Chorionic Gonadotrophic Hormone (HCG…what pregnancy tests look for)
  • HCG maintains corpus luteum to keep estrogen & progesterone levels high (no HCG = no corpus luteum)
  • Placenta will replace corpus luteum estrogen & progesterone with its own
59
Q

effects of progesterone & estrogen during implantation

A
  • shut down production of FSH = no new follicle during pregnancy
  • maintain endometrium = don’t need corpus luteum
60
Q

embryo development

A
  • zygote quickly goes through 2, 4, & 8 cell stages (called cleavage)
  • then through morula stage, blastula stage, gastrulation, embryonic period, and fetal period
61
Q

morula stage

A

many cells, but still same size as original fertilized egg

62
Q

blastula stage

A

hollow ball of cells

63
Q

gastrulation

A

indent forms, allowing for 3 layers to develop. Each layer becomes a different part/organ

64
Q

embryonic development period

A

up until end of 8th week

65
Q

fetal period

A

from end of 8th week until end of pregnancy

66
Q

support structures for fetus

A
  • blastocyst provides 2 major divisions of cells: 3-4 cells become fetus, ~100 cells form trophoblast
  • trophoblast produces 4 embryonic membranes
67
Q

4 embryonic membranes produced by trophoblast

A
  1. chorion (placenta)
  2. amnion (amniotic sac)
  3. yolk sac
  4. allontois (umbilical cord)
68
Q

birth

A
  • scientific name: partuition

- 3 stages: contractions, delivery, placenta

69
Q

Stage 1 of birth: Contractions

A
  • uterus begins series of wavelike contractions that shorten uterine muscles & widen/dialate cervix.
  • dialation -> release of oxytocin from post. pituitary -> oxy. causes more uterine contractions -> positive feedback loop maintained until delivery
  • stage 1 ends when cervix is fully dialated
70
Q

Stage 2 of birth: Delivery

A
  • baby pushed out through contractions & mother “bearing down” or pushing w/stomach muscles
  • if amniotic sac hasn’t broken yet, it does at this stage
71
Q

Stage 3 of birth: Placenta

A

placenta (afterbirth) is pulled away from uterine wall and expelled through vagina after baby

72
Q

Lactaction

A
  • breast buds & duct system are in fetus at 18 weeks
  • at puberty, estrogen & progesterone cause formation of adult breasts
  • lactogenesis: changing mammary glands to allow full lactation (caused by hormones)
  • 2 stages of lactation
73
Q

Stage 1 of lactation

A
  • mid-pregnancy
  • glands able to secrete milk
  • high levels of progesterone & estrogen stop secretion of milk
74
Q

Stage 2 of lactation

A
  • occurs about time of delivery
  • onset of copious milk secretion
  • removal of placenta is necessary for initiation of milk secretion
  • hormones prolactin & oxytocin are essention for successful lactation

Biology 12 (14 decks)

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