Reproductive System (LAB PRACTICAL) Flashcards
Ovaries
-Primary sex organs that carry out oogenesis: production of female gametes and sex hormones
Ovarian follicle
Contains immature egg surrounded by follicle cells
Uterine tube structure
-2 hollow tubes that extend (But do not contact) from the ovaries and attach to the uterus
-Fimbriae: Ciliated finger-like projections at the ovary end of the uterine tubes
Uterine tube function
-Collect eggs after they are released from the ovary
-Fertilization of egg by sperm occurs in ampulla of the uterine tube
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Spread of infection into pelvic viscera through open space between fimbrae and ovaries
Ectopic pregnancy
Zygote implants in uterine tube wall instead of endometrium of uterus
Walls of uterus
Endometrium, myometrium, perimetrium
Three regions of uterus
-Fundus: Superior rounded region above the entrance of uterine tubes
-Body: Major portion of uterus
-Cervix: Narrow inferior portion
Endometrium
-Innermost layer of uterus with a thick mucosal lining
-Where embro development and implantation occurs
-Superficial stratum functionalis is sloughed off every 28 days in response to ovarian hormone cycle
Perimetrium
Outermost, serous layer of uterus
Myometrium
middle layer of uterus composed of bands of smooth muscle
Mons pubis
Fatty pad covering pubic symphysis
Labia majora
Larger, pigmented skin fold homologous with scrotum
Labia minora
Smaller skin folds enclosed by labia majora
Vestibule
Area enclosed by labia minora, contains clitoris, and urethral orifice and vaginal orifice.
Clitoris
Composed of sensitive erectile tissue, homologous to epnis
Urethral orifice
Outlet of urine
Hymen
Thin mucous membrane that partially or completely closes the vaginal opening
Greater vestibular glands
Secretes lubricant, homologous to bulbourethral glands
Vaginal orifice
Opening into the vaginal cavity
Mammary glands function
-Production of milk for infants
-Estrogens and progesterone stimulate breast growth during puberty and pregnancy by increasing alveoli and lactiferous ducts
Structures of mammary glands
-Alveoli: Mammary glands that produce milk during lactation
-Nipple: Structure designed to allow infant to feed
-Areola: Pigmented region around each nipple
-Lactiferous ducts: Transport milk from alveoli
-Lactiferous sinus: Stores milk
Site of oogenesis
Ovary
Oogenesis before birth
-Oogonia undergo mitosis to produce primary oocytes
-Primary oocytes have started meiosis I and are arrested in prophase I
Primordial follicle
Primary oocyte surrounded by pre-granulosa cells
Oogenesis at puberty
-Monthly cycles begin where one primary oocyte will mature and continue to meiosis
-Meisosis I completion leads to a secondary oocyte which is then ovulated
-Secondary oocyte remains arrested in metaphase II but will complete meiosis if fertilized
Ovarian cycle
-Monthly fluctuations in estrogens and progesterone
-Monthly maturation of a primary oocyte into secondary oocyte
-One secondary oocyte arrested in metaphase II will ovulate and complete meisosis II if fertilized
-Induced by LH & FSH
Uterine cycle
-Monthly build up of stratum functionalis of the endometrium
-Sloughed off if no embryo implantation occurs
-Induced by ovarian hormones (Estrogen and progesterone)
3 phases of uterine cycle
-Menstrual: Functional layer of the endometrium is shed
-Proliferative: Functional layer of the endometrium is rebuilt
-Secretory: Begins immediately after ovulation. Enrichment of blood supply and glandular secretion of nutrients prepare the endometrium to receive embryo
Estrogen
-Produced by ovaries
-Promotes development of female secondary sex characteristics
-Regulates changes in the uterine lining during mestrual cycle
-Helps prepare mammary glands for lactation
Progesterone
-Produced by ovaries
-Regulates changes in uterine lining during menstrual cycle
-Maintains uterine musculature in a quiescent state during pregnancy
-Helps to prepare the breast for lactation
Prolactin
-Produced by anterior pituitary
-Stimulates breast development
-Maintains lactation by the mammary glands after childbirth
Gonadotropins
-Produced by anterior pituitary
-Follicle stimulating hormone & Luteinizing hormone
Follicle stimulating hormone in females
Stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and production of estrogens
Luteinizing hormone
-Triggers ovulation
-Stimulates ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone
Human chorionic gonadotropin
-Produced by placenta
-Maintains corpus luteum and prompts secretion of estrogen and progesterone by corpus luteum
How the pill works
-Contains synthetic estrogen and progestin
-Estrogen stimulates production of prolactin
-Prolactin suppresses gonadotropin releasing hormone
-FSH and LH are not released since they depend on GnRH
-No ovarian follicle maturation w/o LH or FSH
Progestin
-Synthetic form of progesterone
-Thickens mucus in the cervix to make it difficult for sperm to enter
-Also suppresses ovulation but not as consistently as estrogen
-Thins lining of uterus, discourages implantation of zygote
Testes
-Located inside the scrotum hanging outside of the body attached by perineum
-Functions include spermatogenesis and production of male sex hormones
-Must be 34-36 degrees C for sperm production
Seminiferous tubules
-Highly coiled tubules inside testes as sites of sperm production
-100-400 million sperm per day
Interstitial cells
Produce androgens in testes
Epididymis
-Connect testes to the vasa deferentia
-Sites of spermiogenesis: Sperm mature and gain swimming ability
-Sperm storage
Vasa deferentia
-Transports sperm from epididymis to ejaculatory ducts
-Enclosed in spermatic cord
Vasectomy
-Cutting of both vasa deferentia
Ejaculatory ducts
During ejaculation, receive sperm from vasa deferentia and secretions from the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland
3 sections of male urethra
-Prostatic
-Membranous (Intermediate)
-Penile (Spongy) urethra
Seminal vesicles
-Secretes 70% of seminal fluid
-Secretion is viscous, alkaline, and contains fructose used by sperm to produce energy
-Alkaline fluid also neutralizes acids in the female reproductive tract
Prostate gland
-Secretes 30% of seminal fluid
-Secretion is a milky fluid to activate sperm
Bulbourethral glands
-Secretes a thick, clear, alkaline fluid which neutralizes acidic urine residue in urethra
3 cylindrical erectile tissues of penis
-2 dorsal corpora cavernosa
-1 ventral corpus spongniosum
Penis function
Copulatory organ that delivers sperm to female reproductive tract
Penile erection
Penis becomes engorged with blood as the vascular spaces in the erectile tissues fill with blood
Shaft
Terminates at the glans, the expanded tip of the penis
Prepuce/Foreskin
A cuff of loose skin surrounding the glans
Spermatogenesis
-Spermatogonia undergo mitosis
-Primary spermatocyte: Undergoes first meiotic division to give 2 secondary spermatocytes
-Two secondary spermatocytes: Undergo second meiotic division to give 4 spermatids
Spermatids: Undergo spermiogenesis to develop into spermatozoa
Gonadotropins in males
-FSH: Stimulates sperm production
-LH: Promotes testosterone production
Testosterone
-Produced by testes
-Promotes maturation of reproductive system accessory structures
-Promotes development of male secondary sex characteristics
-Responsible for libido
Prolactin
-Produced by anterior pituitary but primarily active in females
-Can stimulate testosterone in males
