Chapter 28: The Reproductive System Flashcards
(131 cards)
Gonads
Testes in males.
Produce and secrete sex hormones.
Ducts
Various ducts stores and transport gametes.
Accessory Sex Glands
Produce substances that protect gametes and facilitate movement.
Supporting Structures
Penis in males
Uterus in females
Assist in the delivery of gametes.
The uterus is also the site for growth of the embryo and fetus during delivery.
Male Reproductive System Organs
Include:
Testes: a system of ducts (epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory ducts and urethra) produce sperm and secrete hormones. The duct systems transports and stories sperm, assist in their maturation and conveys them to the exterior.
Accessory sex glands: seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral glands.
Several supporting structures: scrotum, penis
Scrotum
The supporting structure of the testes.
Consists of loose skin and underlying SC layer that hangs from the root of the penis.
The location of the scrotum and its contraction of its muscle fibers regulate the temperature of the testes.
Raphe
Median ridge that separates the scrotum porch into lateral portions.
Scrotal Septum
Internally this divides the scrotum into two compartments, each containing a single testis.
Dartos Muscle
Makes up the septum
Is made of SC layer and muscles tissue composed of smooth muscle fibers.
In response to cold temps this muscle will contract. This contraction causes the muscle to move closer to the body so it can absorb body heat.
This contraction causes the scrotum to become tight which reduces heat loss.
Cremaster Muscle
Associated with each testis in the scrotum.
Is a series of small bands of skeletal muscles that descends as an extension of the internal oblique muscle through the spermatic cord to surround the testes.
Normal Sperm Production
Requires a temp of 2-3 degrees below core body temp.
This lowered body temp is maintained within the scrotum because it is outside the pelvic cavity.
Testes
Or testicles, are paired oval glands in the scrotum measuring about 5 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter.
Produce gametes and excrete sex hormones.
They develop near the kidneys in the posterior portion of the abdomen and begin their descend into the scrotum through the inguinal canals.
Tunica Vaginalis
Serous membrane
Is derived from the peritoneum and forms during the descent of the testes, partially covers the testes.
Hydrocele
A collection of serous fluid in the tunica vaginalis.
May be caused by injury to the testes or inflammation of the epididymis.
Usually no treatment is required.
Tunica Albuginea
White fibrous capsule composed of dense irregular CT that surrounds the testis.
Found internal to the tunica vaginalis.
Lobules
A series of internal compartments formed by the septa when the tunica albuginea extends inward.
Seminiferous Tubules
Tightly coiled tubules where sperm is produced.
Each of the 200-300 lobules contains one to three of these tubules.
Contains 2 types of cells:
1. Spermatogenic cells: sperm forming cells
2. Sustentacular cells: have several functions in supporting spermatogenesis.
Spermatogenesis
The process by which the seminiferous tubules of the testes produce sperm.
Takes 65-75 days
Process:
1. Spermatogonium (2n) stem cell- develop from primordial germ cells from yolk sac, enter the testes during the 5th week of develop. Undergo mitosis =
2. Primary spermatocyte (2n) 46 chromosomes
3. Secondary speratocyte (n) 23 chromosomes
Final Stage: Spermiogenesis:
4. Spermatid (n) 4 haploid cells (tetrad) from miosis II,
Creates:
5. Sperm cell or spermatozoon (n)-once form is released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules.
Blood Testis Barrier
Tight junctions that are internal to the basement membrane and spermatogenia.
These tight junctions form the obstruction because substances must first pass through the Sustentacular cells before they reach the developing sperm.
Join neighboring Sustentacular cells to one another.
Interstitial Cells
Or Leydig cells
Found in spaces between adjacent seminiferous tubules.
Are clusters of cells.
These cells secrete testosterone and the most prevalent androgen.
Androgen
A hormone that promotes the development of masculine characteristics.
Primary Spermatocytes
Are dipoid (2n). Have 46 chromosomes.
Shortly after formed it replicated its DNA and meiosis begins.
Meiosis, hemologous pairs of chromosomes lines up at the metaphase plate and crossing over occurs.
Then meiosis spindle pulls one chromosome of each pair to an opposite pile of the dividing cell.
The 2 cells formed are called secondary spermatocytes.
Secondary Spermatocytes
2 cells formed by meiosis I. The meiotic spindle pulls one duplicated chromosome of each pair to an opposite pole of the dividing cell.
Each has 23 chromosomes, the haploid number (n).
Each chromosome within a secondary spermatocytes is made up of 2 chromatids still attached by a centromere. No replication of DNA occurs.
Spermatids
4 haploid cells resulting from meiosis II.
A single primary spermatocytes therefore produces 4 spermatids via 2 rounds of cell division: meiosis I and meiosis II.