1: Origin Of The Sexes Flashcards
(48 cards)
What are the origin of germ cells? (3 points)
- Germ cells separate off from somatic (body) cells early in dev
(Primordial germ cells formed in epiblast @ 2nd embryonic week) - Germ cells then go to primordial gonads (which dev into testes/ovaries)
- @ Gonad germ cells interact w somatic cells
Germ cells multiply by mitosis then undergo meiosis -> haploid gametes (ovum / sperm)
(2 haploid gametes fuse -> diploid zygote)
How does gamete production differ between male and female?
Male: 7,000 sperms per second
Female: 400 ovums in lifetime
Describe the dev of gonads in general (not gender specific)
- Germ cells arise 3 weeks after conception
- Genetic cells derived by xsomes of germ cells
- Germ cells start near allantois - migrate -> genital ridge (@ back)
(This forms primordial gonad) - Gonad made from somatic cells from original primordium and germ cells
- Primordial gonad consists of cortex and medulla
What do primordial gonads consist of?
Cortex and medulla
Describe the dev of gonads in males (6 points)
- Male germ cells colonise MEDULLARY region of primordial gonad (CORTEX will atrophy)
- Germ cells allow sex cords growth (which they invade : means theres a mix of somatic and germ cells)
- Sex cords become seminiferous tubules in adults
- Original mesodermal somatic cells —> sertoli cells (only found in males)
- Sertoli cells express SRY gene —> influence masculinisation
- Leydig cells dev between sex cords —> secrete testosterone —> allows rest of body to become male
Describe the dev of gonads in females (2 points)
- Female germ cells colonise CORTEX region of primordial gonad (Medullary cords don’t dev)
- Germ cells become surrounded by somatic mesenchymal cells —> form primordial follicles (SRY gene not expressed)
What are the components of the male internal genitalia? (5 things)
- Testes
- Duct system
- Epididymis
- Ductus deferens (urethra)
- Seminal vesicles
- Prostate
- Bulbo-urethral glands
Why must males be continuously fertile?
To exploit the intermittent female fertility
Why is there a high production of sperm?
Only small proportion of male gametes survive journey through female reprod tract
What are the roles of the male internal genitalia? (2 roles)
- Collect + mature continuous sperm production
2. Prod other fluid components of semen
What are the components of the male external genitalia? (2 things)
- Penis
2. Scrotum
What is the role of the male external genitalia?
Deliver semen (ejaculate into vagina)
What are the components of the female internal genitalia? (2 things)
- Ovaries
- Duct system
- Fallopian tube
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Vagina
What are the roles of the male internal genitalia? (3 roles)
Provide environment for:
- Sperm to travel
- Conceptus to implant and form placenta
- Embryo to dev to term
What are the components of the female external genitalia? (5 things)
- Vagina
- Vestibule
- Labia Minora
- Labia Majora
- Clitoris
What are the roles of the female external genitalia? (2 roles)
- Prov means of introd sperm into female reprod tract
2. Allows formation of birth canal
How are the male internal genitalia developed? (3 points)
- Leydig cells prod testosterone —> stim. Wofflian duct
- Wofflian duct forms epididymis + rest of male internal genitalia
- Mullerian duct growth inhibited by “Mullerian Inhibitory Hormone” (secreted by Sertoli cells)
How are the male external genitalia developed? (3 points)
- Urethral folds —> Shaft of penis
- Labiosacral folds (genital swelling) —> Scrotum
- Genital Tubercle —> Glans of penis
All processes helped by testosterone from Leydig cells
How are the female internal genitalia developed? (2 points)
- Mullerian duct (para mesonephric) forms fallopian tube + rest of female internal genitalia
- Wolffian duct regresses naturally
How are the female external genitalia developed? (3 points)
- Urethral folds —> Labia Minira
- Labiosacral folds (genital swelling) —> Labia Majora
- Genital Tubercle —> Clitoris
Before the descent of male gonads, which region does the testes start at?
Lumbosacrial region
What are the testes tied to at the lumbosacral region and with what? (Before descent of male gonads)
Tied to labiosacral folds by male gubernaculum
What is the first stage of the descent of the male gonads? (2 points)
- Testes move caudal
2. Invagination of scrotum dev. —> forms processus vaginalis
What happens in the second stage of the descent of the male gonads? (Weeks 25-28)
- Testes migrate over pubic bone —> enter scrotum