Reproducyive Systems Flashcards
Sexual reproduction involves specialized sex cells known as
Germ cells or gametes
What are spermatozoa
Male gametes (sperm cells)
What are ova
Female gametes (egg cells)
Gametes contain how many chromosomes
23 chromosomes
Somatic cells have how many chromosomes
46 chromosomes (23 pairs)
Gametes are created by
Meiosis
Gametes fuse at fertilization to form a
One celled zygote (the first cell of the offspring)
What are the function of the male reproductive system
Manufacture spermatozoa
Manufacture hormones
What are the primary organs of the male reproductive system
Gonads
Male gonads are aka
Testes
Gonads or testes produce
Germ cells and manufacture hormones
What is the scrotum
Skin covered pouch suspended from groin (divided into 2 sacs which each contain a testis)
Before birth the testes descend down the
Inguinal canal (in the abdominal wall)
Why must testes descend completely
For normal production and survival of sperm (b/c scrotum is several degrees lower)
Sperm develop within the
Seminiferous tubules (which is most tissue found within the lobes of the testes)
What cells are aka “nurse cells” and nourish and protect the developing spermatozoa
Sustentacular cells (sertoli cells)
Sustentacular cells (Sertoli cells) secrete a protein that
Binds testosterone in the seminiferous tubules
What cells are located between the seminiferous tubules and secret the male sex hormone testosterone
Interstitial cells (leydig cells)
Spermatozoa have an oval head which is mostly a nucleus containing chromosomes; the acrosome (cap) contains enzymes that help
Penetrate the ovum
Middle region of the spermatozoa contains many
Mitochondria (energy for movement)
The tail of spermatozoa is known as the flagellum which has a
Whiplike motion
How many spermatozoa are contained in the average ejaculation
200 million
Semen contains
Sperm cells and various secretions from the body
What are the functions of semen (5)
- Neutralize the acidity of the male urethra and female vaginal tract
- Nourish the spermatozoa
- Transport the spermatozoa
- Lubricate the reproductive tract during intercourse
- Prevent infection with antibacterial enzymes and antibodies
Accessory organs in the male reproductive system provide a
Pathway of sperm from their formation in the seminiferous tubules until they exit the body
What accessory organ is a coiled tube located on the surface of the testis and temporarily stores sperm cells, mature and develop capacity for motility
Epididymis
Which male accessory organ produce mucus that is a thick yellow, alkaline secretion rich in sugar for nourishment
Seminal vesicles
What is the location and function of the male accessory organ the prostate gland
It is inferior to bladder
Alkaline secretions which neutralize acidity and assist sperms motility
The bulbourethral glands or Cowper glands a paired pea sized organs they secrete mucus for what
To lubricate the urethra and tip of the penis during sexual stimulation
The penis has 3 columns of erectile tissue which are
2 dorsal columns called corpora cavernosa
1 ventral column surrounding urethra called corpus spongiosum
Glans penis is the distal end of penis covered by foreskin (prepuce). Surgical removal of the foreskin is called
Circumcision
Testicular activity is controlled by two hormones from the anterior pituitary which are
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Which hormone in testicular activity stimulates the Sustentacular (sertoli) cells to produce growth factors that promotes the formation of spermatozoa
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
What does the Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulate
The interstitial cells between the seminiferous tubules to produce testosterone
What are the 4 effects of aging on make reproduction
- Decreasing in testosterone and spermatozoa production
- Decline in sperm motility and quality
- Erectile dysfunction
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
Structural disorders of the male reproductive system: what is cryptorchidism
Failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum (normally should occur by age 1)
-corrected by surgery
-can result in infertility and increase risk of tumours
Structural disorders of the male reproductive system: what is testicular torsion
Twisting of the spermatic cord that results from rotation of testis.
>most common between ages 12-18
Structural disorders of the male reproductive system: hernia
Is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it
Structural disorders of the male reproductive system: what is phimosis
Tightness of the foreskin so that it cannot be drawn back
What is orchitis
Inflammation of the testes (usually follows uti)
What is the most common cancer of young to middle age men (15-35 years)
Testicular cancer
The primary organs of the female reproductive system are
Ovaries (female gonads)
What do the ovaries produce. What do they supply
Produce female sex cells (ova)
Supplies sex hormone (primarily estrogen and progesterone on a cyclic basis)
The uterus is a female accessory organ what does it do
Holds and nourishes a fetus
The ovarian follicle houses and protects each ova. What are its functions
Secretes estrogen (stimulates growth of uterine lining)
Ovulation (releases ovum)
Following release of the ovum the follicle is transformed into the
Corpus luteum (which secretes large amounts of progesterone)
What degenerates if no pregnancy occurs
Corpus luteum (menses occurs)
What are the 4 responsibilities of estrogen
- Development and maturation of female reproductive organs
- Development and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics (breast development)
- Promotes a thickening of the uterine lining
- Initiates menstruation
Progesterone maintains
Gestation and assists estrogen in initiating menses
What is menopause
Time when reproductive activity ceases in females
Myometrium is what of the uterus
The muscular wall
The endometrium of the uterus is the
Inner lining
Uterine tubes (aka oviducts or fallopian tubes) are a muscular structure extending from the uterus to a point near the ovary. Function?
Transport ovum away from the ovary towards the uterus
Site of fertilization
The vagina is a muscular tube 7.5cm long. It has a mucous membrane lining and what to accommodate child birth
Rugae
The perineum is the
Entire pelvic floor in both the male and female
What is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus
Obstetrical perineum
The female reproductive cycle is a cyclic pattern of hormonal activity that is controlled by
Pituitary hormones LH and FSH regulated by the hypothalamus
The menstrual cycle averages how many days
28 days
Menstruation is periodic vaginal bleeding “menses” and occurs during the first _____ days of cycle
4-5 days
Ovulation is the release of the egg from the ovary. When does it occur
14 days before next menses begins
What is the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle
Days between the end of menses and ovulation
There is a surge of what the day before ovulation
LH (Luteinizing hormone)
During ovulation what is possibly formed
Zygote (fertilized egg cell)
What is the secretory phase
Days between ovulation and beginning of next menses (14 days)
Fertilization can occur in what phase
Secretory phase
During menopause what 2 things happen
Menstruation ceases
Normal ovarian function declines (follicles stop maturing, no appreciable amounts of estrogen and progesterone produced)
Effects of menopause may include
Nervous symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes
During menopause women can undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which combines estrogen and synthetic progesterone to relieve menopause discomfort. What are the risks associated with HRT
Increases breast cancer risk
Increases thrombosis and embolism risk
What is amenorrhea
Absence of menstrual flow
What is dysmenorrhea
Painful or difficult menstruation
What is premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Condition in which nervousness, irritability, and depression precede the menstrual period
What are fibroids
(Myomas) common tumors of the uterus.
-often small, usually benign and produce no symptoms
What is the most common cancer in women regarding reproductive system
Endometrial cancer
(Ovarian cancer second most common)
Cervical cancer is linked with? How can it be diagnosed
Linked with HPV and detected through Pap smear
What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) what is it usually caused by?
Due to extension of infections from the reproductive organs into the pelvic cavity. Usually caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia initially
