The Reproductive System Flashcards
1
Q
What is a gonad?
A
A gonad is an organ that produces sex cells in animals.
2
Q
What are the male gonads called?
A
They’re called testees.
3
Q
Why are the testees located in the scrotum?
A
It is the ideal temperature for sperm production (~35*C).
4
Q
Where are seminiferous tubules located?
A
They’re located inside the testees.
5
Q
What are the seminiferous tubules lined with?
A
They are lined with sperm producing cells.
6
Q
What is the epididymis comprised of?
A
It is comprised of all of the seminiferous tubules joining.
7
Q
What are the two functions of the epididymis?
A
- To allow for sperm to mature.
- To store the matured sperm.
8
Q
What is the sperm duct also referred to as?
A
Vas deferens
9
Q
What does the sperm duct do?
A
The sperm duct brings sperm to the urethra.
10
Q
What is the urethra responsible for?
A
To carry sperm and urine out of the body.
11
Q
What are the three glands in the male reproductive system?
A
- Seminal vesicle
- Prostate gland
- Cowper’s gland
12
Q
What do the three male reproductive glands produce?
A
These three glands produce seminal fluid.
13
Q
What does seminal fluid do?
A
It nourishes the sperm and provides a medium for it to swim.
14
Q
Which two parts are in the head of the sperm? What do they do?
A
- Acrosome — This contains digestive fluid.
- Nucleus — This contains 23 chromosomes.
15
Q
What part is in the body of the sperm? What does it do?
A
- Collor — This contains mitochondria.
16
Q
What part is in the tail of the sperm? What does it do?
A
- Flagellum — This allows the sperm to swim.
17
Q
What is it called when a cell contains 46 chromosomes?
A
It is called a diploid cell.
18
Q
How do sperm and egg producing cells turn into sperm and egg cells?
A
They go through meiosis and split from a diploid to a haploid.
19
Q
What is created when a sperm nucleus and an egg nucleus combine?
A
When they combine in fertilisation, they form a diploid zygote.
20
Q
How does the zygote grow?
A
The zygote now grows through meiosis division ensuring that each new cell has a diploid number of chromosomes.
21
Q
What is the male hormone called?
A
It is called testosterone.
22
Q
What is testosterone responsible for?
A
It is responsible for the males primary and secondary characteristics.
23
Q
What are primary sex characteristics?
A
The presence of male / female reproductive organs.
24
Q
What are secondary sex characteristics?
A
This refers to the features that distinguishes males from females apart from the sex organs themselves.
25
Name three male secondary sex characteristics.
- The growth of pubic, facial and body hair.
- The enlarging of the larynx and deepening of the voice.
- Increased muscular and bone development.
- A growth spurt.
- An increased secretion level of sebum in the skin.
26
What does the ovary produce?
The ovary produces the female's eggs and hormone.
27
Do eggs develop over time or are they present at birth?
A female's eggs are present from birth.
28
What is another word for the fallopian tube?
The oviduct
29
How to fallopian tubes get a hold of an egg after it is released?
There are funnels at the tip of each fallopian tube and they catch the egg after it is released from the ovary.
30
How are the eggs moved along the fallopian tube?
They are moved by cilia (which are hair-like structures) and muscular peristalsis.
31
What is another name for the uterus?
The womb.
32
What is the outer wall of the uterus made out of?
The outer wall of the uterus is made out of involuntary muscle.
33
What is the inner lining of the uterus called?
The endometrium.
34
What happens each month to the endometrium before it is shed?
The endometrium thickens each month and with cells and blood vessels to nourish the embryo.
35
What separates the uterus from the vagina?
The cervix.
36
What is the function of the vagina?
- To allow the entry of sperm.
| - The exit canal for the birth of the baby.
37
How does the vagina protect itself from pathogens?
It protects itself by having cells that produce mucous.
38
What are the two female hormones?
- Oestrogen
| - Progesterone
39
What are the secondary sex characteristics in females?
- Maturing and enlarging of breasts.
- Widening of the pelvis in preparation for childbirth.
- Growth of pubic and underarm hair.
- A growth spurt.
40
Why are eggs diploid at birth?
Eggs are diploid at birth because they haven't been divided by meiosis yet.
41
What surrounds the egg when meiosis is complete?
The Graafian follicle surrounds the egg.
42
What does the Graafian follicle produce?
It produces oestrogen.
43
How does the Graafian follicle work?
When the follicle matures, it forms a swelling on the outside of the ovary. When it is time to ovulate, it bursts and releases the egg.
44
After ovulation, what happens to the Graafian follicle?
The Graafian molecule fills with yellow cells and becomes the Corpus luteum.
45
What hormone does the Corpus luteum produce?
Progesterone
46
What is the menstrual cycle?
It a 28 days long sequence of events in which the female's body produces an egg and prepares the body for pregnancy.
47
When does the cycle start and end in a woman's life?
It starts at puberty and ends at menopause.
48
What happens on days 1-5 during the menstrual cycle?
The old lining (endometrium) is broken down from the body.
49
What is this shedding of the old lining called during days 1-5?
Menstruation
50
In relation to the egg, what happens on days 1-5?
A new egg is produced in the ovaries by meiosis and is surrounded by Meiosis.
51
What happens on days 6-14 during the menstrual cycle?
The hormone oestrogen is produced by the developing Graafian follicle.
52
What are the two functions of the production of oestrogen during days 6-14.
- It causes the lining of the uterus to build up again in preparation for implantation.
- Oestrogen also prevents the development of any more eggs.
53
What happens on day 14?
On day 14, ovulation happens.
54
How does ovulation occur?
Ovulation occurs when the Graafian follicle bursts to release the egg into the fallopian tube.
55
What happens to the Graafian follicle on days 14-28?
The Graafian follicle develops into the Corpus luteum.
56
What are the two functions of the Corpus luteum?
- It causes the endometrium to thicken further.
| - It prevents new eggs from forming.
57
What days are considered the "fertile period"?
Days 12-16
58
What happens if the egg isn't fertilised by day 16?
The egg will die.
59
What happens to the Corpus luteum if fertilisation doesn't occur?
The Corpus luteum will degenerate around day 22.
60
What happens if fertilisation doesn't take place and the Corus luteum degenerates?
The lining of the uterus breaks down again on day 28. This starts the cycle again on day 1.
61
What is the biological term for reproducing?
Copulation
62
How does one know if a male and female are experiencing sexual arousal?
- The penis becomes erect.
| - The vagina becomes lubricated.
63
How does one know if a male and female are copulating?
The penis is inserted into and moved inside the vagina.
64
How does one know if a male and female are experiencing an orgasm?
- Sperm is released from the penis (ejaculation).
| - Contractions occur in the vagina and uterus.
65
What is insemination?
Insemination is the release of sperm into the female.
66
How does the female help fertilisation to occur after insemination?
There are contractions in the uterus and fallopian tubes to move the sperm into the fallopian tubes.
67
What is it called when the egg gives off chemicals to attract the sperm?
It is known as chemotaxis.
68
What is fertilisation?
Fertilisation is the fusion of the egg and sperm nuclei to form a diploid zygote.
69
Where does fertilisation normally occur?
In the fallopian tube.
70
What releases enzymes to digest the egg's membrane?
The acrosome
71
Why does the acrosome release enzymes to digest the egg's membrane?
So that a number of sperm may reach the egg at the same time.
72
How does the egg protect itself after one sperm has entered it so that other sperm don't?
A chemical reaction at the membrane prevents other sperm cells from entering.
73
What is implantation?
Implantation is the embedding of the fertilised egg into the lining of the uterus.
74
When does implantation normally occur?
It normally occurs 6-9 days after fertilisation when the zygote has grown into an embryo.
75
During implantation what develops around the embryo?
The amnion membrane
76
What does the amnion membrane do?
It fills with fluid and surrounds the embryo to act as a shock absorber.
77
When does the placenta form?
The placenta forms after the implantation.
78
What does the embryo form after implantation?
The embryo forms an outer membrane called a chorion.
79
What does the chorion develop?
The chorion develops projections (also known as chorionic villi).
80
What is the function of chorionic villi?
The chorionic villi, together with the blood vessels from the mother in the endometrium form the placenta.
81
What does the placenta allow for?
The placenta allows for nutrients, wastes, gases, antibodies and hormones to be exchanged between the mother and embryos blood.
82
Do the blood of the embryo and the mother mix?
No
83
What are the two reasons why the mother and embryos blood don't mix?
- The blood groups of mother and baby might not be compatible.
- The blood pressure of the mothers system may cause damage to the embryo.
84
What hormone does the placenta make?
The placenta makes the hormone progesterone.
85
What does the umbilical cord do?
It connects the placenta with the embryo.
86
What does the umbilical cord contain and what does it do?
The umbilical cord contains blood vessels which circulate blood between the embryo and the placenta.
87
Explain what happens during stage one of childbirth.
The contractions of the uterus pushes the foetus towards the cervix, dilating it. The contractions cause the amnion to break, releasing the amniotic fluid through the vagina.
88
Explain what happens during stage two of childbirth.
- The fœtus passes through the cervix and the the birth canal, head first
- The umbilical cord is tied and cut. This leaves a scar which will be eventually the navel.
89
Explain what happens during stage three of childbirth.
- The baby is now born.
| - The uterus now contracts again and expels the umbilical cord and placenta.
90
What is breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is the secretion of milk from the mammary glands.
91
What is produced a few days after birth (in relation to breastfeeding)?
The colostrum is produced.
92
What triggers the production of milk and by what?
The production of milk is triggered by the release of prolactin by the pituitary gland.
93
Give two reasons why breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding.
- Colostrum and breastmilk provide the baby with essential antibodies protecting it against infection.
- It has the ideal balance of nutrients for the baby.
- It has very little fat making it easier to digest than milk.
94
What are the four main types of birth control?
- Natural
- Mechanical
- Chemical
- Surgical
95
What are two cases of male infertility?
- Low sperm count
- Low sperm mobility
- Endocrine gland failure.
96
What are two cases of female infertility?
- Blockage of the fallopian tube.
| - Endocrine gland failure.
97
What are two solutions to infertility?
- In-vitro fertilisation
| - Implantation
98
What is birth control?
Birth control refers to the methods employed to limit the number of children that are born.
99
What is contraception?
Contraception is the is the removing of possibility of conception.
100
What is an example of mechanical contraception in a male and female?
Male - condoms
| Female - diaphram
101
What is an example of chemical conception which women use? and explain how it works.
The use of the pill. The pill contains oestrogen and progesterone which prevents ovulation.
102
What is the surgical option for contraception in males and females?
The cutting and tying of the Fallopian tubes or sperm ducts.
