Reproductive system Flashcards
What are the three main functions of the male reproductive system?
- produces, stores and transports sperm
- produce and secrete ‘testosterone’
- Required to deposit sperm into female reproductive tract
What are the three main types of structures in the spermatic cord
- blood vessels
- nerves
- ductus deferens
What two blood vessels are found in the spermatic cord
- testicular artery
- pampiniform plexus (cooling)
What does the ductus deferens fo?
transports sperm to ejaculatory duct
Where does the superior portion of the ductus deferens run through
The inguinal canal
What are the two rings of the inguinal canal and where are they?
- deep inguinal ring: entrance to the inguinal canal from the abdominal cavity
- superficial inguinal ring: exit for inguinal canal. Provides exit for testis to scrotum
What separates the two compartments of the scrotum?
Scrotal septum
What are the three layers of the wall of the scrotum?
- external (skin)
- superficial fascia
- smooth muscle (dartos muscle)
What prevents heat loss from the testes
Involuntary contraction of the dartos muscle which causes wrinkles on the scrotal surface
what muscle elevates the testes?
Cremaster mmuscle
How are the testes suspended in the scrotum?
The spermatic cord
What two substances to the testes produce?
sperm and testosterone
What are the two layers covering the testes?
- Tunica vaginalis testis
2. tunica albuginea
What are the two main cell types in the testes?
Sertoli cells - produce sperm
lydig cells - produce testoserone
What is the role of the epididymus?
Sperm storage and maturation
What are the five types of tubes found in the testes
- seminiferous tubules
- straight tubules
- rete testis
- efferent ducts
- epididymus
What do the seminiferous tubules do?
- hundreds of highly coiled tubes packed into tunica alguginea
- site of spermatogenesis
what do the Straight tubules do?
- collect sperm from seminiferous tubules
What do the rete testis do?
Collect sperm from straight tubules
What do the efferent ducts do?
- carry sperm to epidiymus
Whats the ductus deferens?
- muscular tube that transports sperm from epididymus to ejaculatory duct
- walls contain an inner mucosa, middle muscularis and outer adnevtitia
- muscularis contains smooth muscle
What is the flow of sperm
- seminiferous tubule
- straight tubules
- rete testis
- efferent ductules
- epididymus
- ductus deferens
How are the ejaculatory ducts formed?
by the merge of the ductus deferens and seminal vesicles
Where do the ejaculatory ducts pass through?
The prostate gland and empty into the urthra
What are the three main accessory glands of the male reproductive system?
- seminal vesicles
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral glands
How is semen made?
Seminal fluid (alkaline) mixes with sperm
What fluids do the seminal vesicles secrete and why are these fluids needed?
- fructose: nourish sperm
- prostaglandins dilate the cervix
What do the bulbourethral glands secrete?
- a viscous mucus that protects the urethra and serves as a lubricant during sexual intercourse
What does the prostate gland secrete?
- a slightly alkaline semen fluid
- a milky appearing fluid which makes up 25-30% of semen volume
Why is semen fluid slightly alkaline?
To neutralise the acidity of the vagina to allow sperm to survive
What are the external apparatus of the penis? (proximal to distal)
mons pubis
body
glans pubis
prepuce - foreskin
What are the three internal structures of the penis?
- one corpus sponginosum (posterior)
- two corpus cavernosa (anterior)
What does the male urethra do?
Carries sperm from ejaculatory ducts to “outside”
What are the three parts of the male urethra
- prostatic
- membranous
- spongy
What is the role of the two urethral sphincter in a male?
- internal urethral sphincter stop semen from flowing back into bladder and prevents the simultaneous passage of sperm and urine through the male urethra
What are the functions of the female reproductive system?
- produces gametes (oocytes)
- protects and supports the developing embryos
- facilitates birth
- nourishes the newborn infant
What are the primary organs of the female reproductive system?
ovaries
What are the accessory organs of the female reproductive system?
fallopian tubes, tubes, uterus, vagina
How are the ovaries connected to the female reproductive system?
- Broad ligament: anchors to body wall
- Ovarian ligaments: anchors to outer layer of the uterus
- Suspensory ligaments: attach to the lateral edge of each ovary and projects superlaterally to the pelvic wall
What type of organ are the ovaries?
Intraperitoneal
What is the mesovarium?
the part of the broad ligament covering the ovary
Fallopian tubes:
what type of organ?
how are they suspended?
What occurs there?
- retroperitoneal
- mesosalpink
- fertiliztion occurs here!!
- unfertilized oocytes degenerate
What are the parts of the uterine tube? (ovary to uterus)
- fimbriae
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- isthmus
How does a fetus develop?
An embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus, creates a placenta and develops into a fetus
How does the uterus derive nourishment?
From blood vessels
What are the parts of the uterus (superior to inferior)
- Fundus
- Body
- Cervix
What are the superior and internal parts of the cervix called?
The internal os and external os
What is the circular part of the cervix?
Isthmus of uterus
What are the three layers of the uterine wall? in to out
- Perimetrium
- myometrium
- endometrium
What are the two layers of the endometrium
- functional layer
- basal layer (not shed)
How is the uterus held in place?
Mesometrium: anchors to lateral pelvic wall
- cardinal ligaments: horizontal from cervix and vagina
- round ligaments: binds uterus to anterior pelvic wall
What are the 4 main functions of the vagina?
- passage for the elimination of menstrual fluids
- receives penis during intercourse
- holds sperm before passing them on to uterus
- forms lower part birth canal
What are the three coats of the vagina?
- adventitia: fibrous connective tissue
- Muscularis: smooth muscle
- Mucosa: marked by transverse folds
What is the collective name of a females external genitalia
Vulva
What are three main structures of the mammary glands?
- alveoli
- lactiferous ducts
- lactiferous sinuses
What are the two main hormones produce breast milk and what do they do?
- prolactin: stimulates production of breast milk
- Oxytocin: responsible for milk ejection
