reproductive anatomy

Question 1

lactating vs not lactating breast differences in structure

Answer 1

more adipose tissue vs more ducts, triggered by rising estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy

Question 2

breast alveoli cell composition and function

Answer 2

luminal epithelial cell produces milk, affected by prolactin
myoepithelial cell contractile function to release milk, affected by oxytosin

Question 3

external genitalia anterior to posterior including both perineums

Answer 3

monis pubis: fatty tissue, terminal hair
labia majora: sweat and sebaceous gland, terminal hair
labia minora
clitoris: sexual excitation, corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum tissues
hymen: thin mucus membrane covering vagina
perineum: genitalia and anus
clinical perineum: vagina and anus

Question 4

vagina epithelial layer structure and function

Answer 4

• non keratinsed stratified squamous
• release glycogen that is metabolised by bacteria to produce lactic acid
• does not secrete mucus

Question 5

vaginal muscular layer structure and function

Answer 5

outer longitudinal and inner circular layer of smooth muscle, stretches for sex and childbirth

Question 6

cervix epithelial layers, glands

Answer 6

stratified squamous to simple columnar separated by squamocolumnar junction
cervical glands release mucus depending on estrogen levels
deep invaginations increase surface for mucus production

Question 7

uterus and ovary ligametns

Answer 7

broad ligament: attaches uterus to pelvic cavity
ovarian ligament: attaches ovaries to uterus
round ligament: attaches uterus to labia minora
suspensory ligament: contains ovarian blood vessels

Question 8

3 layers of uterus and function

Answer 8

endometrium
stratum functionalis: gets shed, has uterine glands spiral arteries veins
stratum basalis: origins of vessels and glands, does not change
myometrium: contractions and stretching
perimetrium: outer layer

Question 9

uterine tubes 4 parts and functions

Answer 9

fimbriae (create a vacuum to suck oocyte)
infundibulum
ampulla where fertilisation occurs
isthmus

Question 10

ovaries anatomy

Answer 10

outer cortex contains follicles, intter medulla contains blood lymph nerves

Question 11

maturation of follicle

Answer 11

primordial oocyte: surrounded by flattened follicular cells
primary follicle: oocyte surrounded by multiple layers of cuboidal cells
secondary follicle: antrum starts to form
mature folllicle: large antrum, prominent theca layer

Question 12

what makes up mature follicle

Answer 12

oocyte, culumnus cells, granulosa cells, theca cells

Question 13

what happens days 5-14 in ovary uterus brain

Answer 13

maturation of follicle, estrogen produced by granulosa cells
FSH: granulosa
LH: theca

proliferatory phase, stratum functionalis develops due to estrogen

initially high FSH and LH to ovaries, estrogen gives negative feedback, steady FSH and LH to prevent too much estrogen

Question 14

ovulation ovary and brain

Answer 14

many granulosa, spike in estrogen
positive feedback occurs, spike in LH
theca cells stimulated, ovum and columnus cells released into oviduct

Question 15

days 14-28 ovaries uterus brain

Answer 15

luteal phase: corpus luteum releases progesterone, granulosa release inhibin

uterus: secretory phase, progesterone further thickens endometrium for implantation

brain: both progesterone and inhibin decrease FSH and LH secretion due to negative feedback (dont need a new oocyte)

Question 16

pregnancy hormone changes

Answer 16

placenta forms and releases HcG, negative feedback to brain to release less FSH and LH

Question 17

what path do the sperm take in the male

Answer 17

testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, prostatic urethra, membranous urethra, spongy urethra

Question 18

testes and scrotum blood supply

Answer 18

arteries: testicular artery from aorta, cremasteric artery, ductal artery

pampiniform plexus: convoluted system of veins running along arteries through the testes

veins: testicular vein drains into inferior vena cava on the right, renal vein on the left

both pass through the inguinal canal

Question 19

scrotum muscles

Answer 19

dartos muscle retracts scrotal skin
cremaster muscle elevates testes

Question 20

testes anatomy

Answer 20

tunica albuginea surrounds testes and extends inwards, separating testes into lobules
seminiferous tubules within the lobules
interstitial cells between the lobules, sustentacular cells between mitotically dividing cells

Question 21

descent of testes

Answer 21

ductus deferens gets pulled as testes descend, leading to the anterior superior posterior pathway

Question 22

penis anatomy

Answer 22

corpus cavernosum is sinusoidal, meaning it gets filled with blood

corpus spongiosum surrounds urethra

both are surrounded by tunica albuginea

Question 23

seminal vescicles

Answer 23

posterior to bladder, forms ejaculatory duct
produces 60% of seminal fluid, fructose, fibrinogen

Question 24

prostate gland

Answer 24

directly inferior to bladder
30% of seminal fluid, enzyme rich to activate sperm, clotting factors (fibrinogen to fibrin)
fibrinolysin and Prostate specific antigen

Question 25

bulbourethral gland

Answer 25

inferior to prostate 5% of seminal fluid, clear alkaline fluid to neurtralise acidic urine and lubricate

Question 26

sustentacular cells function

Answer 26

support cells for spermatogenesis, produce androgen binding protein (ABP)

Question 27

interstitial cells function

Answer 27

synthesise androgenic hormones eg testosterone

Question 28

testicular HPG axis

Answer 28

negative feedback occurs, maintains spermatogenesis, libido, development of secondary sexual characteristics