Reproductive system Flashcards by Anjaly Joseph

Where are the male and female gonads derived from embryologically?

Urogenital/gonadal ridge

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What is present in the undifferentiated reproductive tract? (3)

Wolffian ducts
Mullerian ducts
Cloaca

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What causes male reproductive organs to form?

Presence of the Y chromosome and thus the absence of SRY gene

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What does the Y chromosome do?

SRY gene causes primordial gonads to differentiate into testes.
Sertoli cells –> produce MIF –> Mullerian ducts regress
Leydig cells –> produce testosterone –> Wolffian ducts develop

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How does male external genitalia develop?

Testosterone in target tissue –> converted into DIH.

DIH stimulates development of scrotum, penis and prostate

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What causes testes to descend into the scrotum?

Testosterone

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What forms the glans penis?

Genital tubercle

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What forms the corpus spongiosum?

Urethral folds (fuse)

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What forms the scrotum, penis and prostate?

Labioscrotal folds

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What does the X chromosome do?

Absence of SRY gene causes primordial cells to differentiate into ovaries
No MIF –> Mullerian ducts persist
No testosterone –> Wolffian ducts regress

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What forms the clitoris?

Glands tubercle

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What forms the labia minora?

Urethral folds (fuse)

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What forms the labia majora?

Labioscrotal folds

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What are germ cells?

Specialised cells that develop into gametes (sperm & ova)

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What are the two stages of gametogenesis?

Mitosis of primordial germ cells

1 Meiosis

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When does mitosis happen in the germ cells?

Males: some during fetal development, but mainly after puberty and throughout life
Females: during fetal development

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What does mitosis of the primordial germ cells produce?

Males: primary spermatocytes
Females: perimary oocytes

When does meiosis 1 compete in the germ cells?

Males: During puberty
Females: After puberty

When does meiosis 2 complete in the germ cells?

Males: During puberty
Females: After fertilisation

What does meiosis 1 of the germ cells produce?

Males: Secondary spermatocyte (2)
Females: Secondary oocyte (1) + primary polar body

What does meiosis 2 of the germ cells produce?

Males: Spermatids
Females: Ovum + secondary polar body

Where does meiosis occur in the male?

Seminiferous tubules

Where does meiosis occur in the female?

Meiosis 1 = ovaries

Meiosis 2 = fallopian tube

What is the path of sperm from inside to outside? (8)

[SREEVEN UP]
Seminiferous tubules
Rete testes
Efferent ductules
Epididymis
Vas deferens
Ejaculatory duct
Nothing

Urethra
Penile urethra

What is the unfertilised egg that's lost during menarche?

Secondary oocyte (arrested @ metaphase 2)

What is needed for normal sperm production and how is this achieved?

Temp. of 35 degrees - air circulating around scrotum - heat exchange mechanism via pampiniform plexus

What forms the blood-testes barrier?

Sertoli cells (around circumference of seminiferous tubules) connected by tight junctions

What are type A spermatogonia?

Remain outside the BTB, and produce more spermatogonia until death

What does the epididymis do?

Site for sperm maturation and storage

What forms the ejaculatory duct?

Seminal vesicles | Vad deferens

Where does the ejaculatory duct join the urethra?

In the prostate gland

What does ejaculate consist of?

Fluid from prostate gland and seminal vesicle (90%) | Sperm (10%)

What do fluid from prostate and seminal vesicles contain?

- Buffers (acidic vaginal secretions & residual urine in M urethra) - Fructose (provide energy for motility) - Prostaglandins (stimulate female peristaltic contractions)

What is the need for a blood-testes barrier?

To separate sperm from the immune system

What are type B spermatogonia?

Enter BTB and differentiate into primary spermatocytes

What is spermiogenesis?

Spermatids --> spermatozoa (by discarding cytoplasm and growing a tail)

Describe the HPG axis of male reproductive function (6)

HT: secretes GnRH AP: secretes LH and FSH LH: Leydig cells --> testosterone FSH: Sertoli cells --> spermatogenesis + inhibin Testosterone inhibits HP and LH release at AP Inhibin inhibits FSH release at AP

Name the parts of the fallopian tube in the direction of travel of the egg

Fimbriae Infundibulum Ampulla (fertilisation) Isthmus (narrow)

Define primary amenorrhoea

Haven't stated menarche

Define secondary amenorrhoea

Started period, but it has since stopped for > 3 months

Define oligomenorrhoea

Infrequent periods

Define menorrhagia

Painful/ heavy periods