Male and Female Reproductive Physiology

Question 1

What action do luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone have in the female reproductive?

Answer 1

They act directly on the ovaries to stimulate release of ova, oestrogen and progesterone

Question 2

What kind of feedback effect do oestrogen and progesterone have on LH and FSH?

Answer 2

Mid-cycle, oestrogen has a positive feedback effect on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to increase release of FSH and LH
Rest of the time both oestrogen and progesterone have a negative feedback effect on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary

Question 3

What effect do FSH and LH have on the ovaries?

Answer 3

Initiate the growth of new follicles, beginning the new ovarian cycle

Question 4

What cells release oestrogen?

Answer 4

Granulosa cells

Question 5

What occurs following the LH surge?

Answer 5

Mid-cycle an LH surge occurs

36 hours after this, ovulation occurs

Question 6

What happens to the corpus luteum following ovulation?

Answer 6

It persists for 14 days if pregnancy does not occur, at which point it changes to corpus albicans
Pregnancy hormone STG will stimulate corpus luteum to persist

Question 7

When does oogenesis begin?

Answer 7

Intra-uterine in female babies

Question 8

When do meiosis I and II of the oogonium occur?

Answer 8

Meiosis I- at puberty

Meiosis II- at fertilisation of egg

Question 9

What is the oogonium?

Answer 9

The precursor of the mature cell is known as the oogonium, which has two polar bodies that are non-functioning and regress, forming one egg

Question 10

How are oocytes formed?

Answer 10

Oogonium undergo mitotic division to form primary oocytes, which is completed at or shortly after birth. Meiosis starts but is arrested in the prophase

Question 11

What role do the oocytes play in the female reproductive system?

Answer 11

Groups of primary oocytes are hormone responsive in each cycle, of which one grows to complete the first meiotic division and release a haploid secondary oocyte at ovulation. The extra genetic material is released as the first polar body. The secondary oocyte completes the second meiotic division when fertilised by a sperm cell to form the mature ovum and the second polar body.

Question 12

How does female fertility vary with age?

Answer 12

Female fertility decreases with increasing age

Question 13

What are the male reproductive hormones?

Answer 13

• Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
• Gonadotrophins- FSH and LH
• Testosterone

Question 14

Where does sperm production occur?

Answer 14

In the seminiferous tubules

Question 15

What is sperm produced by?

Answer 15

Germ cells

Question 16

What is produced by Sertoli cells?

Answer 16

Sperm producing cells

Inhibin

Question 17

What is produced by the Leydig cells?

Answer 17

Testosterone

Question 18

Where is the mature sperm stored and for how long?

Answer 18

In the epididymis for up to 14 days

Question 19

How do spermatogonoium mature to sperm cells?

Answer 19

1. Spermatogonium
2. Primary spermatocyte
3. Secondary spermatocytes
4. Spermatids
   Spermatids then go through spermiogenesis to form mature sperm cells

Question 20

How do spermatozoa correspond to sperm?

Answer 20

Spermatozoa are produced throughout life starting at puberty
~30 million produced daily
60-75 days for sperm to be produced
Further 10-14 days for them to be transported to the epididymis
20-100 million spermatozoa are released in each millilitre of ejaculate

Question 21

What problems can affect spermatogenesis and oogenesis?

Answer 21

Problems with hormonal control:
-Tumours
-Genetics
-Medicines
-Functional issue
Problems with site of production:
-Genetic
-Cancer treatment induced
-Surgery
-Trauma
-Infection