Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vas deferens?

A

The duct which conveys spent from the testes to the urethra.

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2
Q

Describe the seminal gland

A

+ Holds the liquid that mixes with sperm to form semen

+ Also called the seminal vesicle

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3
Q

Describe the ejaculatory duct

A

+ Formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle

+ Pass through the prostate and open into the urethra at the Colliculus seminalis.

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4
Q

Describe the epididymis

A

+ A highly convoluted duct behind the testis

+ Sperm passes to the vas deferens via the duct

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5
Q

Describe the seminiferous tubules

A

+ Tubules made up of columnar Sertoli cells surrounded by spermatogenic cells

+ Produce sperm and house Sertoli cells

+ The site of the germination, maturation, and transportation of the sperm cells within the male testes

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6
Q

Describe the features of the scrotum

A

+ Skin is rugose

+ Contains dartos muscle

+ Has a midline raphe

+ Divided by a septum

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7
Q

Describe the uterus

A
\+ A central pelvic organ
\+ Inner lining: endometrium
\+ Middle muscular layer: myometrium
\+ Outer later: perimetrium
\+ Responsible for the implantation of the fertilised ovum and growth of the foetus 
\+ Pear shaped
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8
Q

Describe the uterine tube

A

+ a.k.a Fallopian tubes/Oviducts

+ Transport the ova from the ovary to the uterus

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9
Q

Describe the ovaries

A

+ Female reproductive organs in which ova are produced

+ Present as a pair

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10
Q

How is the ova/oocyte transported to the uterine tube?

A

It is “picked up” by the fimbriated end of the uterine (Fallopian) tube.

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11
Q

Describe fascial thickenings.

A

+ Supportive uterine ligaments
+ On the pelvic floor
+ Pass from the uterus and cervix to the sacrum, pubis and lateral pelvic walls

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12
Q

Describe the features of gonads

A

+ Produce gametes

+ Female gonads produce oocytes (eggs) by oogenesis

+ Male gonads produce sperm by spermatogenesis

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13
Q

What are the gonadal hormones involved in?

A
\+ Gamete production
\+ Supporting conception
\+ Pregnancy
\+ Lactation
\+ Affect bone
\+ Affect muscle
\+ Affect blood vessels
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14
Q

What is the hypothalamic signalling hormone involved?

A

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

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15
Q

What are the pituitary hormones involved?

A

+ Luteinising hormone (LH)

+ Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

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16
Q

What do the ovaries secrete?

A

+ Oestrogens

+ Progestins

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17
Q

What are the main hypothalamic areas involved in ovarian control?

A

+ Preoptic nucleus

+ Supraoptic nucleus

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18
Q

What do the neurons of the preoptic and supraoptic nucleus secrete?

A

GnRH, a peptide hormone

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19
Q

What are the features of GnRH?

A

+ Produced as a prohormone

+ Modified to active form

+ Secreted into the hypophyseal portal system

+ Release is pulsatile

  • requires less energy
  • does not desensitise target tissue receptors
  • stress and other inputs influence secretion
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20
Q

What is the relationship between GnRH and the pituitary gland?

A

GnRH is delivered via hypophyseal portal circulation to the anterior pituitary gonadotropes, where they then bind to receptors.

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21
Q

What hormones do gonadotropes secrete?

A

+ LH
+ FSH
+ They target the gonads

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22
Q

What is an oocyte?

A

+ An immature ovum

+ Contain follicles

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23
Q

What are the various stages of follicular development?

A
\+ Primordial
\+ Primary
\+ Secondary
\+ Tertiary
\+ Graafian

Endocrine ovaries primarily related to latter follicles.

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24
Q

Describe the features of theca cells

A

+ Superficial layer of follicle
+ LH receptors
+ Convert cholesterol into prenenolone
+ Then produce androstenedione and testosterone

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25
Q

Describe the features of granulosa cells

A

+ Deep compared to theca cells
+Layer increases in size markedly during 1° to 2° follicle development
+ Lh and FSH receptors
+ Also convert cholesterol into prenenolone and activate aromatase
+ Then produce testosterone and oestradiol

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26
Q

What do theca cells donate to granulosa cells, and why?

A

They donate androstenedione because granulosa cells cannot produce it due to a lack of key enzymes.

27
Q

What does FSH activate?

A

It activates aromatase, which facilitates the formation of oestradiol.

28
Q

What is oogenesis?

A

The process by which female gametes/ova are produced

+ Begins in foetal stage of females
- primordial germ cells (oogonia) increased in number

+ Some/many oogonia mature into oocytes

+ At ~20 weeks gestation, oocyte number reach max.

+ Oocyte numbers then decline until exhausted

29
Q

What are the main 3 oestrogens?

A

+ Oestradiol
+ Oestrone
+ Oestriol

30
Q

What are the effects of oestrogens on bone?

A

+ Increases growth via osteoblasts

31
Q

What are the effects of oestrogen on the endocrine system?

A

+ Increases progesterone responses

32
Q

What are the effects of oestrogens on the liver?

A

+ Increases clotting factors
+ Increases steroid-binding proteins
+ Decreases total and LDL
+ Increases HDL

33
Q

What are the effects of oestrogen on the reproductive organs?

A

+ Increases uterine growth
+ Increases vaginal and fallopian tube growth
+ Increases breast growth
+ Increases cervical mucus secretion
+ Increases LH receptors in granulosa cells

34
Q

What type of feedback do oestrogens (and progestins) provide?

A

+ Mainly negative feedback except in the mid-cycle, where it shifts to positive due to activins

  • caused by upregulation of receptors ( e.g GnRh in anterior pituitary) when oestrogen levels are increased
  • results in LH and FSH surge prior to ovulation
35
Q

What type of progestins are there and where are they produced?

A

+ Progesterone (& 17α-hydroxyprogesterone)

+ Produced in theca and granulosa cells

+ Has short half life (5mins) in circulation

+ Secretion regulation intrinsically linked to oestrogen secretion

36
Q

What are the effects of progestins on breast tissue?

A

+ Increases lobular development

+ Decreases milk production

37
Q

What are the effects of progestins on reproductive organs?

A

+ Decreases endometrial growth

+ Increases endometrial secretions
- mucosal secretions become thicker

38
Q

What is the effect of progestins on temperature?

A

+ Increases internal temperature

39
Q

What two cycles are associated with the female reproductive system?

A

+ Ovarian cycle

+ Endometrial cycle

40
Q

Describe the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle

A
  • main result is the development of mature Graafian follicle and secondary oocyte
41
Q

Describe the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle

A

+ Dominated by corpus luteum actions i.e synthesis/secretion of oestrogen and progesterone
- needed for implantation and maintenance of any fertilised oocytes

+ Corpus luteum regresses and degenerates in 10-12 days if no fertilisation

42
Q

What are the phases of the ovarian cycle?

A

+ Follicular phase

+ Luteal phase

43
Q

What are the phases of the endometrial cycle?

A

+ Proliferative phase

+ Secretory phase

+ Menstruation

44
Q

Describe the proliferative phase of the endometrial cycle

A

+ Endometrial growth mediated by increased oestrogens

  • from 1-2mm to 8-10mm thick
  • blood vessels and gland growth occur

+ Ovulation marks the end of this phase

45
Q

Describe the secretory phase in the endometrial cycle

A

+ Maturation (not growth) of the endometrium due to decreasing oestrogens

+ Mucus glands more fully develop

+ Glands and blood vessels increase surface area

46
Q

Describe the menstruation phase in the endometrial cycle

A

+ If no conception, endometrial lining is replaced

  • vasoconstriction of spiral arteries
  • local ischaemic injury
  • inflammatory cell infiltration
47
Q

What is lactation?

A

Milk production and secretion

48
Q

Breast tissue is prepared during puberty via female gonadal hormones. Via which hormones during pregnancy is there further development?

A

+ Oestrogens
+ Progestins
+ hCG from fetus
+ Prolactin

49
Q

What is the role of prolactin?

A

It mediates milk production

50
Q

What is the role of oxytocin?

A

Mediates milk “let down”/ejection

51
Q

What are the hormones involved in lactation regulation?

A

+ Prolactin

+ Oxytocin

52
Q

Describe the testis

A

+ Glands where sperm and testosterone are produced

+ Contained in the scrotum

53
Q

Describe what the testis conatin

A

+ Leydig cells (produce testosterone)
+ Blood vessels
+ Seminiferous tubules (produce sperm ad house Sertoli cells)

54
Q

Where do testicular endocrine functions occur?

A

Leydig and Sertoli cells (cf theca and granulosa cells)

55
Q

What are the processes of testicular endocrine function?

A

+ LH stimulation increases testosterone

+ Testosterone enter the Sertoli cell

+ Estradiol helps to regulate protein synthesis int he nucleus of the Leydog cell

+ FSH stimulation activates aromatase, which forms more oestradiol

56
Q

What are the various stages of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Spermatogonia
  2. Primary spermatocyte
  3. Secondary spermatocyte
  4. Spermatids
  5. Spermatozoa
57
Q

What is spermatogenesis regulated by?

A

Testosterone

58
Q

What are the effects of testosterone on bone?

A

+ Increases growth of bone and connective tissue

59
Q

What are the effects of testosterone on muscle?

A

+ Increases the growth of muscle and connective tissues

60
Q

What are the effects of testosterone on reproductive organs?

A

+ Increases growth and development of testes, prostate, seminal vesicles and penis

+ Increases growth of facial, axillary, and pubic hair

+ Increases growth of the larynx

+ Increases spermatogenesis

61
Q

What are the effects of testosterone on the skin?

A

+ Increases sebaceous gland size and secretions

62
Q

What hormones provide negative feedback in the female reproductive system?

A

+ Oestrogens
+ Progestins
+ Inhibins

63
Q

What hormones provide positive feedback in the (female?) reproductive system?

A

Activins

64
Q

What hormones provide negative feedback in the male reproductive system?

A

+ Testosterone

+ Inhibin B