Reproductive System Flashcards
What type of sex is determined by the presence or absence of a Y chromosome?
chromosomal sex
What are the chormosomes for males and females
XY and XX respectively
What is the first degree of sex determination that depends on the presence of testes or ovaries?
Gonadal sex
What is the gene that determines gonad presentation?
SRY
Where is the SRY gene normally located?
Y chromosome
What protein does the SRY gene produce?
TDF protein
What does TDF stand for?
Testis-determining Factor
What does the TDF cause?
A fetus to develop male gonads
What is the second degree of sex determination that refers to the genitalia present?
Phenotypic sex
What is phenotypix sex determined by?
Hormonal products of gonads and cell sensitivity to those hormones
What can crossing over of the SRY gene cause?
gene moves from Y to X causing possible female characteristics in an XY individual and male characeristics in an XX individual
What syndrome creates XX chromosomal females to develop male physical features?
XX Male Syndrome
What syndrome creates XY chromosomal males to develop female physical features?
Swyer Syndrome
What occurs if TDG fails to be released?
XY chromosomal males may not develop testes
What occurs in the testes fail to produce enough androgens?
Results in range of effects, from undescended testes to having a completely female phenotype
What is 5-alpha-reductase?
An enzyme that is required to convert testosterone to the more potent form called DHT
What happens if there is a deficiency in the amount of 5-alpha-reductase that a person produces?
Can result in ambiguous genitalia, but testes and other sex characteristics may develop during puberty with the increase in hormones
What organ are sperm produced in?
Testes
What is the testes surrounded by?
Scrotum
What temperature is sperm production optimized at?
35 degrees
How does the scrotum help maintain the appropriate temperature in the testes?
Muscle tissues in the scrotum move testes closer to the body when they are cold and further from the body when hot
What is the site of sperm production?
Seminiferous tubules
What secretes testosterone in males?
Leydig cells
What are the support cells for developing sperm?
Sertoli cells