Reproductive system Flashcards
define sex:
biological characteristics that define humans as female or male
define intersex:
people born with physical/ biological sex characteristics not fitting traditional male/female
general function of reproductive organs:
- produce gametes
- for fertilisation
- females: growth of embryo and fetus
male reproductive organs: grouped based on function
- gonads
- ducts
- accessory sex glands
- supporting structures
male reproductive organs: gonads
testes
male reproductive organs: ducts
- epididymis
- ductus (vas) deferens
- ejaculatory ducts
- urethra
male reproductive organs: accessory sex glands
- seminal vesicles
- prostate glands
- bulbourethral glands
male reproductive organs: supporting structures
penis, scrotum
copulatory organs
scrotum: physical features
- highly pigmented skin
- highly vascular
- scrotum internally divided - scrotal septum
- externally divided- scrotal raphe
scrotum: name musculature
dartos muscle,
cremaster muscle
scrotum: dartos muscle
- smooth muscle
- wrinkles/relaxes skin of scrotum
scrotum: cremaster muscle
- skeletal muscle
- elevates/ lowers testes
testes: general features
oval paired glands
- produce sperm and hormonse
testes: covered by
serous covering: tunica vaginalis (extension of peritoneum)
fibrous capsule: tunica albuginea (DICT)
testes: tunica albuginea
extends inwards, divides tested into lobules
testes: lobules contains, and pathway
- contain 2-3 seminiferous tubules
rete testis-> efferent ducts -> ductus epidiymis
testes: seminiferous tubules features
- produce sperm
- enveloped by loose ct rich in blood, lymphatic vessels, nerves
seminiferous tubules cell types: eg
spermatogenic cells (form sperm) - Sertoli cells (sustentacular cells- support, protection, nourishment)
Leydid cells:
found in btw seminiferous tubules ,
- produce testosterone
epididymis: features
- located on posterior border of each testis
- has head, body, tail
- highly coiled tube, enveloped by smooth m. cells
- Psudostratified columnar epithelium- stereocilia
- site of sperm maturation -> acquire motility, ability to fertilise
epididymis: storage of sperm:
- several months
- phagocytised if not used
- sperm propelled into ductus (vas) deferens during arousal: peristaltic movements of smooth m.
ductus deferens: features
continuation of duct of epididymis: conveys sperm to urethra, stores sperm
ductus deferens: ampulla
- dilated terminal portion of ductus deferens
- ends: joining duct of seminal gland = ejaculatory duct (carries sperm to urethra)
ductus deferens: two layers and features
mucosa: PCE
muscularis: thick muscular wall, 3 layers of muscle -> firm cordlike
spermatic cord: features
- supporting structures of male reproductive system
features:
- ductus deferens
- testicular artery
- veins (pampiniform plexuses)
- nerves
- lymphatics
accessory sex glands: seminal vesicles features: location, secretions, %
- located posterior to base of urinary bladder
- secretes alkaline fluid, high in fructose (energy source for sperm, neutralise acidic env. male urethra, female reproductive tract)
- secretes clotting agents too, mix with sperm-> no leaking out
- 60% of semen
- unites with ampulla (ductus deferens) = ejaculatory duct opening in prostatic urethra
accessory sex glands: prostate - location, secretion, features
- inferior to urinary bladder
- surrounds prostatic urethra
milky, slightly acidic secretion: (activates sperm)
- citric acid (ATP)
- protein digesting enzymes
- 25% semen
prostate: cells
- collection of tubuloacinar glands (cuboidal, p.columnar epithelium)
- fibromuscular stroma
- surrounded by fibroelastic capsule which penetrates through gland = septa
accessory sex glands: Bulbourethral gland
- pea sized
- inferior to prostate, lateral to membranous urethra
- during arousal secrete ‘alkaline substance’ into urethra -> protect sperm from urine in urethra
- secrete mucous to lubricate end of penis (lil damaged sperm during ejaculation)
semen: features
- sperm + seminal fluid
- 2.5-5ml
- coagulates after ejaculation
- prostatic secretions (milky colour)
- seminal vesicles + bulbourethral gland secretions (sticky)
- antibiotics to kill bacteria
penis: features
- root, body (pendulous part), glans
- anatomical position: erect (flaccid: dorsum inferiorly)
penis: body- name 3 cylindrical masses of tissue, covered by
covered by tunica albuginea
- 2x corpora cavernosa
- corpus spongiosum
penis: corpora cavernosa
- paired dorsolateral masses
- erectile cavernous tissue
penis: corpus spongiosum
- single ventral mass
- contains: cavernous erectile tissue, spongy (penile) urethra, expanded region: glans, prepuce (foreskin)
penis: root
- attached portion
- bulb of penis (extended base of corpus spongiosum)
- crura (extended portion of corpora cavernosa) -> attached to internal surface of ischial ramus
female reproductive organs: name 3 groups
- internal
- external
- mammary glands
female reproductive organs: internal parts
- ovaries
- uterine (fallopian) tubes
- uterus
- vagina
female reproductive organs: external
-vulva
ovaries: features
- almond shaped glands
- located lateral walls of lesser pelvis
- produces gametes + hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, relaxin)
name all ovarian ligaments:
- mesovarium
- broad ligament
- ovarian ligament
- suspensory ligament
- round ligament
ovarian ligaments: mesovarium, broad
mesovarium: subdivision of larger mesentery of uterus (broad lig)
broad: mesentery of uterus
ovarian ligaments: ovarian, suspensory lig.
ovarian: tethers ovary to uterus
suspensory: continuous with mesovarium, ascends and attaches to pelvic wall
ovarian ligaments: round lig
uterine horns, continues to labia fibres
- fibres spread and mix with tissues of mon pubis
ovaries: covered by
germinal epithelium: covers surface of ovary (simple cuboidal/ squamous)
tunica albuginea (DICT)
ovaries: two regions
cortex: ovarian follicles
medulla: blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic vessels
ovarian follicles:
oocytes in various stages of development surrounded by follicular/ granulosa cells (nourish, secrete oestrogen as follicle grows)
mature follicle:
aka graafian
- large fluid filled
- ready for ovulation
corpus luteum:
remnants of mature follicle after ovulation
- maintains pregnancy
- releases progesterone, oestrogen, relaxin, inhibin -> regressed c.l= corpus albicans
uterine tubes: features
extends from uterus, open near ovaries
- transport secondary oocyte
uterine tubes: divides into
infundibulum: funnel shaped (ends in fimbriae- fingers)
ampulla: longest, widest portion, usual place of fertilisation
isthmus: narrow region
ovaries: surface covering and location
- not covered by peritoneum,
- suspended in peritoneal cavity
process of oocyte movement: ovulation
- expelled into peritoneal cavity
- intraperitoneal life is short before trapped by fimbrae
uterine tubes: wall layers
- mucosa (simple ciliated columnar)
- muscularis (inner thick circular, outer thin longitudinal layer of smooth m.)
- serosa
uterus: features
- thick walled, pear shaped
- on top of urinary bladder
- neck (cervix) btw bladder and rectum
- site of implantation, fetal development, menstrual flow
uterus: reflexion fo peritoneum forms:
2 pouches
- vesicouterine: bladder and uterus
- rectouterine: (aka pouch of Douglas) uterus and rectum
name uterus ligaments
- broad
- cardinal
- round
- uterosacral
uterus: divided into
fundus: superior to isthmus of uterine tube
- body: btw layers of broad lig.
- cervix: cervical canal, internal/ external os
uterus: wall layers
- perimetrium/ serosa: peritoneum (simple squamous, areolar ct.)
- myometrium: 3 layers of smooth m.
- endometrium: (simple columnar) thick lamina propra, uterine glands,
2 layers: stratum functionalis, stratum basalis
ectopic pregnancy:
when fertilised oocyte implants outside uterus
vagina: features
- fibromuscular canal btw uterine cervix, and exterior of body
- usually collapsed
- receptacle for penis
- menstrual flow, childbirth
vagina: fornix
anterior, posterior, 2 lateral
- recess around cervix
vagina: hymen
vascularised mucous membrane, partially closing vaginal orifice
vagina: wall layers
- muscosa (non-keratinised stratified squamous), rugae
contains glycogen -> decomposes -> organic acids which retard microbial growth - muscularis (inner circular, outer longitudinal layers of smooth m.)
- adventitia (areolar ct.)
vulva: name features
external genitals:
- mons pubis
- labia majora
- labia minora
- clitoris
- vestibule
vulva: mons pubis, clitoris, vestibule
mons: (adipose tissue covered by skin)
clitoris: cylinder of erectile tissue, nerves
vestibule: region btw labia minora
vulva: labia majora, labia minora
majora: (2 folds of skin covered in pubic hair) -> adipose tissue, sweat and oil glands
minora: skin folds devoid of pubic hair, fat
vulva: within the vestibule
- hymen
- vaginal orifice
- external urethral orifice
- ducts of greater vestibular glands (Bartholin’s) -> mucous for lubrication, equivalent of male Bulbourethral glands
bulb of vestibule:
2 elongated erectile bodies, deep to labia on both sides of vaginal orifice
perineum: features
- BOTH SEXES
- external SA inferior to pelvic diaphragm, osseous boundaries
- btw genitals and anus
- urogenital and anal triangles
mammary glands:
suspensory ligaments attach breast to dermis and fascia
- each lobule (glandular tissue) drained into mammary ducts
- deep to areola each duct has dilated portion: lactiferous sinus
