Reproduction Part 1 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the primary functions of the male mammalian reproductive system?
Produce and store sperm
Deliver sperm into the female reproductive tract to fertilize the egg
Identify the major structures of the male reproductive system in mammals.
Testes
Epididymis
Vas deferens
Urethra
Penis
Prostate gland
Bulbus glandis (in dogs)
Os penis (penile bone in some species)
What is the function of the testes?
Produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone
Located in the scrotum outside the body for temperature regulation
What is the role of the epididymis?
Stores and matures sperm before ejaculation
What does the vas deferens do?
Transports mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra during ejaculation.
What is the function of the urethra in males?
Carries semen (and also urine, but never simultaneously) through the penis to the outside of the body.
What is the role of the prostate gland?
Produces fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen, enhancing sperm mobility and longevity.
List the major structures of the female reproductive system in mammals.
Ovaries
Oviducts (fallopian tubes)
Uterine horns
Uterus (body)
Cervix
Vagina
Vulva
What is the bulbus glandis and its role in dogs?
A swelling at the base of the penis during mating that helps to lock the male inside the female for successful copulation.
What is the os penis?
A bone found in the penis of some mammals (e.g. dogs) that supports penetration during mating.
What are the primary functions of the female mammalian reproductive system?
Produce eggs (ova)
Support fertilization and pregnancy
Give birth to offspring
What is the function of the ovaries?
Produce eggs
Secrete female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone
What is the oviduct (fallopian tube) and what happens there?
It transports eggs from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilization usually occurs here.
What are the uterine horns and how do they differ between species?
Extensions of the uterus that accommodate multiple embryos in litter-bearing species (e.g., dogs)
Size and shape vary depending on species and litter size
What are the three layers of the uterus and their functions?
Perimetrium: Outer layer, maintains uterine shape
Myometrium: Muscular layer, contracts during labour
Endometrium: Inner lining where implantation occurs
What is the function of the cervix?
A smooth muscle sphincter that remains tightly closed during pregnancy
Protects the fetus and prevents pathogens from entering the uterus
What does the vagina do?
Receives the penis during mating
Produces acidic mucus to protect against infection
What is the vulva?
External part of the female reproductive tract
Part of the urogenital opening
Swells during oestrus (heat) to signal reproductive readiness
How do uterine structures differ between species?
Different animals have varying uterine shapes to accommodate their reproductive strategies (e.g., single offspring vs. litters). All, however, have the same three-layer structure.
