The Reproductive System Flashcards
What is apart of the male reproductive system?
- Organs
- Testes
- Penis
- Ducts
- Epididymis
- Ductus deferens
- Urethra
- Glands
- Seminal vesicles
- Prostate
What is the anatomy of testes?
- Testes covered in
- Fibrous connective tissue
- (under skin- scrotum)
- Each testis contains
- Connective tissue forms lobes
- Seminiferous tubules (produce sperm)
- Rete testis
- Efferent ductules
- Epididymis
- Ductus deferens
- Leydig cells (outside seminiferous
tubule) - Produce testosteron
What is gametogenesis + what are the male + female versions + where they occur?
- Gametogenesis: formation of the male and female gametes
- Gametes (ovum and spermatozoa)
- Oogonium/primary oocytes and spermatogonium
- Females: oogenesis
- Males: spermatogenesis
- occurs in the gonads (ovary or testis)
Describe what happens in gametogenesis
- Meiosis
- one cell undergoes two
consecutive cell divisions - four daughter cells, each half as many
chromosomes as the parent cell - Termed
- meiosis I (reduction division, 23)
- meiosis II
- During fertilization, zygote
receives 1 set of chromosomes
(23) from each parent
What happens in the seminiferous tubule + what cells are inside that secrete what?
- Where sperm formed
- Mature in lumen, immature on outside
- Leydig cells (testosterone)
- Sertoli cells (nourish the germ cells and produce hormones)
- Germ cells partially embedded
What is spermatogenesis?
Creation of sperm cells within the male gonads (testes)
Describe what happens in spermatogenesis
spermatogonia divide by mitosis to give diploid spermatocytes
these divide by meiosis to give haploid spermatids which differentiate into spermatozoa
What are the functions of the testes?
estes
* Exocrine – produce sperm
* Endocrine – produce hormone
* Spermatogenesis
* Process of sperm maturation
* Involves both mitosis & meiosis
* Takes ~ 74 days to complete (incl maturation)
different sperm maturation stages + seminiferous tubules functions in transport/
- Germ cells
- Immature at periphery
- Mature near lumen
- Mature (sperm cell or
spermatozoa) - (semi mature)
- The head, midpiece, and tail
- transported through
seminiferous tubules and
ducts to the exterior of the
body - Via rete testis to epididymis
- Complete maturation
- (although final stage just
before fertilisation in oviduct)
What are the details about semen secretion?
- Nutrients (inc fructose)
- pH regulators
- Coagulation proteins (prolong time in
vagina) - Proteolytic enzymes – release sperm –
swim to oocyte
What is in the medial section in the female reproductive system?
- Ovary
- Uterine tube / fallopian
tube/oviduct - Uterus
- Vagina
- Distendable smooth muscle
tube, 10cm long - Small glands secrete
lubricant - Related to rectum
posteriorly and
bladder/urethra anteriorly - female reproductive and
urinary tracts open
separately to the exterior
What are the uterine tissue layers + details?
- Endometrium – vascular and glandular
- Stratum compactum - cuboidal ciliated
epithelium* - Stratum spongiosum - loose connective
tissue* - Stratum basale
*Slough during menstruation - Myometrium – 3 layers of smooth
muscle - Perimetrium - peritoneum
What are the major components of the fallopian tubes + length + other names?
- Also known as: Uterine tubes or
Oviducts - Each 10cm long (approx.)
- Three major components
- Isthmus – narrowing
- Ampulla – swelling – fertilization usually
occurs here - Infundibulum – collecting area with
fimbrae - Fimbrae that collect egg when released from
ovary
Outline the parts of the ovary
- Outer: connective tissue –
ovarian follicles - Oocyte (female sex cell)
- Centre: blood vessels nervous
tissue - Developing follicles (cellular
structures) - Surrounding developing oocytes
Describe the ovary follicular development
- Primordial follicles (present at
birth) - Puberty:
- Primary follicles
- Oocyte enlarges
- Develops granulosa cells
- Build up
- Secondary follicle
- Fluid filled vesicles
- Thecal cells
- Grafian follicle (mature)
- Ruptures and secondary oocyte
surrounded by cells released during
ovulation
What cells surround the primary follicles + what do these cells do?
- Primary follicle surrounded by
granulosa cells - No. Layers of granulosa cells
increases as maturation proceeds - Cells secrete oestrogen rich fluid
into space surrounding oocyte
called Antrum - Outer layer of granulosa cells
condenses into layer of theca
cells
Outline oogenesis
- Occurs in the ovaries
- Process of creation of an ovum (egg cell) from precursor cells
- Begins prior to birth
- primordial germ cells (oogonia) in foetal ovary
- spans all of pre-reproductive & reproductive life
- Similar process to spermatogenesis
- Mitosis of primordial cells (oogonia)
- (early) meiosis of primary oocytes
- (late) meiosis of secondary oocyte
What happens for oogenesis during foetal development?
primitive germ cells differentiate into oogonia which then divide by mitosis to make a primary oocyte
What happens for oogenesis in follicles?
primary oocyte becomes secondary oocyte from early meiosis and involvement of granulosa + theca cells
What happens for oogenesis in follicles if fertilisation occurs?
secondary oocyte divides by meiosis into an ovum (egg)
Describe ovary follicular and oocyte development
- Follicle development 28 days
- Hormonal control
- Generally only one follicles
forms a mature follicle - Remaining degenerate
- Post ovulation
- Forms corpus luteum
- If pregnancy
- Corpus luteum enlarges and
persists - If no pregnancy
- Corpus luteum lasts 10-12 days
- degenerates
