Reproductive System (lecture) Flashcards
Male reproductive system function
- produce sperm
- deliver sperm
- secondary sex characteristics (testosterone)
Anatomy of testis
- capsule
- seminiferous tubules
- epididymis
Testis capsule
- DICT
- outside of testes
Seminiferous tubules
- SCET
- production of sperm
- contains developing spermatids
- sustentacular cells: “sustain” spermatids
- interstitial cells: make testosterone
Epididymis
storage site of sperm (20 days to mature)
- increased motility
Head of sperm
contains:
- acrosome: contain acrosomal enzymes to penetrate egg
- nucleus: contain one copy of DNA
Midpiece of sperm
contains mitochondria for ATP production to power movement
Tail of sperm
- single flagellum
- motility
Descent of testes
- gubernaculum: ligament that pulls testes at 8-9 month fetus
Undescended testes
can result in infertility
Tx: laparoscopic surgery
What is the spermatic cord and what are its structures?
Travels through inguinal cavity
1. Vas deferens (ductus deferens)
2. cremaster muscles
3. Testicular artery
4. testicular vein
5. lymphatic vessels
6. nerves
Describe testicular vein
contains pampiniform plexus which cools arterial blood
Cremaster muscles function
Contains smooth muscles
Controls location of testes
What is an inguinal hernia?
- when small intestine goes through inguinal canal
- most common during exercise
Tx: surgery
What is testicular torsion?
- testes inside scrotum twists on spermatic cord
- cause: sudden change in temperature combined with movement
Tx: surgical unwinding
What is variocele?
- varicose veins in pampiniform plexus
- veins unable to cool blood in artery
- number one cause of male infertility
What is testicular cancer?
- most common cancer for males in their 20’s
- not very fatal; highly diagnosable
Vas Deferens
- leads from epididymis to prostate
- only filled during ejaculation
- vasectomy: male tubes tied
Describe the pathway of sperm
What are the glands of the male reproductive system?
- seminal vesicle
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral gland
Seminal vesicle functions
- produce seminal fluid (60% of semen)
- fructose - feeds sperm (make atp)
- prostaglandins: uterine contractions
- fibrinogen: coagulate semen
Prostate gland functions
- make prostate fluid (40% of semen)
- zinc: neutralize vaginal acidity
- prostate-specific antigen (PSA): liquify semen to allow sperm to swim
Bulbourethral gland functions
Lubricates urethra prior to ejaculation
What is an enlarged prostate?
- prostate always grows
- dysuria: enlarged prostate compresses urethra
Prostate cancer
- common because prostate is always growing
- slow growing tumor
What structures make up the erectile body of the penis?
- corpus cavernosum
- corpus spongiosum
- contains spongy urethra
Broken penis
- capsule breaks and blood leaks
- DICT takes longer to heal
Tx: Drain blood, cast placement
Female reproductive system functions
- egg maturation and ovulation
- gestation
- childbirth
- breastfeeding
- maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics
Function of ovaries
produce eggs and hormones (estrogen, progesterone)
Describe the layers of the ovary
Describe Oogenesis (ovarian cycle)
Woman born with 450,000 primordial follicles
What is the function of the corpus luteum?
Releases estrogen and progesterone to maintain lining of uterus
What happens to the corpus luteum if there is no pregnancy?
It dies and becomes corpus albicans
What happens to the corpus luteum if there is a pregnancy?
Stays for the whole pregnancy
How do fraternal twins occur?
Two eggs are released during ovulation and are fertilized by two different sperm
How do identical twins occur?
One egg is released and fertilized by a single sperm, but fertilized cell divides
Fallopian tube functions
- Pseudostratified Columnar ET w/ cilia
- where fertilization occurs (distal 1/3 of tube)
Whate are the finger like structures at the end of fallopian tubes?
fimbriae
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
- Tubal pregnancy - stick to the fallopian tube during pregnancy
- Peritoneal pregnancy - fertilization occurs in the peritoneal cavity
Both 100% fatal without intervention
What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?
- umbrella term for inflammation of pelvic cavity
- Sx: Abdominal pain, scar tissue
What is the process in which a female gets her “tubes tied” as a method of birth control?
Tubal ligation
Describe the menstrual cycle
Day 1: - first day of menstruation
- stratum functionale sheds
Day 7: Grafian follicle releasing estrogen to start building stratum functionale
Day 14: - LH produced by PG to induce ovulation
- corpus luteum secretes progesterone to continue building stratum functionale
Day 28: Corpus luteum dies. Hormone levels drop. Stratum functionale sheds
What are uterine fibroids?
- lumps of hard CT in uterus
- idiopathic
- extremely painful
- leading cause of infertility in women
- number one cause of hysterectomy
What is endometriosis?
- endometrial cells in peritoneal cavity
Sx: severe abdominal pain correlated to menstrual cycle
Cervical cancer
- correlated with HPV. (Tx: gardisal vaccine)
Describe the vagina
- muscular tube (NKSSET)
- Fx: intercourse and childbirth
- low pH to protect from infection
What is the vestibule of the vagina?
Space between labia minora
- contains external urethral and vaginal orfices
What are vestibular glands?
Bulbourethral gland
Release lubricant during sex.
What is the female equivalent of the scrotum?
Labia majora
What is the female equivalent of the corpura cavernosa (erectile tissues)
Labia minora
What is the female equivalent of the glans penis?
Clitoris
What are the muscles of the pelvic floor, and what is its function?
Fx: hold organs in place
- bulbospongiosus muscle
- levator ani muscle
- external anal sphincter
- urogenital diaphragm
- central tendon; perineum
What muscles are outlined in green?
bulbospongiosus muscle
- part of urethral sphincter
What muscles are outlined in orange?
Levator ani muscle
- lifts sigmoid colon during defecation
What muscles are outlined in dark blue?
external anal sphincter
What muscles are outlined in light blue?
urogenital diaphragm
- urethral sphincter
What structures are outlined in purple?
Central tendon; perineum
- connects all pelvic floor muscles
How can you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles?
Kegel exercises
What is an episiotomy?
surgical incision of the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall performed during the second stage of labor to quickly enlarge the aperture allowing the baby to pass through
What is a prolapsed uterus?
- most common from multiple childbirths
