Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

BioMed S2 > 12. Reproductive System > Flashcards

12. Reproductive System Flashcards

(158 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Reproduction: definition

A

The production of new offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does sexual reproduction involve?

A

Meiosis
Fertilisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What happens in meiosis?

A

This produces male (sperm) and female (ova) gametes

These are haploid so have 23 chromosomes each

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is genetic variability?

A

Offspring having a mix of genes inherited from each parent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does fertilisation produce?

A

A zygote (46 chromosomes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Functions of female reproduction system:

A

Formation of ova (female gametes)

Reception of spermatozoa (male gametes)

Provide suitable environment for fertilisation/foetus

Parturition (childbirth)

Lactation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Functions of male reproduction system:

A

Production of spermatozoa (male gametes)

Transmission of spermatozoa to the female

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are breasts?

A

Accessory glands of the female reproductive system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a mammary gland?

A

A modified sweat gland that produces milk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does each mammary gland consist of?

A

15-20 lobes separated by adipose tissue

Each lobe contains small, grapelike clusters of glands called alveoli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are suspensory ligaments?

A

These support the breast between the skin and the underlying fascia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens during lactation?

A

Myoepithelial cells surrounding the alveoli contract and propel milk into the lactiferous ducts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where can milk be stored?

A

In the lactiferous sinuses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does prolactin do?

A

Stimulates the production of milk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does oxytocin do?

A

Causes milk ejection during suckling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does the uterus do?

A

Pathway for sperm

Site of zygote implantation

Location for foetal development

Contracts to initiate labour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a zygote?

A

Fertilised ovum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Uterus walls: layers

A
  1. Perimetrium
  2. Myometrium
  3. Endometrium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Perimetrium

A

The outer layer of the uterus wall

Visceral peritoneum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Myometrium

A

The middle layer of the uterus wall

With three layers of smooth muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Endometrium

A 
The inner layer of the uterus wall
High vascular (rich supply of blood vessels)
Divided into the:
1. Stratum functionalis
2. Stratum basalis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Stratum functionalis

A

Layer of the endometrium that sloughs off during menstruation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Stratum basalis

A

Permanent deeper layer of the endometrium

Regenerates the stratum functionalis ready for the implantation of a fertilised egg (zygote)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Uterus: uterine regions

A

Fundus (top bit)
Body (hollow bit)
Cervix (narrow bit)

Size and shape of a pear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What holds the uterus and ovaries in place ?
The broad ligament
26
Uterus: location
Posterior to the bladder Anterior to the rectum
27
What is an embryo?
The developmental stage following a zygote. Lasts until ~8 weeks
28
What is a foetus?
Developmental stage following an embryo After around 8 weeks
29
Placenta: functions
Allows oxygen and nutrients to diffuse from maternal blood into foetal blood Allows carbon dioxide and waste to move in the opposite direction Produces hormones that are needed to maintain the pregnancy
30
What is the placenta attached to?
The endometrium
31
Why is the placenta unique?
By the beginning of the 12th week, it contains 2 distinct regions from two individuals
32
What is the umbilical cord?
Connects the placenta to the embryo/foetus Around 50-60cm long
33
What can't pass through the protective barrier in the placenta?
Blood cells | Most micro-organisms
34
What can pass through the protective barrier in the placenta?
``` HIV Measles Polio Chicken pox Alcohol Drugs ```
35
What mediates the transfer of nutrients to the foetus?
Proteins called nutrient transporters
36
Placenta: hormones
``` Progesterone Oestrogen Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) Human Placental Lactogen (hPL) Relaxin Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) ```
37
Progesterone
Maintains endometrial lining to sustain and nourish the foetus Produced by corpus luteum until 8 weeks
38
Oestrogen
Promotes growth of breast tissue and myometrium Produced by corpus luteum until 8 weeks
39
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG)
Only produced during pregnancy Maintains corpus luteum for 8 weeks and increases transfer of nutrients to foetus Initially produced by the embryo then by the placenta after a few weeks Related to morning sickness
40
Human Placental Lactogen (hPL)
Increases the amount of glucose and lipids in the maternal blood
41
Relaxin
Targets ligaments and relaxes them Produced by the corpus luteum and then placenta
42
How is Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH) involved in pregnancy ?
Triggers release of cortisol from the adrenal glands Prevents rejection of foetus/placenta (as seen as 'foreign invaders')
43
Risks of placenta praevia
Obstructing the opening of the cervix (more risk with multiple births as more placentas present)
44
When is it possible for placenta praevia to resolve itself?
During 1st trimester
45
What can happen in placenta praevia during the 2nd and 3rd trimester?
Prone to haemorrhage Wall of cervix stretches and can detach from placenta Uterine vessels rupture and cause ante-partum vaginal bleeding
46
What is the treatment for placenta praevia in the later stages?
C-section
47
Placenta Accreta
Abnormally deep attachment of the placenta through the endometrium into the myometrium
48
Increta
If the placenta invades the myometrium
49
Percreta
If the placenta goes through the uterine wall to surrounding viscera e.g. the bladder
50
What causes placenta accreta?
Thin, inadequate stratum basalis in endometrium Placenta has to dig deeper when implanting Due to previous C-section, curettage (scraping procedure), fibroid removal, placenta praevia
51
Risks of placenta accreta
Post-partum haemorrhage
52
Placenta Abruption
When the blood vessels adhering the placenta to the uterine wall rupture, leading to separation of the placenta from the uterus
53
Risk factors for placenta abruption
Smoking Maternal hypertension (pre-eclampsia) Considered obstetric emergency after 20 weeks
54
Signs and symptoms of placenta abruption
Abdominal pain Ante-partum bleeding
55
Placenta abruption: epidemiology
Occurs in 1% of pregnancies worldwide
56
In placenta abruption, what happens to the baby <30 weeks?
Monitor vitals until baby is old enough to deliver safely Foetal lungs matured with corticosteroids
57
In placenta abruption, what happens to the baby >30 weeks?
Delivery
58
Twins: definition
Siblings that result from same pregnancy
59
Monozygotic twins
Identical twins with same genetic information Originate from a single fertilised ovum One egg, one sperm The zygote splits into two embryos but share same placenta
60
Dizygotic twins
Non-identical Release of two ova with both being fertilised and implanted independently Two eggs, two sperm Two different placentas (Two separate pregnancies in one)
61
Fallopian tubes
These extend laterally from the uterus to the ovaries Provide a route for sperm to meet the ova - and for the ova to reach the uterus
62
What are fimbriae?
Finger-like projections that surround the ovary and sweep the ova into the fallopian tubes
63
How does the fallopian tube move the ova from the ovary to the uterus?
1. Tubes are lined with ciliated columnar epithelium that help move the ova towards the uterus 2. Smooth muscle layer performs peristalsis to assist in ova movement
64
Ovaries
The female gonads Paired glands Resemble size and shape of almonds Atrophy after menopause
65
What is the ovarian ligament?
This anchors the ovaries to the uterus
66
Which hormones do the ovaries secrete?
Oestrogen Progesterone
67
Oogenesis
The formation of an egg (female gamete) in the ovaries
68
Where does oogenesis begin?
In the foetus
69
Primary oocytes
*Immature* ova - formed by germ cells during foetal development Formation stops at birth (20K to 2M primary oocytes) Surrounded by a layer of follicular cells
70
Primordial follicle
A primary oocyte surrounded by a layers of follicular cells
71
How many follicles will mature and ovulate during a woman's reproductive lifetime?
Around 400 Meaning around 400 secondary oocytes formed and ovulated during a reproductive lifespan.
72
Which hormones are involved in oogenesis post-puberty?
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Luteinising hormone (LH) | From the anterior pituitary
73
What happens in oogenesis post-puberty?
FSH and LH are released by the anterior pituitary gland FSH stimulates the maturation process of the primordial follicles (several will begin the process, normally only one will become dominant) Surge of LH triggers ovulation - the release of the ovum (secondary oocyte) The remains of the follicle becomes the corpus luteum
74
Primordial follicle maturation process
``` Primordial follicle >> primary follicle >>> secondary follicle >>>> mature follicle (containing secondary oocyte) ```
75
Corpus luteum
"Yellow body" The remains of the ovarian follicle once the secondary oocyte has been released This produces progesterone and some oestrogen Human chorionic gonadotrophin prevents the corpus luteum from degrading if fertilisation has occurred
76
Corpus albicans
What the corpus luteum becomes if fertilisation does not occur
77
How long does the follicle maturation process take?
1 year Rapid maturation = 14 days but process has begun 10-12 cycles previously
78
How long does the menstrual cycle generally last?
24-35 days
79
What is the average length of the menstrual cycle?
28 days
80
What are the four phases of the menstrual cycle?
1. Menstrual phase (1-5) 2. Pre-ovulatory phase (6-13) 3. Ovulation (14) 4. Post-ovulatory phase (15-28)
81
When does the menstrual phase happen?
Days 1-5
82
What happens during the menstrual phase?
Uterus: endometrium (stratum functionalis) is shed in a response to drop in progesterone Ovaries: primordial follicles mature under the influence of FSH
83
When does the pre-ovulatory phase happen?
Days 6-13
84
What happens during the pre-ovulatory phase?
Uterus: endometrium thickens in response to rising oestrogen levels Ovaries: one follicle starts to mature and inhibin is secreted which decreases the secretion of FSH (stops other follicles developing)
85
When does the ovulation phase happen?
Day 14
86
What happens during the ovulation phase?
Ovaries: high oestrogen levels create a positive feedback loop, stimulating LH secretion LH causes rupture of the mature follicle and expulsion of the egg
87
When does the post-ovulatory phase happen?
Days 15-28
88
What happens during the post-ovulatory phase?
The corpus luteum forms from the follicle wall It produces progesterone and some oestrogen to maintain the endometrium for pregnancy
89
Which hormones control the ovaries?
Pituitary hormones: FSH LH | Under the control/release of GnRH
90
Which hormones control the uterus?
Ovarian hormones: Oestrogen Progesterone
91
In what order do the hormones dominate during the menstrual cycle?
FSH Oestrogen LH Progesterone
92
What happens to a fertilised ovum (zygote)?
Zygote embeds in the uterine wall Embryo produces human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) which maintains and stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone and some oestrogen After a few weeks the placenta takes over the role of producing hCG and progesterone to maintain the pregnancy
93
What happens if an ovum is not fertilised ?
After 14 days, the corpus luteum degenerates into the corpus albicans Progesterone and oestrogen levels drop and a new menstrual cycle begins
94
What is puberty?
The period when the potential for sexual reproduction is reached Internal reproductive organs mature and the first period happens (menarche)
95
When does puberty typically occur?
Between 10-14 years old
96
What happens as puberty starts?
The start of puberty is marked by pulses of LH and FSH, each triggered by a burst of GnRH
97
What happens as puberty advances?
The hormone pulses occur during the day as well as at night These increase over 3-4 years
98
What are the secondary characteristics of puberty (females)?
Breast development Hair growth (pubic/axillary/legs) Hips widen Voice deepens
99
What is the menopause?
Persistent cessation of menstruation for 12 consecutive months
100
At what age does menopause usually happen?
45-55 years old
101
What happens physiologically when menopause occurs?
The number of follicles becomes exhausted: ``` > Oestrogen production decreases >> Decline in ovulation >>> Progesterone production decreases ```
102
What affect does low oestrogen and progesterone have on other hormones?
Negative feedback leads to an increase in FSH and LH levels
103
Which procedure can induce the menopause?
Hysterectomy
104
Menopause: signs and symptoms
``` Hot flushes and increased sweating Mood changes, irritability, anxiety Increased risk of UTIs Breast shrinkage, sparse pubic/axillary hair Osteoporosis Deceased libido Vaginal dryness Painful intercourse ```
105
Menopause: allopathic treatment
HRT
106
How can HRT help during the menopause?
It can be used to relieve menopausal symptoms Reduce risk of osteoporosis But it only delays the actual menopause
107
What risks does taking HRT bring?
Breast and endometrial cancer DVT Stroke Heart disease
108
What does the male reproductive system consist of?
Two of the following: * Testes * Epididymides * Vas deferens * Spermatic cords * Seminal vesicles * Ejaculatory ducts One of the following: * Prostate gland * Penis
109
What does the penis consist of?
Root (within pelvic cavity) | Body
110
What does the penis body consist of?
``` Three cylindrical masses of erectile tissue Glans penis (the enlarged ending) ```
111
When does the penis fill with blood?
During sexual arousal | During REM sleep
112
Which nervous system are the erectile tissue and involuntary muscle stimulated by?
Parasympathetic
113
Which substance causes vasodilation of the penis?
Nitric oxide
114
Where do the testes develop?
In the pelvic cavity (near kidneys) They descend into the scrotum via the inguinal canals between around 2 months before birth
115
What are seminiferous tubules?
Area in the testes that produce sperm
116
How long does it take to produce sperm?
Around 70 days
117
Which hormone is involved in sperm production?
FSH
118
What is the role of the testes?
1. Produce sperm 2. Produce and secrete testosterone
119
Which hormone is involved in testosterone production?
LH
120
From which substance is testosterone made?
Cholesterol
121
Where in the testes is testosterone made?
Leydig cells
122
What are lobules?
Areas in the testes that contain the seminiferous tubules
123
How many lobules are there per testicle?
200-300
124
What is the epididymis?
Area in the testes where mature sperm is stored
125
How does sperm get from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis?
Through muscle contraction
126
How many sperm are produced each day?
300 million
127
How long can sperm live for in the epididymis?
Several months
128
How many sperm are ejaculated?
Around 100 million per ml
129
What temperature is best for the production of sperm?
3 degrees C below body temperature
130
Sperm: anatomy
Head Acrosome Body Tail
131
What does the head of the sperm contain?
Nucleus
132
What is the acrosome?
Vesicle covering the head of the sperm | Contains enzymes to penetrate the egg
133
What is the body of the sperm filled with?
Mitochondria to fuel the tail
134
What is the function of the sperm tail?
To help it swim
135
What happens to sperm after it leaves the epididymis?
It's expelled through the vas deferens into the ejaculatory duct
136
What happens to sperm in the ejaculatory duct?
Semen is secreted and mixed with the sperm
137
Which glands produce semen?
Seminal vesicles Prostate gland
138
What are the seminal vesicles?
Pair of glands located behind the bladder | They produce an alkaline fluid that makes up 60% of semen
139
What does the semen produced by the seminal vesicles contain?
Nutrients (e.g. fructose) to nourish sperm
140
What is the prostate gland?
Wraps around the male urethra | Secretes a thin, milky fluid that makes up 30% of semen
141
What does the seminal fluid produced by the prostate gland contain?
Nutrients for ATP production Anticoagulants to increase fluidity
142
Which anticoagulants are included in the semen secreted by the prostate gland?
Citric acid Proteolytic enzymes Prostate specific antigen (PSA) Pepsinogen
143
What is semen?
Alkaline fluid that protects sperm from urethral and vaginal acidity
144
What is the vas deferens?
Duct that transports sperm from the testicle to the urethra
145
What are the Cowper's Glands?
They secrete an alkaline, mucous fluid that neutralises urinary acids in the urethra prior to ejaculation Also lubricate the end of the penis
146
Describe muscular activity and the pathway of semen during sexual arousal?
Smooth muscle in the epididymis and vas deferens propel sperm into the ejaculatory ducts Muscles surrounding the base of the urethra cause semen to eject out of the penis during orgasm
147
Considerations when taking reproductive case histories (male and female)
Menstruation - cycle/bleeding time/amount of blood/quality Breasts - tenderness, galactorrhoea Relationship of symptoms to cycle Hirsutism (male hair pattern growth) and acne Altered libido and impotence Problems with intercourse Past and present fertility plans Methods of contraception Operations Additional symptoms e.g. urinary problems Family history
148
Menarche
The age of the first period
149
Metrorrhagia
Mid-cycle bleeding
150
Menorrhagia
Increased menstrual bleeding
151
Amenorrhoea
Absence of periods
152
Dysmenorrhoea
Painful periods
153
Polymenorrhea
Short cycle, frequent periods
154
Oligomenorrhea
Infrequent cycles
155
Galactorrhoea
Lactation without pregnancy
156
Dyspareunia
Pain on intercourse (f)
157
Gynaecomastia
Presence of enlarged breast tissue in a male
158
What is inhibin ?
A hormone that inhibits the secretion of FSH

BioMed S2 (34 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions