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MCAT-BIOLOGY > The Male Reproductive System > Flashcards

The Male Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

spermatogenesis

A

the synthesis of sperm

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2
Q

androgens

A

male sex hormones

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3
Q

testes

A

male gonads (aka testicles)

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4
Q

what are the two roles of the testes?

A

1) spermatogenesis

2) secretion of male sex hormones (androgens)

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5
Q

seminiferous tubules

A

sites of spermatogenesis, formed by sustentacular cells

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6
Q

sustentacular cells

A

make up the seminiferous tubules, protect and nurture the developing sperm both physically and chemically

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7
Q

interstitial cells

A

makes up the tissue between seminiferous tubules, responsible for androgen synthesis

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8
Q

epididymis

A

a long coiled tube located on the posterior of each testicle into which the seminiferous tubules empty

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9
Q

ductus deferns

A

tube in which the epididymis from each testicle empties

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10
Q

urethra

A

the tube inside the penis

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11
Q

inguinal canal

A

a tunnel that travels along the body wall toward the crest of the hip bone, path followed by the ductus deferens after it leaves the scrotum and before it joins with the urethra

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12
Q

ejaculatory duct

A

joining of the seminal vesicle with the ductus deferens, joins from both sides of the body to form the urethra

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13
Q

seminal vesicles

A

pair of glands located on the posterior surface of the bladder, secrete 60% of the total volume of the semen, secretes mostly fructose (nourishment of sperm)

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14
Q

semen

A

a highly nourishing fluid for sperm, produced by 3 glands (prostate, seminal, bulbourethral) and 2% of sperm from testes

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15
Q

prostate gland

A

secretes fructose and a coagulant, functions for nourishment and allows semen to coagulate after ejaculation (35% of semen)

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16
Q

boubourethral gands

A

secretes thick, alkaline mucus an functions to lubricate urethra and neutralize acids in male urethra and in female vagina (3% of semen)

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17
Q

accessory glands

A

seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral gland, testes (each produces a component of sperm)

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18
Q

erectile tissue

A

specialized tissue in the penis that allows erection (corpus cavernosum-2 and corpus spongiosum)

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19
Q

what are the 3 stages of the male sexual act?

A

arousal, orgasm, resolution

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20
Q

arousal

A

dependent upon parasympathetic nervous input, can be divided can erection and lubrication

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21
Q

erection

A

involves dilation of arteries supplying the erectile tissue which causes swelling, which in turn obstructs venous outflow which causes erectile tissue to become pressurized with blood

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22
Q

lubrication

A

a function of the parasympathetic system, bulbourethral glands secrete a viscous mucous which serves as a lubricant

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23
Q

orgasm

A

requires stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system and can be divided into 2 stages: emission and ejaculation

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24
Q

emission

A

the propulsion of sperm (from the ductus deferens) and semen (from the accessory glands) into the urethra by contractions of the smooth muscle surrounding these organs

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25
ejaculation
semen is propelled out of the urethra by rhythmic contractions of muscles surrounding the base of the penis
26
resolution
return to a normal, unstimulated state, controlled by the sympathetic nervous system which causes constriction of the erectile arteries and decreases blood flow to the erectile tissue, which allows the veins to carry away the trapped blood
27
what are the gametes produced by the male?
spermatozoa
28
what are the gametes produced by the female?
ova
29
syngamy
fusion of the sperm with the egg in the female genital tract
30
syngamy results in:
a zygote
31
maternal inheritance
where both gametes contribute equally to the genome but the egg provides every other part of the zygote (including the mitochondria)
32
where is the site of spermatogenesis?
the seminiferous tubule with the aid of sustentacular cells in the walls of the seminiferous tubule
33
germ cells
the cells that give rise to spermatogonia or oogonia
34
spermatogonium in the outer region of seminiferous tubule become primary spermatocytes that undergo:
their first meiotic division which then become secondary spermatocytes which undergo the second meiotic division to form spermatids which mature into spermatozoa in the inner region of the seminiferous tubules
35
spermatozoan finish maturing in:
the seminiferous tubule and then the epididymis
36
spermatozoa are incapable of motility when they first enter the epididymis, when are they capable of moving?
when they enter the ductus deferens, however they remain inactive due to inhibitory substances secreted by the ductus deferens (can be stored here)
37
head
contains the haploid nucleus and the acrosome
38
tail
flagellum
39
neck region
at the base of the tail, contains many mitochondria which uses fructose contained in semen for energy
40
acrosome
a compartment on the head of the sperm that contains hydrolytic enzymes required for penetration of the ovum's protective layer
41
bindin
a protein on the sperm's surface that attaches to receptors on the zona pellucida surrounding the ovum
42
testosterone
stimulates division of spermatogonia
43
luteinizing hormone (LH)
stimulates the interstitial cells to secrete testosterone which inhibits the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus
44
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
stimulates the sustenacular cells to release inhibin
45
inhibin
hormone secreted by sustenacular cells that inhibit FSH release
46
what determines the gender of a developing embryo?
its sex chromosomes
47
Wolffian ducts
develop into male internal genitalia (epididymis, seminal vesicles, ductus deferens)
48
Mullerian ducts
develop into female internal genitalia (uterine tubes, uterus, vagina), develop by default in the absence of a Y chromosome and MIF
49
Mullerian inhibiting factor (MIF)
secreted by testes (which develop due to genetic info on Y chromosome) and prevent female internal genitalia from developing
50
external male genitalia is determined by:
release of testosterone from testes (that enter the systemic circulation)
51
internal male genitalia is determined by:
release of testosterone from testes locally, assists in Wolffian duct development
52
testosterone is converted to _______ in target tissues after entering the systemic circulation
dihydrotestosterone
53
analogous structures
structures arising from Wolffian and Mullerian ducts that have the same function but that arise from different precursors
54
homologous organs
testes/ovaries, both derived from the gonads and thus have common origin
55
what is a homologous organ to the penis?
clitoris, functions in erectile tissue and sensation
56
what is a homologous organ to the bulbourethral glands?
greater vestibular glands, functions in lubrication
57
what is a homologous organ to the scrotum?
labia majora, functions as external skin folds
58
androgen
all hormones involved in the development and maintenance of male characteristics
59
what is the primary androgen produced by the testes?
testosterone
60
estrogen
all hormones involved in the development and maintenance of female characteristics
61
what is the primary estrogen produced in the ovaries?
estradiol
62
secondary sexual characteristics
maturation of the genitalia, male distribution of facial and body hair, deepening of the voice, and increased muscle mass, maintenance requires elevated levels of testosterone (during puberty)
63
role of estrogens
required to regulate the uterine cycle and for the development and maintenance of female secondary sexual characteristics (maturation of the genitalia, breast development, wider hips, and pubic hair), also causes fusion of the epiphyses
64
elevated testosterone during puberty also causes (aside from secondary sexual characteristics):
pubertal growth spurt and fusion of the epiphyses
65
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
hormone released from the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary to release gonadotropins (FSH and LH), controls sex steroid production
66
LH effect in males
acts on interstitial cells to stimulate testosterone production
67
FSH effect in males
stimulate the sustenacular cells to release inhibin (which inhibit pituitary)
68
LH effect in females
formation of the corpus luteum and progesterone secretion
69
FSH effect in females
stimulates the granulosa cells to secrete estrogen
70
which steroids demonstrate feedback inhibition on the hypothalamus (GnRH) and the anterior pituitary (LH and FSH)
inhibin, steroids (testosterone, estrogen)

MCAT-BIOLOGY (17 decks)

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