The reproductive system Flashcards
what are the organs of The reproductive system in men?
the prostate gland/testes/testicular vessels/penis/scrotum
what are the organs of The reproductive system in women
the ovaries/fallopian tubes/uterus/cervix, vagina/labia
what is the bony cavity which protects the organs
the pelvic girdle
why The male reproductive system is More visible than the female system
because more of the organs lie outside the body
function of The pelvic girdle
The pelvic girdle forms a protective basin for the reproductive organs
why the pelvic girdle t is wider in women
to allow for the passage of the baby during childbirth
the structure of The Pelvic girdle
A ring-like bony structure, located in the lower part of the trunk.
* Consists of a pair of coxal bones (os coxae, hip bones)
* Each of which contains three fused bones: * the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
* Together with the sacrum and coccyx, the pelvic girdle forms a bowl‐shaped region, the pelvis
the function of The Pelvic girdle
- Protects internal reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, and the lower part of the digestive tract.
what does The Pelvic girdle connect and what does it support
- It connects the axial skeleton to the lower limbs.
- It supports the spine
what is the The prostate gland
A small gland Located between the
bladder and the rectum and Surrounds the beginning of the urethra
the function of The prostate gland
*Produces two secretions carried in semen
*Makeup 30% of the bulk of semen
*Secretes fluid with citric acid, calcium, and coagulation proteins
*Secretes fibrinolysin
*The prostatic fluid protects sperm
what is The seminal fluid
Seminal fluid is a fluid found in the seminal vesicles that makes up 60% of semen volume
what does The seminal fluid contain
- Contains fructose for ATP production by sperm
- Contains prostaglandins for sperm activation
- Contains mucus
The seminal fluid is an alkaline, why
to neutralize the acid in the tracts
what is The testes
The primary reproductive organ
Two paired oval glands contained within a sac of skin and muscle - scrotum
They develop in the abdomen before descending into the scrotum before birth
where does The testes develop
They develop in the abdomen before descending into the scrotum before birth
what are the Two compartments within the testes
- Seminiferous Tubules
* site of sperm production (spermatogenesis) - Interstitial Tissue
* Contain Leydig cells
* Produce androgens (testosterone)
what are the hormones that the testes produce
spermatozoa and testosterone
what are the types of Testicular vessels and what is the difference between them
Epididymis
* Lightly coiled tube
* Transports and stores sperm
Vas deferens
* Long muscular tube
* Transports mature sperm to the urethra during sexual activity
what is the Scrotum
- A sac that contains the testes
- A membrane divides it into 2 halves
the importance of the Scrotum
- Supports and protects the testes
- Maintains the testes at the correct temperature for sperm development
what is The penis
- The main male external sex organ
- Contains 3 bodies of spongy erectile tissue bodies, foreskin and urethra
Spongy tissue is full of
- Spongy tissue is full of blood vessels
what is Foreskin importance
- Foreskin protects the glans
what causes The erection and what is it importance
the erection is caused by an increase in blood flow in the blood vessels of the spongy tissue
This allows penetration into the vagina and semen delivery during intercourse
what dose the Sperm consist of and what is there importance
Consist of a head, middle section and a tail
*The tail helps to propel the sperm along the vagina and into the uterus
* The head is the nucleus with 23 chromosomes – haploid
* The tail is a flagellum
* The middle section contains mitochondria
how does the sperm fertilise the ovum
by inserting its head into the ovum and the tail still outside
where is The female reproductive system
Hidden inside the body apart from the entrance to the vagina and the vulva
where does the sex Organs contained
within the pelvic girdle
where does the uterus open into and where does it lead to
the fallopian tubes
which lead to the ovaries
what does At the cervix it opens into
the vagina and forms the birth canal
what is the The uterus
- It is a muscular and hollow organ
- Shaped like an inverted pear
- Sits at right angles to the vagina
- Fallopian tubes extend laterally and end in a fringe * 7.cm long and 5cm wide
- Expands during pregnancy to accommodate the foetus
what are the Uterine layers
Perimetrium
* Outer layer of connective tissue
Myometrium
* Middle smooth muscle layer
Endometrium
* Inner lining with many blood vessels, glands
* Site of implantation/gestation
what is The cervix
- The narrow neck of the uterus
- Opens into the vagina
- Usually the width of a pencil
- Widens during childbirth
what is The ovaries
- Glands positioned either side of the uterus
- Secrete oestrogen and progesterone
- Store ova (still primary oocytes)
- Primary oocytes are formed before birth and found in follicles
- After puberty, every month, one of these follicles develops and ruptures releasing a secondary oocyte
- Ovulation
Primary oocytes are contained where
within primary follicles that have one layer of cells
The menstrual cycle phases
- Menstrual phase
- Proliferative phase
- Secretory phase
The first menstrual cycle is called
menarche
true or false The female body releases a secondary oocyte and is prepared for a possible pregnancy every month
true
Menstrual phase how much it last
- Lasts approximately 5 days
what is the hormone that is produced by the corpus luteum and enters the blood stream in the Menstrual phase
Progesterone
Less LH =
breakdown of corpus luteum
what does Menstrual flow contains:
Extra mucus secretions
The cells lining the uterus (endometrial lining)
Blood from broken down capillaries in the endometrium
The unfertilised ovum
how much does the Proliferative phase last
Approximately 7 days
where does the Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is
produced
in the anterior pituitary
when does the Ovulation occurs
in the end of Proliferative phase
Secretory phase lasts
Approximately 14 days
- After ovulation the secondary oocyte can only be fertilised in the next
12-48 hours
Progesterone stimulates endometrium to
retain fluid and produce mucus
what is the Vagina
- A muscular passage leading from the cervix to the vulva
function of Vagina
- Connects the internal sex organs with those on the outside of the body
- Serves as a passageway for menstrual blood
- Forms part of the birth canal during labour
- The site of penetration during intercourse
(* During sexual activity the blood vessels in the vaginal walls fill with blood causing them to swell and become engorged)
what is Vulva
- The external organs of the female reproductive system are collectively known as the vulva
- Include the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora and clitoris
Vulva structures
Mons pubis
- Protective pad of fat over the symphysis pubis
- Covered in hair after puberty
#Labia majora - Two large folds of fatty tissue
- Protect the entrance to the vagina and urethra
#Labia minora - Two smaller folds of skin within the labia majora
- Surround the clitoris and form a hood to protect it
#Clitoris - Very small sensitive organ
- Contains erectile tissue like the penis
- Situated below the mons pubis
- During sexual activity, erectile tissues fill with blood and swell
what are The breasts
- Accessory organs
- Not directly involved in the process of reproduction
- Develop during pregnancy ready for their function as milk-secreting glands.
- Glands which sit on the front of the female chest
- Size varies considerably
- Each breast is circular and convex with a central raised nipple
- Consist of adipose and areolar tissue supported by fascia
what cause the breasts to grow during puberty and then activate the secretion of milk during pregnancy
Hormones
what happens During pregnancy to the lobules
the lobules develop and produce milk
what makes the mammary glands more sensitive to rising progesterone and estradiol levels.
- Cortisol, thyroxine, and insulin
- Progesterone stimulates_______ and Oestrogen stimulates______
- Progesterone stimulates alveoli growth.
- Oestrogen stimulates tubule and duct growth.
The reproductive period lasts
The reproductive period lasts about 35
The average age for menopause to begin is
45-55
Menopause symptoms
Irregular menstrual cycles
Shrunken breasts
Less Hair growth on the body
Flushes, sweats, palpitations
Atrophied sex organs
Possibly unpredictable behavior
the 6 main stages of Pregnancy
- Fertilisation
- Post-fertilisation
*Cell division
*Formation of the embryo
*Development of the foetus - Birth
steps of Fertilisation
- Post ovulation, the secondary oocyte enters the fallopian tube
- It reaches the centre of the tube in around 30 minutes
- If sperm has been deposited in the vagina within 24 hours of ovulation, there is a 3 day window in which fertilisation may occur
- Several hundred sperm reach the fallopian tube within 5-10 minutes after ejaculation
- Only 1 sperm is needed to fertilise the ovum
- The sperm penetrates the ovum’s membrane and enters the ovum –
acrosome reaction - Called fertilisation/conception
- Ovum completes the 2nd meiotic division when
sperm penetrates the egg
what happens to the sperm Post fertilization
- The tail of the sperm breaks down
- Sperm and egg nuclei fuse to form zygote
The zygote undergoes cleavage until
a ball of cells called the morula is formed
After five days, the morula becomes
the blastocyst
The blastocyst enters the uterus and implants
in the endometrium
Implantation takes place on the______ post fertilisation
7th day
Gastrulation – formation of the gastrula – 3 layers of cells are
- Endoderm
- Mesoderm
- Ectoderm
- Embryogenesis is completed at
2 weeks
Formation of the embryo
- By day 24 the blastocyst has formed an amniotic cavity
- Contains an embryo
- The endometrium and part of the blastocyst develop into the placenta
- Nutrients, oxygen and waste pass between the mother and baby
- Childbirth usually occurs in the ______ after fertilization
40th week after fertilization
The embryo is known as the foetus from
8 weeks
the importance of The amniotic fluid
The amniotic fluid protects the foetus from shocks and pressure
what are 3 stages of labour
- Dilation: onset to complete dilation of cervix
- Expulsion-dilationto complete delivery
- Placental-powerfuluterine contractions expel placenta
what happens in the dilation stage
From the beginning of contractions to the full dilation of the cervix (10cm)
Amniotic sac ruptures
Amniotic fluid ruptures lubricating the vagina
what happens in the Expulsion stage
Strong uterine contractions propel the foetus down the birth canal
what happens in the Placental stage
The umbilical chord is cut and the placenta is expelled through the vagina
what is Ectopic pregnancy
- A pregnancy which occurs outside the uterus
- A fertilised ovum may develop inside the fallopian tube instead of travelling to the uterus
- Danger of haemorrhage and death
what is Amenorrhoea
- The absence of menstruation
causes of Amenorrhoea
- Can be caused by hypersecretion of testosterone in females
- Other causes may be hormonal imbalance, stress, radical weight loss, anaemia or excessive exercise
what is Dysmenorrhoea
- Painful menstruation, typically involving abdominal cramps.
causes of Dysmenorrhoea
- Caused by spasm or congestion of the uterus, imbalance in hormones or emotional disturbances
what is Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- A hormonal disorder that affects millions of women
causes of Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Caused by hyposecretion of female sex hormones (LH)
effect of Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Results in irregular menstrual cycles, multiple growth of follicular ovarian cysts, sometimes infertility and enlarged ovaries
- 50% of patients are obese and become hairy
- Age range usually 16-30
Cervical cancer
- Often has no symptoms in the early stages
- Detected through a cervical smear test
- Abnormal growth of cells
Breast cancer
- Signs may include a lump in the breast, change in breast shape
- Cancerous cells in the breast
Uterine cancer – endometrial cancer most common
- Often causes abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Cancer forms in the lining of the uterus
Prostate cancer
One of the most common cancers in men
May cause no signs and symptoms in the early stages
Chlamydia
A sexually transmitted disease
Caused by bacteria of the gene chlamydia
May cause genital inflammation, discharge, pelvic pain and fever
Fibroids
- A benign tumour of the uterus that is comprised of either fibrous connective tissue or muscle
Pre-eclampsia
- Abrupt hypertension, albuminuria and oedema of the hands, feet and face
- The most common complication of pregnancy
Endometriosis
- When endometrial tissue grows on the ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining the pelvis
- Known as an endometrial implant
- The hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle affect the misplaced endometrial tissue, causing the area to become inflamed and painful.
- This means the tissue will grow, thicken, and break down
- This tissue trapped in the pelvis can cause: * irritation
- scar formation
- adhesions, in which tissue binds your pelvic organs together * severe pain during your periods
- fertility problems
Placenta previa
A condition in which the placenta lies very low in the uterus and covers all or part of the cervix
Uterine prolapse
- Occurs when pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken and no longer provide enough support for the uterus
