Reproductive System Flashcards
Reproductive system
includes gonads, reproductive tract and accessory sex glands
Reproductive tract
system of ducts for transport and/or housing the gametes after production
Accessory sex glands
provide supportive secretions into these ducts
What are gonads
- reproductive organs; occur in pairs
- males: testes
- females: ovaries
Function of gonads?
1) Produce gametes (sperm in males, eggs in females)
2) secrete sex hormones (testosterone in males, estrogen/progesterone in females)
What are the female reproductive functions?
- oogenesis
- reception of sperm
- fertilization
- gestation
- partrition
- lactation
Genetic sex determined by…
conception by combination of X and Y chromosomes
Gonadal sex determined by…
genetic sex & whether testes or ovaries develop
Phenotypic sex determined by…
- gonadal sex
- repr. apparent anatomic sex of an indiv.
Functions of testosterone
1) affects reproductive system before birth
2) @ puberty, secretion continues & affects cell-specific tissues and other reproductive effects
3) secondary sex characteristics
4) nonreproductive actions
Sertoli cells
- Form tight junctions
- Nourishment to sperm
- Destroy defective
- Secretes fluid that flush
- Secretes androgen-binding protein
- Where FSH & LH act, produce inhibin
Menstrual cycle
female reproductive tract prepped for fertilization & implantation of ovum released from ovary @ ovulation
ovarian cycle
consists of alternating follicular & luteal phases
follicular phase
to mature that egg
luteal phase
presence of corpus luteum; to prepare for fertilization
