Reproductive System Deck Flashcards
organs of the male reproductive system
the testes, seminal vesicles, seminal ducts, prostate gland, Cowper’s glands, the penis
male gonads
the testes
testes
produce sperm
sperm
the male sex cells
function of testosterone
to help the sperm to mature
testosterone
causes secondary male sex characteristics to appear (ex.: the growth of facial hair, an increase in the size of muscles, the deepening of the voice)
the testes are suspended outside of the body
low temperature is needed for the sperm to develop safely
location of the epididymis
at the top part of the testis
epididymis
stores sperm until they become mature or motile
vas deferens
(ductus deferens) connects with the epididymis; act as a passageway and temporary storage area for sperm
seminal vesicles
each seminal vesicle adds fluid rich in sugar that nourishes the sperm
semen
the term for the fluid rich in sugar that nourishes the sperm that is thick, yellow fluid and the sperm together
ejaculatory ducts
two short tubes formed when the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles join
location of the prostate gland
below the urinary bladder
function of the prostate gland
to secrete a fluid that neutralizes acidity in the surroundings
fluid secreted by the prostate gland
serves to both protect the sperm and help them to move
location of the Cowper’s glands
two small glands located below the prostate
function of the Cowper’s (bulbourethral) glands
to secrete a fluid that neutralizes acidity in the surroundings to help sperm survive and to secrete fluid that lubricates the inside of the urethra to help the semen move more easily
function of the penis
to, as the male organ for intercourse, deposit semen into the female vagina
organs associated with the female reproductive system
the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva, breasts
female gonads
ovaries
production of the ovaries
ova
ova
the female sex cells
ovulation
the process by which about every 28 days, a single ovum matures and the follicle it is in breaks open to release it
each ovary
contains thousands of small sacs called follicles where immature ova are stored
function of estrogen and progesterone
to help with the development of the female reproductive organs and to cause secondary female sex characteristics to appear (ex.: the enlargement of the breasts, the broadening of the hips, the growth of pubic hair)
location of the fallopian tubes
above the ovaries but are not directly connected to them
function of the fallopian tubes
to be the usual location of fertilization
fertilization
when an ovum and a sperm join to create new life
after ovulation
the ovum is swept into one of the two fallopian tubes by fingerlike projections called fimbriae
peristalsis
muscle contractions that move the ovum to the uterus
cilia
tiny hairs that line the tubes and also help guide the ovum to the uterus
uterus
a hollow, pear-shaped, and highly muscular organ that lies behind the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum
function of the uterus
to provide for the development and growth of the fetus if pregnancy occurs
three layers of the uterine wall
the endometrium, the myometrium, the perimetrium
endometrium
the innermost layer of the uterine wall
myometrium
the middle layer of the uterine wall
perimetrium
the outermost layer of the uterine wall
endometrium
contains a thick lining of blood tissues
if a fertilized ovum implants on its surface (endometrium)
will nourish the developing fetus
if fertilization does not occur (endometrium)
the surface breaks down and is shed from the female body along with the unfertilized ovum
menstruation
the process of the endometrium’s surface being broken down and shed from the female body along with the unfertilized ovum if pregnancy does not occur
anatomical makeup of the myometrium
three layers of smooth muscle, which stretch and expand as a fetus grows
the three layers of smooth muscle of the myometrium
during childbirth, the muscles contract to help push the fetus out of the uterus when giving birth
function of the perimetrium
to act as a protective membrane
functions of the vagina
to serve as a passageway for menstrual flow, to be the female organ for intercourse, to expand its muscle tissue to accommodate the penis during intercourse as well as the passage of a baby during childbirth
vulva
the external structures of the female reproductive system grouped together
different parts of the vulva
the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora
location of the clitoris
the junction of the labia minora
functions of the clitoris
to provide sexual arousal when stimulated and to help the vagina to become lubricated
location of the Bartholin’s glands (vestibular glands)
in the space between the labia minora
function of the Bartholin’s glands (vestibular glands)
to secrete fluid into the vagina for lubrication during intercourse
the menstrual cycle
the process in which a woman’s body goes through a series of hormone-driven events to get ready for possible pregnancy
menstrual phase
where the period occurs (since there is no pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone hormone levels drop)
period
(occurs in women) a combination of blood, mucus, and tissue is released from the uterus
follicular phase
starts on the first day of a woman’s period and ends when ovulation begins
hypothalamus during the follicular phase
sends a signal to the pituitary gland to release follicle stimulating hormone or FSH
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
stimulates the ovaries to produce around 5 to 20 follicles
each follicle during the follicular phase
contains an immature egg (only the healthiest egg will mature, the rest are reabsorbed by the body)
the maturation of only the healthiest egg
triggers a surge of estrogen to thicken the uterine lining
ovulation phase
starts when rising estrogen levels in the follicular phase trigger the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH)
luteinizing hormone (LH)
starts ovulation
ovulation
occurs when the woman’s body releases the mature egg
the only time pregnancy can occur
when the egg travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm
luteal phase
after the follicle releases its egg, it changes into the corpus luteum
corpus luteum
releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen
breasts (mammary glands)
contain fatty tissue and a system of ducts that produce milk and transport it to the nipples
the milk produced by the mammary glands
is secreted after childbirth to nurse the infant
infertility
the inability to conceive or produce a child
some causes of infertility
may be damage to the fallopian tubes, low sperm count, an imbalance of hormones
possible factor of infertility
delaying childbearing until later years
artificial insemination
sperm is placed directly in a woman’s uterus or fallopian tube
in vitro fertilization (IVF)
ova are removed and combined with sperm outside the body
in vitro fertilization (IVF) (fertilization)
when the egg is fertilized, it is transferred to the uterus in the female
the spreads of STDs
passed from person to person primarily through sexual contact and the exchange of body fluids
people at-risk of contracting STDs
people who are sexually active with multiple partners
prevention of STDs
the use of condoms, which provides some protection against these diseases
in most cases of STDs
all sexual partners should be treated
examples of STDs
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes 2
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and greatly weakens its ability to fight off infections and disease (eventually leads to death)
cause of AIDS
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
people infected with HIV
can remain asymptomatic for many years
symptoms of AIDS/HIV
include lack of resistance to infections, weight loss, fatigue, skin rashes
cure for AIDS
none
treatment for AIDS
involves a combination of drugs to slow the disease
Chlamydia
one of the most common STDs
cause of Chlamydia
bacteria
symptoms of Chlamydia
include a burning sensation while urinating and a discharge for both males and females
treatment of Chlamydia
involves antibiotics
cause of gonorrhea
bacteria
symptoms of gonorrhea in males
include a burning sensation while urinating, green-yellow discharge, sore throat, swollen glands
symptoms of gonorrhea in females
include painful urination, pain in the abdomen, vaginal discharge
treatment of gonorrhea
involves large doses of penicillin or other antibiotics
Herpes 2
genital herpes
cause of Herpes 2
a virus
symptoms of Herpes 2
include a burning sensation, sores that form painful ulcers, painful urination
cure for Herpes 2
none
treatment of Herpes 2
involves promoting the healing of the sores and easing discomfort
consistency of Herpes 2
many people have repeated, but milder attacks
HPV
human papillomavirus
the most common sexually transmitted infection
HPV
symptoms of HPV
usually harmless and goes away by itself, but some types can lead to cancer or cause genital warts
