Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What is genetic sex?

A

Is predetermined by the configuration of the sex chromosomes

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2
Q

What is gonadal sex?

A

Is determined by the sex chromosomes

The Y chromosome is responsible and necessary for the production of testes

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3
Q

What does the SRY region code for?

A

H-Y antigen (protein)

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4
Q

What is anatomical sex?

A

The apparent anatomical sex of a person that depends on the genetically determined gonadal sex

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5
Q

When does sex determination occur?

A

7th week of gestation

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6
Q

How does the development of gonadal sex occur?

A

Males: sex determine region of the Y chromosome produces H-Y antigen -> testes form
Females: no H-Y antigen -> ovaries form

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7
Q

How does the male internal genitalia develop?

A

Sertoli cells secrete antimullarian hormone and leading cells secrete testosterone

  • AMH causes regression of mullarian ducts
  • testosterone supports wolfian ducts
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8
Q

How does female internal genitalia develop?

A
  • no AMH

- without testosterone the wolfian ducts regress

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9
Q

How does the male external genitalia develop?

A
  • embryonic testes secrete testosterone
  • testosterone is converted by 5alpha reductase into dihydrotestosterone
  • testosterone and dihydrotestosterone develop the male external genitalia
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10
Q

How does the female external genitalia develop?

A
  • no embryonic testes
  • no testosterone of dihydrotestosterone
  • female genitalia develops
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11
Q

What is androgen insensitivity syndrome?

A
  • no testosterone receptors
  • leads to development of female external genitalia
  • appear like a normal female
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12
Q

What is 5alpha reductase deficiency?

A
  • deficiency of 5alpha reductase

- ‘penis at 12’ syndrome

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13
Q

What does the genital tubercule develop into?

A
  • the clitoris

- the glans

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14
Q

What do the urethral folds and labioscrotal swellings develop into?

A
  • labia minora and labia majora

- the urethra (fusion of folds) and the scrotum (male)

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15
Q

What does the ureogenital slit develop into?

A
  • the vaginal opening and urethra
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16
Q

What is the function of LH?

A

Induces hormone secretion

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17
Q

What is the general function of FSH?

A

Induces germ cell development

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18
Q

What are the levels of GnRH during the lifespan?

A
  1. High levels during the neonatal period
  2. Period of quiescence during mid-childhood
  3. Sleep-entrained reactivation at the onset of puberty
  4. Adult pattern of pulsation secretion
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19
Q

What are the major male reproductive functions?

A
  1. Production of sperm
  2. Secretion of sex hormones
  3. Transport of sperm from male to female
20
Q

What is each seminiferous tubule bound by?

A

Basement membrane and smooth muscle

21
Q

What are the functions of Sertoli cells?

A
  • provide mechanical and nutritional support for spermatogonium cells
  • synthesise and secrete seminiferous tubular fluid which contains androgen binding protein
  • phagocytise defective sperm
22
Q

What is the process of spermatogenesis?

A
  • spermatogonia undergo mitosis
  • one of the cells grows to become a primary spermatocyte
  • the primary spermatocyte undergoes meiosis 1 to become a secondary spermatocyte
  • the secondary spermatocytes undergo meiosis 2 to become spermatids
  • spermatids mature into sperm
23
Q

What is the function of the acrosome?

A

Filled with enzymes essential for penetration of the ovum

24
Q

What occurs in the epididymis?

A

Sperm gain motility and ability to fertilise

25
Q

What are the functions of the cytoplasmic bridge?

A
  • permits the exchange of cytoplasmic constituents
  • allows spermatocytes with Y chromosomes (15 genes) to receive cellular products essential for sperm development coded for on the X chromosomes (1000s of genes)
26
Q

What happens if there is a FSH receptors defect (male)?

A
  • decrease in testicular size

- increase in sperm malformation

27
Q

What happens if there is an LH receptor defect (male)?

A

Infertility

28
Q

What effects does testosterone have?

A

Androgen is and anabolic effects

29
Q

What is the role of estrogens in the male?

A
  • pubertal growth spurt

- closing of epiphyses at the end of puberty

30
Q

What are xenoestrogens?

A

Various chemicals associated with plastics and certain pesticides that exert negative feedback on LH, FSH and testosterone

31
Q

Why are xenoestrogens significant?

A
  • May be significant during development
  • only born with a finite number of Sertoli cells
  • with less FSH they can die off
  • leads to lower sperm production
32
Q

What are phyto-estrogens?

A

Products that resemble estrogens, eg soya products

33
Q

What do high levels do nandrolone do?

A
  • testicular atrophy
  • altered spermatogenesis
  • infertility
  • prostate hypertrophy
  • feminization
34
Q

What do estrogens do?

A

Promote oestrous

35
Q

What does progesterone do?

A

Required for pregnancy and gestation

36
Q

What is the source of testosterone in females?

A

Dehydroepiandrosterone produced in the adrenal glands can be converted to testosterone by enzymes in the cells that require testosterone

37
Q

What effect does stress and exercise have on hormones?

A

Beta endorphins exert negative feedback on the hypothalamus

38
Q

What effect does low levels do fat have on hormones?

A

Leptin stimulates GnRH LH and FSH secretion

Without adequate fat storage no release occurs

39
Q

What is the follicular phase?

A

Characterised by the presence of maturing follicles. Follicle operates to produce a mature egg for fertilisation

40
Q

What is the luteal phase?

A

When the corpus luteum is present. Prepares the reproductive tract for pregnancy if fertilisation occurs

41
Q

When does the last meiosis of an egg occur?

A

Just prior to ovulation, follicle is close to the reface of the ovary

42
Q

What is the effect of estrogen in the follicular phase?

A

Proliferation of granulosa cells and antrum formation

43
Q

How does the change from negative to positive feedback of estrogen occur?

A

There are two sets of neurones in the brain:

  • neurons sensitive time estrogen activate negative feedback at low levels
  • at high levels of insulin te insensitive neurons take over and exert positive feedback after the estrogen threshold is reached
44
Q

What are the endometrial changes in the follicular phase?

A

High estrogen levels stimulates growth and proliferation of the endometrium

45
Q

What happens in the endometrium during the luteal phase?

A

High progesterone stimulates endometrial glands to:
Secrete nutrient rich mucus
Grow further

46
Q

What happens to the endometrium if fertilisation doesn’t occur?

A
  1. Corpus luteum degenerates
  2. Progesterone/estrogen levels drop
  3. Endometrium becomes necrotic and blood filled
  4. Endometrium separates from the uterus
  5. Uterine prostaglandin release is initiated, causing uterine smooth muscle contraction
  6. Uterine contents expelled
  7. Menstruation occurs