Reproductive Systems Flashcards
What is the job of the ductus deferens (vas deferens?)
It is a storage area for semen
What is the job of the testis?
The testis contain interstitial cells which secrete testosterone, the testis also produce semen.
What do the seminiferous tubules do?
The site of sperm production. The tubules contain Sertoli cells which nourish developing sperm.
What is the job of the epididymus?
The epididymus is a duct where sperm matures.
What do the seminal vesicles do?
Secrete a mucous like fluid which is 60-70% of the volume of semen.
What does the prostate do?
Secretes an alkaline buffer that protects sperm from acidity.
What does the cowpers gland do?
Secretes a mucous like fluid which protects sperm from acidity.
What does the urethra do?
It is where fluids travel to exit the penis.
What do the ovaries do?
They are the female gonads which produce ova (eggs). They also produce progesterone.
What do fimbriae do?
Finger-like projections which wrap around the ovary and sweep eggs into the oviduct.
What do the oviducts (Fallopian tubes) do?
They direct ova to the uterus. This is where fertilization takes place.
What does the uterus do?
Where mensuration occurs/baby is contained.
What is Chromalsomal sex?
The sex of an individual at fertilization (XX or XY)
What is an autonomic sex?
When the absence/presence of hormones allows gender specific organs to develop.
What are Androgens?
Hormones that initiate development of male sex organs and ducts.
What is the negative feedback loop in male puberty?
- The hypothalamus releases GnRH
- GnRH stimulates the pituitary to release FSH and LH.
- FSH causes seminiferous tubules to produce sperm and LH causes interstitial cells to produce testosterone.
- Rising testosterone contributes to higher sperm production and inhibin causes the anterior pituitary to produce more FSH.
What is the negative feedback loop in female puberty?
- The hypothalamus releases GnRH
- GnRH stimulates the pituitary to release FSH and LH.
- FSH stimulates ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone.
- Estrogen and Progesterone cause the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
What are the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle?
The flow phase, follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase.
What happens in the flow phase?
Shedding of the endometrium because there is no fertilized egg implanted, blood and tissues leave the uterus. Estrogen and Progesterone are at their lowest during this time, causing irritability and mood changes.
What happens in the follicular phase?
The anterior pituitary releases FSH which causes ovum to be created through cell division. As the follicle develops, estrogen is secreted and it inhibits the pituitary from releasing FSH, and causes thickening of the endometrium. Estrogen causes the cervix to release alkaline mucous which raises the acidity, making it more suitable for the survival of sperm. Estrogen also causes the pituitary to release LH which triggers ovulation.
What happens in the ovulation phase?
The follicle bursts, releasing the egg from the ovary and into the oviduct, causing estrogen levels to decline. When two follicles develop simultaneously and both are fertilized, the result is fraternal twins.
What happens in the luteal phase?
When an empty follicle is stimulated by LH, the corpus luteum is formed, which is a yellow mass of cells that secretes progesterone and estrogen. It inhibits LH and FSH production and progesterone prepares the uterus for an embryo. During this phase an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus via the oviduct. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum pulls away from the uterine wall and is shed.
What is the effect of HIV/AIDS?
The virus destroys helper T-cells in the immune system, making everyday infections fatal to these individuals.
How is HIV/AIDS spread and is there a cure?
Spread during sexual contact or from mother to child during pregnancy. There is no cure although there is treatment to help with symptoms.
What is the danger of Hep. B?
It can cross the placenta to the fetus, and cause flu like symptoms, jaundice, liver failure, and can be fatal although there are vaccines available. It is spread through contact of bodily fluids.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 herpes?
Type one is sores in the mouth while type 2 is sores on the genitalia.
What is the danger of herpes?
Herpes can lead to blindness, neurological disorders and even death of a fetus. Outbreaks come and go for life and cannot be cured, although antibiotics can help with symptoms.
What is the danger of chlamydia, what is the cause, and is it curable?
Chlamydia can lead to PID and infertility, it is caused by sexual contact and is bacterial, prescriptions will cure chlamydia completely.
What are the dangers of syphilis, what is the cause, what is the treatment, and is there a cure?
Syphilis can cause open sores, a rash, mental illness, and even blindness. It occurs because of sexual contact and can be treated and cured with the use of antibiotics.
What is the difference between chlamydia and gonorrhea?
Chlamydia causes clear/cloudy discharge while gonorrhea causes green/yellow discharge. In men only chlamydia can spread to the urethra. Gonorrhea can spread to the bloodstream while chlamydia cannot.
Where is GnRH produced?
Hypothalamus
Where is FSH produced?
Ant. Pituitary
Where is LH produced?
Ant. Pituitary
Where is estrogen produced?
Ovary (follicle)
Where is progesterone produced?
Ovary (corpus luteum)
Where is testosterone produced?
Testis (interstitial cells)
Where is inhibin produced?
Testes (sertoli cells)
Where does GnRH target?
The Ant. Pituitary
Where does FSH target?
Ovaries and testis
Where does LH target?
Ovaries and Testis
Where does estrogen target?
Entire body
Where does progesterone target?
Uterus
Where does testosterone target?
Entire body
Where does inhibin target?
Ant. Pituitary and hypothalamus
What is the function of GnRH in males?
Stimulates the Ant. Pituitary to release FSH and LH
What is the role of FSH in males?
Stimulates the development of sex organs and gamete production.
What is the role of testosterone in males?
To stimulate the development of the male reproductive tract.
What is the role of inhibin in males?
To inhibit FSH production.
What is the role of GnRH in females?
To stimulate the release of FSH and LH from the Ant. Pituitary.
What is the role of FSH in females?
To stimulate the development of sex organs and gamete production.
What is the role of LH in females?
Triggers ovulation and stimulates estrogen production.
What is the role of estrogen in females?
To stimulate the development of the reproductive tract and secondary sexual characteristics.
What is the role of inhibin in females?
To inhibit FSH production.
Which hormones spike at day 14
LH spikes dramatically with FSH spiking far under it.
What hormone spikes around day 13 and then again at 25?
Estrogen
What hormone is inverse if estrogen on a chart?
Progesterone
What are the events of the menstrual cycle in order?
- Low levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the endometrium lining to weaken and the hypothalamus to release GnRH.
- GnRH causes the pituitary to release FSH and LH.
- FSH causes a follicle to develop in the ovary.
- The follicle releases estrogen.
- High estrogen suppresses FSH and causes the endometrium to thicken.
- High estrogen causes LH to be released by the Ant. Pituitary.
- High LH causes the follicle to rupture and release a mature ovum.
- The empty follicle becomes a corpus luteum.
- The corpus luteum produces progesterone.
- Rising progesterone causes the endometrium to thicken even more.
- High progesterone and estrogen inhibits the release of GnRH.
- The drop of GnRH causes LH and FSH to drop.
- The drop in LH and FSH causes the corpus luteum to degrade.
- The degradation of the corpus luteum causes estrogen and progesterone to decrease.
What is the Amnion
A sac that develops around the embryo and is only penetrated by the umbilical cord. The amnion creates an amniotic cavity which fills with fluid to allow for movement and prevent limbs from sticking to the body.
What is the role of the Uterine Endometrium?
Prevents adhesion between opposed walls of the myometrium, maintaining the latency of the uterine cavity.
What is the role of the umbilical cord?
It allows for the transfer of oxygen into fetal circulation while also removing waste.
What is the role of the yolk sac?
While waiting for the placenta to form, the yolk sac temporarily provides nutrients and gas exchange, this disappears near the end of the first trimester.
What is a morula?
A solid ball of cells resulting from division of a fertilized ovum.
What is a blastocyst?
A rapidly dividing ball of cells composed of trophoblast, blastocoel, and inner cell mass.
What is an embryonic disc?
A two layered structure of epiblast and hypo blast which is responsible for detaching the embryo and it’s amnion and the yolk sac from the far wall of the blastocyst.
What is the Ectoderm vs Mesoderm vs Endoderm?
Ecto means outermost layer of cells in early development, Meso means middle, and Endo means inner most.
What are the stages of embryonic development in order?
A single cell is fertilized in the oviduct and then travels down the Fallopian tube while transitioning from a 2 cell to 4 cell organism and then a morula and finally once it attaches to the endometrium of the uterus, the once single-cell organism is now a blastocyst. After the 3rd week, the outer cells form the placenta and the inner cells form the embryo, after a month the CNS is formed, and after 9 weeks it can now be called a fetus. Sex organs do not form until 3 months.
