Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Medical Science > Reproductive System > Flashcards

Reproductive System Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

Number of eggs at birth

A

About 7 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Number of eggs ovulated in a lifetime

A

About 400

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Neurohypophysis

A

Posterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Adrenohypophysis

A

Anterior pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Sperm produced per second per testis

A

1500

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

4 water soluble hormones

A

GnRH
LH
FSH
Oxytocin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

3 lipid soluble hormone classes

A

Androgens
Oestrogens
Progestagens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

2 androgens

A

Testosterone

5 alpha dihydrotestosterone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

3 oestrogens

A

Oestradiol
Oestriol
Oestrone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The main progestagen

A

Progesterone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe how hormones are released from the posterior pituitary

A

Neurosecretory neurons are aggregated into nuclei and possess long axons that pass into the posterior pituitary
Neurosecretory peptide hormones are synthesised in the hypothalamus and travel bound to carrier proteins down the axon terminals to be stored in secretory vesicles
Nerve impulses travel down the axon to trigger exocytosis of the secretory vesicles releasing the peptide hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe how hormones are released from the anterior pituitary

A

Neurosecretory neurons synthesise releasing and inhibiting hormones which travel to the axon terminus
Neurosecretory peptide hormones are secreted in response to nerve impulses into linking hypophyseal portal vessels
Hormones act on specific anterior pituitary secretory cells arranged in clumps at the termini of the portal blood vessel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Pulsatile release

A

Hypothalamic secretions released in discrete bursts separated by periods of stasis
Prevents receptor desensitisation and downregulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Vagina

A

Elastic muscular 7.5-9.0 cm tbue extending from cervix to external environment
Passageway for menstrual fluid elimination
Penis receiver
Sperm holder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Uterus

A

Small pear shaped organ hat weighs 30 - 40 g
Pathway for sperm transport
Provides mechanical protection, nutritional support and waste removal for embryo
Source of menstrual flow
Normally antiflex (90 degrees to vagina) but can be retroflex (not 90 degrees)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stratum functionalis

A

Contains most of the uterine glands

During menstruation, expands, vascularises and sloughs off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Stratum basalis

A

Attaches endometrium to myometrium

Responsive to oxytocin by contracting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Uterine tubes

A

Fertilisation occurs in the ampulla
Provides a rich, nutritive environment containing lipids and glycogen for sperm, egg and embryo
Epithelial lining is ciliated and non-ciliated secretory columnar cells
Mucosa surrounded by concentric layers of smooth muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Fimbriae

A

Cilia like structures that partially cover the ovary and dray the oocyte into the uterine tube

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Ovaries

A

Oval structures that weight 5 - 10 g

Comprised of cortex, medulla and hilum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Outer ovarian cortex

A

Contains developing ovarian folllicles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Central ovarian medulla

A

Consists of ovarian stroma and steroid producing cells

23
Q

Inner hilum

A

Acts as a point of entry for nerves and blood vessels

24
Q

McDonalds rule

A

A measure of normal pregnancy growth is measuring the distance from top of uterus to pubic bone
Number of cm should be roughly equal to number of weeks pregnant

25
Q

Primordial follicle

A

The oocyte surrounded by flat follicular cells

26
Q

Primary follicle

A

Increase in size, squamous cells convert to columnar cells

Can be one layer of granulosa cells (used to be the follicular cells) or more layers depending on maturity of follicle

27
Q

Secondary follicle

A

Granulosa cells proliferate and produce a viscous follicular fluid that coalesces to form an antrum
Thecal cells condense and form around follicle to become the theca interna and theca externa
Any follicle that has an antrum but no stalk is considered secondary

28
Q

Mature follicle

A

Oocyte becomes suspended in fluid as the antrum grows

It is connected to the rim of peripheral granulosa cells by a thin stalk of cells

29
Q

Ovulation

A

Increasing size of the follicle and its position in the cortex causes it to bulge from the ovarian surface
The follicle ruptures, carrying the oocyte and its surrounding mass of cumulus cells with it outside the ovary
The fimbria sweep the sumulus mass into the uterine tube

30
Q

Corpus luteum (no fertilisation)

A

Empty follicle
Antrum breaks down
Basement membrane between granulosa and thecal layers breaks down
Blood vessels invade
Granulosa cells form lutein cells and secrete progesterone
The white scar tissue remaining is absorbed back into the stromal tissue of the ovary over weeks to months

31
Q

Corpus albicans

A

The white scar tissue left over from the corpus luteum after luteinisation and without fertilisation

32
Q

Corpus luteum (fertilisation)

A

Corpus luteum is rescued from degeneration by hCG produced by the chorion of the embryo and persists past its normal 2 week lifespan

33
Q

Theca interna

A

Inner layer
Glandular and highly vascular
Secrete oestradiol

34
Q

Theca externa

A

Surrounding fibrous capsule

Supportive

35
Q

Describe the hormonal changes in the female reproductive cycle

A

Corpus luteum regresses, FSH levels increase
FSH stimulation increases follicular growth
After 6 - 7 days, dominant follicle is selected, oestradiol secreted by mature follicle
Oestradiol suppresses FSH and LH production
Oestrogen levels rise until a threshold concentration of oestradiol is exceeded (about day 12) which is maintained for 36 hours causing a switch from negative to positive feedback
The positive feedback triggers a rise in GnRH leading to LH surge
LH surge induces ovulation
Corpus luteum develops and secretes progesterone
Elevated progesterone levels inhibit GnRH leading to decreased LH and FSH levels
Corpus luteum regresses

36
Q

Describe the uterine cycle in terms of its phases

A 
Menstruation
- Menstrual phase
- Days 1 - 5
- Very thin stratum functionalis
Proliferative phase
- Preovulatory phase (days 6 - 12)
- Stratum functionalis increasing in thickness
- Ovulatory phase (days 13 - 15)
Secretory phase
- Postovulatory phase
- Days 16 - 28
- Huge increase in stratum functionalis thickness - peaks around day 24
37
Q

Describe how female sex differentiation occurs

A

The default mechanism
In the absence of testosterone, estrogens and progestagens secreted allowing Mullerian duct development and Wolffian ducts regress
Internal female genitals created

38
Q

Describe how male sex differentiation occurs

A

Sertoli cells secrete anti-Mullerian hormone which leads to Mullerian duct regression
Leydig cells secrete testosterone which leads to Wolffian duct development which leads to internal male genitals

39
Q

Describe what the urethral folds turn into

A

Male: Penis shaft
Female: Labia minora

40
Q

Describe what the genital tubercle turns into

A

Male: Glans penis
Female: Clitoris

41
Q

Describe what the labioscrotal swelling turns into

A

Male: Scrotum
Female: Labia majora

42
Q

First endocrine sign of puberty

A

GnRH release causing an increase in plasma LH levels

43
Q

Secondary sexual characteristic development in females

A

1) Breast development
2) Pubic hair
3) Height spurt
4) Menarche
Starts and stops by oestrogens

44
Q

Secondary sexual characteristic development in males

A

1) Testis development
2) Pubic hair
3) Penis growth
4) Height spurt
Starts by androgens, stops by oestrogens

45
Q

Describe how pubic hair begins to grow

A

Exposure of hair follicles to increased androgens causes increased hair growth

46
Q

Describe why ovulation doesn’t start at the same time as the first menstrual bleed

A

Ovulation requires an oestrogen-mediated positive feedback mechanism causing an LH surge which isn’t fully developed at the time of the first bleed
Ovulation can lag behind for about a year after the first bleed

47
Q

Menopausal phases

A 
Pre-menopause
- 40 years 
- regular menstrual cycles
Menopausal transition
- 46 - 52 years
- end of regular cycles, some still occur
- pre-menopause to post-menopause
Peri-menopause
- 46 - 55 years
- pre-menopause to ovarian senescence
Post-menopause
- 52 years
- no more menstruation
- ovary still functioning
Ovarian senescence
- 55 years
- no more eggs, ovary no longer functioning
48
Q

Symptoms of menopause

A 
Vasomotor
- hot flushes
- night sweats
Genitourinary
- atrophic changes
- vaginal dryness
Bone metabolism
- osteoporosis
Behavioural
- depression, tension, anxiety
- loss of libido
49
Q

Precocious puberty

A

Puberty before 7 in girls and 9 in boys

GnRH dependent problem, often due to a hypothalamus tumour that increases GnRH levels

50
Q

Delayed puberty

A

Lack of puberty at 13 in girls and 14 in boys

Gonadotrophin signals from pituitary inadequate for sex steroid hormone secretion

51
Q

Seminiferous tubules

A

Where spermatogenesis occurs

20,000 sperm per second in a male

52
Q

Stages of sperm production

A 
Spermatogonium
Primary spermatocyte
Secondary spermatocyte
Spermatid
Spermatozoon
53
Q

Spermatogenesis

A

At puberty, primary germ cells are reactivated - not spermatogonial stem cells
Spermatogonia divide by mitosis 6 times - 1 cell left undifferentiated each time to maintain stem cell population
Primary spermatocyte goes through meiosis I, dividing the pairs of chromosomes into separate cells
Secondary spermatocyte goes through meiosis II, dividing the pairs of chromatids into separate cells
Spermatid grows a tail and develops into spermatozoon

Medical Science (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions