Physiology & Health

Question 1

What does sexual reproduction require?

Answer 1

The joining of two gametes.

Question 2

What are the male gametes in humans?

Answer 2

Sperm.

Question 3

What are the female gametes in humans?

Answer 3

Ovum/Ova

Question 4

What are gametes made from?

Answer 4

Germline cells, they can differentiate to make sperm or ova.

Question 5

What are germline cells?

Answer 5

Cells that can differentiate to become sperm or ova.

Question 6

What is the function of the testes?

Answer 6

They produce sperm.

Question 7

What is the function of the sperm duct?

Answer 7

It carries sperm from the testes to the penis.

Question 8

What is the function of the prostate gland/seminal vesicles?

Answer 8

They secrete fluids which maintain the mobility and viability of sperm.

Question 9

What is the function of the penis?

Answer 9

Carries sperm out of the body.

Question 10

What are sperm cells made from?

Answer 10

Germline cells, called sperm mother cells, in the seminiferous tubules.

Question 11

Where are interstitial cells found?

Answer 11

In between the seminiferous tubules.

Question 12

What causes puberty to begin?

Answer 12

The hypothalamus produces a releaser hormone.

Question 13

What effect does the releaser hormone have?

Answer 13

It acts on the pituitary gland and makes it release FSH and ICSH/LH

Question 14

What does FSH do in males?

Answer 14

It promotes the production of sperm from germline cells in seminiferous tubules.

Question 15

What does ICSH/LH do in males?

Answer 15

It stimulates the interstitial cells to produce testosterone which acts on the seminal vesicles to stimulate sperm production.

Question 16

What does testosterone do?

Answer 16

Activates the prostate gland and seminal vesicles to produce their secretions.

Question 17

What happens if testosterone builds up to a high level?

Answer 17

Negative feedback takes place. It inhibits the production of the two pituitary gland hormones, FSH and ICSH/LH.

Question 18

What effect does negative feedback have?

Answer 18

It ensures that hormone levels remain more or less constant.

Question 19

Why are males described as ‘continually fertile’?

Answer 19

They produce sperm from puberty onwards.

Question 20

What do the ovaries contain?

Answer 20

Immature ova which are surrounded by follicles.

Question 21

What is the function of follicles?

Answer 21

They protect the ovum and secrete oestrogen.

Question 22

What is ovulation?

Answer 22

When a mature ovum is released and it enters one of the oviducts.

Question 23

What does the follicle become after ovulation?

Answer 23

A corpus luteum.

Question 24

What is a corpus luteum?

Answer 24

Follicles become corpus luteums after ovulation, they produce progesterone.

Question 25

How long does the menstrual cycle take?

Answer 25

28 days.

Question 26

What is day 1 of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 26

The first day of menstruation, the start of the period.

Question 27

What are the two phases of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 27

The follicular phase and the luteal phase.

Question 28

What happens in the follicular phase?

Answer 28

The follicle develops around an ovum, starting with day 1 and finishing with day 14. FSH is released by the pituitary gland which stimulates the follicle to develop - Follicle Stimulating Hormone. Oestrogen is produced by the follicle. Oestrogen stimulates proliferation of the endometrium and thins the cervical mucus. Low levels of LH are produced until a surge of LH is caused by a peak in Oestrogen. This causes ovulation.

Question 29

What is FSH's role in the follicular phase?

Answer 29

It stimulates the development of the follicle around the ovum.

Question 30

What is Oestrogen's role in the follicular phase?

Answer 30

It is produced buy the follicle and stimulates proliferation of the endometrium, allowing for implantation of the embryo, and thins the cervical mucus, allowing sperm to pass through more easily.

Question 31

What is LH's role in the follicular phase?

Answer 31

It is produced at low levels until a surge in Oestrogen causes a surge in LH, this causes ovulation.

Question 32

What happens in the luteal phase?

Answer 32

The follicle develops into a corpus luteum which secretes progesterone. Progesterone promotes the vascularisation of the endometrium to prepare it for implantation of the blastocyst.

Question 33

What is progesterone's role in the luteal phase?

Answer 33

It is secreted from the corpus luteum and it stimulates the vascularisation of the endometrium to prepare it for implantation of a blastocyst.

Question 34

What order do the female hormones peak in?

Answer 34

FSH, Oestrogen, LH, Progesterone. FOLP

Question 35

When does FSH peak?

Answer 35

During menstruation, when the follicle is developing. Around days 2-4.

Question 36

When does Oestrogen peak?

Answer 36

Just before ovulation when proliferation of the endometrium is taking place. Around day 12.

Question 37

When does LH peak?

Answer 37

During ovulation. Around day 14.

Question 38

When does progesterone peak?

Answer 38

When the corpus luteum is disintegrating. Days 22-24.

Question 39

What happens if the ovum is fertilised?

Answer 39

It becomes a zygote. Mitosis takes place. It becomes a blastocyst after 4-5 days. It implants in the endometrium and forms a placenta.

Question 40

What happens if the ovum is not fertilised?

Answer 40

The corpus luteum starts to disintegrate. The levels of the two ovarian hormones start to fall and the endometrium fades away, the women has her period.

Question 41

What is the negative feedback effect in women?

Answer 41

The pituitary gland produces FSH which causes the follicle to develop. The follicle produces oestrogen and the oestrogen causes the pituitary to stop making FSH and LH.

Question 42

What happens once the corpus luteum disintegrates?

Answer 42

Oestrogen and progesterone levels fall and the pituitary starts making FSH again.

Question 43

What is cyclical fertility?

Answer 43

Females have cyclical fertility. They are only fertile for 2 days in every 28 day cycle when the ovum is in the oviduct.