Reproductive System

Question 1

testes

Answer 1

• 4cm by 2.5 cm oval shaped organs located in the scrotum

• produce testosterone and sperm

Question 2

scrotum

Answer 2

• Divided sac of skin outside the abdomen
• Maintains testes at 3°C lower than normal body temperature to
protect sperm viability

Question 3

seminiferous tubules

Answer 3

Each testis is divided into
Lobules which contain:
– Tightly coiled
structures
– sperm-forming
(spermatogenesis)
factories (300 million/day)
• Cells surrounding seminiferous tubules produce testosterone
• seminiferous tubules empty sperm into the epididymis

Question 4

Epididymis

Answer 4

• stores immature sperm
  – Upon ejaculation epidiymus contracts and sperm travel to the
  ductus(vas) deferens and then the urethra
  – Sperm live for about 48 hours in the female reproductive tract

Question 5

Seminal vesicles

Answer 5

• Produce seminal
fluid (nourishment for sperm)
– empties into the
vas deferens upon ejaculation

Question 6

Prostate

Answer 6

– Encircles the upper part of the urethra
– empties alkaline fluid into
the urethra via ducts during
ejaculation
– Fluid plays a role in activating sperm

Question 7

Bulbourethral gland

Answer 7

produces lubricant

Question 8

Semen (seminal fluid) and advantages

Answer 8

Mixture of sperm and accessory gland (prostate, seminal vesicles and
bulbourethral glands) secretions

advantages of accessory gland secretions:
• Fructose provides energy for sperm cells
• Alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidic environment
of vagina
• Semen inhibits bacterial multiplication
• Elements of semen enhance sperm motility

Question 9

Spermatogenesis

Answer 9

• Production of sperm cells
• Begins at puberty and continues throughout life
• Occurs in the seminiferous tubules
• Union of a sperm (23 chromosomes) with
an egg (23 chromosomes) creates a zygote
(46 chromosomes)

Question 10

Ovaries

Answer 10

• Produce eggs (ova) and secrete oestrogen and
progesterone
• Composed of ovarian follicles (sac-like structures)
• Each follicle consists of an immature egg or oocyte
• Over a period of
around 28 days the
oocyte develops and is
then released (ovulation).
The follicle then changes
into the corpus luteum
(produces eostrogen and
progesterone)

Question 11

uterine (Fallopian) tubes

Answer 11

• Receive the egg
• Provide a site for fertilization
• Attach to the uterus
• Little or no contact between ovaries and uterine tubes

Question 12

movement of egg after ovulation

Answer 12

1. Fimbriae
   • Finger-like projections at the distal end of the uterine tube receive the egg from the ovary
2. Cilia
   • Located inside the uterine tube
   • Slowly move the egg towards the uterus (takes 3–4 days)
3. Fertilization occurs inside the uterine (fallopian) tube

Question 13

Uterus

Answer 13

• Functions: receives, retains and nourishes a fertilized egg

Question 14

Uterine Walls (3 layers)

Answer 14

• Endometrium: Inner layer, allows for implantation of a fertilized egg, shed if
no pregnancy occurs (menses)
• Myometrium—middle layer of smooth muscle
• Perimetrium (visceral peritoneum) outermost serous layer of the uterus

Question 15

hormones that regulate the production of eostrogen and progesterone? and production of follicle and ovulation

Answer 15

FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (leutenising hormone)

Question 16

Menstrual phase (1)

Answer 16

• Days 1–5
• lining of endometrium is
sloughed, bleeding for 3–5
days
• Day 5 growing follicles are
producing oestrogen

Question 17

Proliferative stage

Answer 17

• Days 6–14
• regeneration of lining of
endometrium
• eostrogen levels rise
• Ovulation at end of this
stage due to rise in
leutenising hormone

Question 18

Secretory stage

Answer 18

• Days 15–28
• levels of progesterone
rise and increase the blood supply to the endometrium
• Endometrium increases in size
– If fertilization does occur
• Embryo produces a hormone that causes the corpus luteum to
continue producing its hormones
– If fertilization does NOT occur
• corpus luteum degenerates as LH blood levels decline

Question 19

Progesterone

Answer 19

• Produced by the corpus luteum
• Helps maintain pregnancy
• Prepare the breasts for milk production

Question 20

Eostrogens

Answer 20

• Produced by follicle cells

* Cause secondary sex characteristics

Question 21

Mammary Glands

Answer 21

• Present in both sexes,
but only function in
females
– Modified sweat glands
• Function is to produce milk

Question 22

Embryo - Foetus

Answer 22

- 3rd week placenta
is functioning
- 8th week all organ
systems have started
to develop
- Foetus - 9 weeks

Question 23

placenta

Answer 23

• blood is not exchanged however blood vessels from mother and
baby lie close to each other allowing for nutrient and gas exchange
and to remove wastes
• becomes an endocrine organ (produces hormones) and takes over
for the corpus luteum (by end of second month) by producing
– Eostrogen
– Progesterone

Question 24

genital herpes

Answer 24

• Infectious viral disease
• Recurrent episodes of acute painful
blisters on genitalia or rectum but some
people are asymptomatic
• Treated with oral
acyclovir

Question 25

uterine prolapse

Answer 25

– Uterus drops down into the vagina, weakened support ligaments, muscles

Question 26

ectopic pregnancy

Answer 26

– Fertilised ovum attaches to tissue outside uterus (typically fallopian tube), not viable, results in lost tube.

Question 27

dysmenorrhea

Answer 27

– Painful periods (menses)