Reproductive System

Question 1

What chromosomes are males?

Answer 1

XY

Question 2

What chromosomes are females?

Answer 2

XX

Question 3

What is the significance of the X chromosome being bigger than the Y?

Answer 3

Includes genes not present on Y

= responsible for sex characteristics

Question 4

What are gonads?

Answer 4

Contain germ cells + produce gametes + hormones

Question 5

What are the male gonads?

Answer 5

Testes —> sperm

Question 6

What are the female gonads?

Answer 6

Ovaries —> egg

Question 7

What is testosterone?

Answer 7

Potent androgen

Question 8

Where is testosterone synthesised?

Answer 8

Within Leydig cells of testes

Question 9

What does testosterone do?

Answer 9

Development + maintenance of male secondary sexual characteristics

Question 10

What is male testosterone metabolised to?

Answer 10

Dihydrotestosterone + androsterone

Question 11

What is female testosterone metabolised to?

Answer 11

Oestradiol + etiocholanolone

Question 12

What are the actions of testosterone?

Answer 12

Stimulate enlargement of testes + male accessory organs

Stimulate development of mule secondary characteristics

Question 13

What secondary characteristics does testosterone stimulate?

Answer 13

\+ body hair
Enlarge larynx 
Thicken vocal cords
Thicken skin
Muscle growth
Thicken + strengthen bones

Question 14

Describe androgen receptors

Answer 14

Bind to receptor = heat shock proteins (hsp)
Complex migrates to nucleus
Bind to specific region of DNA that contain androgen response element (ARE)

Question 15

What is the importance of androgen receptors?

Answer 15

Drives expression of genes that determine male phenotype

Question 16

What happens to women with androgen insensitivity?

Answer 16

Sparse pubic hair + axillary hair

Question 17

Describe testosterone level throughout life

Answer 17

Mini puberty at 6 months
Hormones unchanged until puberty
Maintained throughout life
Declined in old age

Question 18

What are organs secreted by?

Answer 18

Hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary gland
Testes

Question 19

What is significant about the ovaries?

Answer 19

Contain fixed no. of follicles

Question 20

What happens during puberty in females?

Answer 20

Follicles mature

Question 21

Describe brief process of ovulation

Answer 21

FSH —> release oestrogen —> release LH = ovulation

Question 22

What happens when there is no fertilisation?

Answer 22

Progesterone level decrease = uterus wall shreds

Question 23

How long is 1 cycle?

Answer 23

28 days

Question 24

What are the ovarian steroid hormones?

Answer 24

Oestrogen
Estrone (post-menopause)
Estriol (pregnancy)
Progesterone 
Androgens

Question 25

What does oestrogen do?

Answer 25

Development + regulation of female reproductive system + secondary sex characteristics

Question 26

What else does oestrogen do?

Answer 26

Provision of hormonal timing for ovulation Develop tissues = implantation of blastocyte Establishment of milieu required for pregnancy

Question 27

At what age does menopause happen?

Answer 27

45-55 years

Question 28

Why does menopause happen?

Answer 28

``` Ovaries fall to respond to FSH = no. of follicles decrease Weak oestrogen (E1) ```

Question 29

Why does hot flushes happen in menopause?

Answer 29

Increase of LH + FSH

Question 30

What is micturition?

Answer 30

Filling + emptying of bladder

Question 31

Describe micturition

Answer 31

Parietal lobes + thalamus receive + coordinate detrusor afferent stimuli Frontal lobes + basal ganglia provide modulation with inhibitory signals

Question 32

What is the facilitatory of micturition?

Answer 32

Potine area, posterior hypothalamus + other cortical centres

Question 33

What is the inhibitory of micturition?

Answer 33

In the mid

Question 34

What does the sympathetic nerve do?

Answer 34

Transmits impulses from pain receptors to upper lumbar segment = perception of pain sensation from urethra + bladder

Question 35

What does the pelvic nerve do?

Answer 35

Transmits impulses from tension + pain receptors | = reflex micturition + sensation of bladder fullness

Question 36

What does the pudendal nerve do?

Answer 36

Transmits impulses for sensation of … Distension of urethra Passage of urine through urethra Maintains tonic contractions of skeletal muscle fibres of external sphincter

Question 37

At volume is the 1st urge?

Answer 37

150-300ml

Question 38

At volume is the sense of fullness?

Answer 38

300-400ml

Question 39

At volume is the sense of discomfort?

Answer 39

400-600ml

Question 40

At volume is the sense of pain?

Answer 40

600-700ml

Question 41

At volume micturition cannot be suppressed?

Answer 41

700ml