Test 8- Reproductive System Flashcards
What type of environment do sperm prefer and how do they develop in that environment
Prefers a cooler environment (not body temperature), so testes are held outside of the body to produce sperm, protected by the scrotum
What happens to testes that dont descend
Need surgery, or is left sterile
Which part of the testes produces sperm, and what do they absorb to produce it
The hollow, seminiferous tubules inside the testes produce sperm, absorbing testosterone
Where do sperm mature, where is this
In the epididymis, coiled tubes atop the testes that lead to the vas deferens
What are the three glands that add secretions into semen (just the names)
The seminal vesicles, prostate glands, bulbourethral glands
What do seminal vesicles add to semen
Adds fructose for energy (so sperm can swim) and prostaglandins, a hormone that causes uterine contractions
What do prostate glands add to semen
Secretes an alkaline (basic) fluid to neutralize the acidic urethra and vagina
What do bulbourethral glands add to semen
Adds lubricating fluid
Whats the passageway of sperm in the male reproductive system
Testes
Epididymis
Vas deferens
Seminal vesicles
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral gland
Urethra
Penis
What are the three parts of a sperm
Head, middle piece, and tail
What kind of cap does the head of a sperm have and what does it do
An acrosome cap, which stores enzymes needed for penetrating the egg
Which part of the sperm has a lot of mitochondria
Middle piece
When does puberty begin, what hormone is involved
Begins when the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
What does gnrh act on and release as an effect
Acts on the anterior pituitary gland, which releases luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
What does lh and fsh do for both genders
Acts on ovaries and testes to produce estrogen (and progesterone via ovulation) and testosterone
Which part of the testes produces testosterone, and what does it initiate
The testes interstitial (ledig) cells produce testosterone, which initiates sperm production and brings about the male secondary sex characteristics
How is the production of testosterone limited (via negativefeedback)
When spermatocytes absorb testosterone to mature, they release inhibin, which targets the hypothalamus (and anterior pituitary gland, preventing lh and fsh) to stop gnrh (and therefore testosterone) from being made
Whats the pathway of production of testoterone, starting from stimulus
Puberty/low levels of testosterone
Hypothalamus
Gnrh
Anterior pituitary gland
Fsh and lh
Testes
Produce testosterone
What are the gonads and gametes of male and female
Gonads: ovaries (female) and testes (male)
Gametes: egg/ovum (female) and sperm (male)
What are the processes of producting an ovum and sperm called
Sperm: spermatogenesis
Ovum: oogenesis
What is ovulation
The release of an egg from the ovary as it enters the oviduct (fallopian tubes)
What is a pap test and what does it test for
A microscopic examination of the cervix tissue for cancer cells
What hormone brings about and maintains the female secondary sex characteristics at puberty, what are some examples of characteristics
Estrogen and progesterone
Development of breasts and body hair, widening of the pelvic girdle, etc
What hormone brings about the male secondary sex characteristics at puberty and what are some characteristics
Testosterone
Development of sex organs, deepening of voice, facial and body hair, etc
What are fimbriae and what do they do
Projections of the oviduct with cilia that sweep egg into the oviduct
How many follicles mature with an egg per monthly cycle
Around 400
What are the phases of the ovarian cycle, what days do they occur at
Menstrual (1-5), follicular (6-13), ovulation (14), luteal (15-28)
What occurs during the menstrual phase and why does this occur
Shedding of the endometrium due to low levels of hormones
What are the phases of the uterine cycle and what days they occur at
Menstrual (1-5), proliferative (6-13), ovulation (14), and secretory (15-28)
What stimulates the hypothalamus to produce gnrh for females
Puberty, low levels of estrogen, and continued production of estrogen (positive feedback) until ovulation occurs
What happens during the follicular phase, what is released during it
Fsh targets the ovaries to begin maturing the egg and follicle, follicle continuously releases estrogen
What hormone causes ovulation, how
A spike in lh (from the hypothalamus continuously making gnrh (therefore lh) stimulated by the estrogen)
What happens to the follicle during ovulation, why
The egg leaves the oviduct, leaving the follicle to break down by itself
Follicle stops producing estrogen and becomes a corpus luteum
What occurs during the luteal phase
The corpus luteum continuously produces progesterone (and a bit of estrogen)
Is more estrogen produced during the luteal phase, why
Not a lot (corpus luteum produces a bit), since the follicle (now corpus luteum) no longer produces estrogen
What happens durign the proliferative phase
Estrogen causes the endometrium to start rebuilding
What happens (to the endometrium) during the secretory phase
Progesterone causes the endometrium to continue thickening, becoming more vascular (more blood vessels) and glandular (more glands)
What hormone is produced after fertilization, what does it do
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg), temporarily maintains corpus luteum to continue producting progesterone
Prevents ovulation due to the high levels of progesterone preventing production of gnrh, meaning no lh and fsh is produced (no spike in lh prevents ovulation)
Why is maintaining progesterone important after fertilization
If progesterone is gone, hormone levels drop, meaning the endometrium sheds
When are the fertile days per cycle, what does the fertile day mean
11-13, 15-17
Not the day you get pregnant!! You cant get pregnant before ovulation, it just means sperm released on those days can survive until ovulation (spawn camping)
How is oxytocin released and from where
Cervix (with stretch receptors) begins to stretch from the pressure of the baby, causing oxytocin to be released from the posterior pituitary gland (made from the hypothalamus)
What are contraceptives and what are the three types
Medications and devices that reduce the chance of pregnancy
Barrier, hormonal, surgery
What are the three sti types
Bacterial
Viral
Parasites
what does the placenta eventually produce
estrogen and progesterone
