Reproductive System I Flashcards
(33 cards)
What are the main parts of the male reproductive tract? (5)
- Testes —> produces sperm and repro hormones
- Epididymis —> stores sperm
- Seminal cord —> suspend testes
- vas deferens —> sperm carried - Seminal vesicles —> semen glands
- Penis —> erection and ejaculation of semen
What is the pathway of semen through the male reproductive tract?
- Testes - produces sperm
- Epididymis - stores sperm
- Vas deferens - carries to seminal vesicle
- Seminal vesicles - semen glands
- Urethra - tube in penis
What is the penis?
Male sexual organ that expels semen
- structure —> 2 corpora cavernosa
—> 1 corpora spongiosum
- innervation - erection —> PNS
- ejaculation —> SNS
What is seminal fluid? (5)
Body fluid containing sperm
- fructose —> nutrients for sperm
- citric acid
- bicarbonate
- fibrinogen
- fibrinolytic enzymes —> breakdown barriers in path
eg. cervical mucus
What is the spermatic cord?
Cord suspending testes
- formation —> deep inguinal ring
- structures - testicular artery
- pampiniform plexus (veins)
- autonomic + genitofemoral nerves
- lymph vessels
- vas deferens
How does lymphatic drainage of the male reproductive system occur?
Lymph vessels in spermatic cord —> para-aortic lymph nodes
What is the structure of a testicle?
Outer layers:
- tunica vaginalis —> outermost
- tunica albuginea
- tunica vasculosa —> inner, around lobules
Inside:
- lobules - 300
—> 1-4 seminiferous tubules in each
- rete testes —> where lobules connect
To seminiferous vesicle:
- epididymis —> connects rete testes to vas deferens
- head, body, tail
- vas deferens - 40cm
What are the main parts of the female reproductive tract? (5)
- Ovaries —> produce ovum + repro hormones
- inside peritoneal cavity - Fallopian tubes —> connect ovaries to uterus
- ampulla —> wider section
- fertilisation occurs
- cilia + spiral muscle - Uterus —> where egg implants and develops
- Cervix —> connects vagina to uterus
- mucus —> blocks sperm entry into uterus
- superior —> sterile ∵ shedding, thick
mucus, narrow os, pH<4.5 - Vagina —> passage between uterus and outside
- non-sterile - lactobacillus vaginalis dec pH
Where does fertilisation occur?
Ampulla of fallopian tube
What is the structure of the uterus?
Layers:
- perimetrium —> outermost
- myometrium
- endometrium —> innermost
- sheds during menstruation ∵
vasoconstriction of arterioles
Support:
- tone of pelvic floor (levator ani, coccygeus)
- ligaments (broad, round, uterosacral)
How does lymphatic drainage of the female reproductive system occur? (2)
Ovaries —> para-aortic lymph nodes
Uterus/vagina —> illiac, scaral, aortic and inguinal
lymph nodes
What is an ectopic precnancy?
Egg implants and develops in fallopian tubes
- dangerous ∵ fallopian tube rupture leads to lots of
blood loss (fatal)
- remove pregnancy and affected fallopian tube
How are sperm produced throughout a male’s lifetime?
Puberty —> gametogenesis
Throughout life —> differentiation and self-renewal
of spermatogonia
—> males constantly fertile
How are ova produced throughout a female’s lifetime?
Before birth —> oogonia multiply to 6mn/ovary
—> form 1° oocytes in primodial follicles
—> oocytes meiosis halted in prophase
—> atresia = degeneration of some
primodial follicles
Birth —> 2mn/ovary
—> more atresia occurs
Puberty —> <0.5mn/ovary
Menopause —> 0 ova
What are the 2 functions of the ovaries?
- Oogenesis
- Reproductive hormone production
- oestrogens —> oestradiol
—> oestrone
—> oestriol - progestogens —> progesterone
- androgens —> testosterone
—> androstenedione
—> DHEA - relaxin
- inhibin
- oestrogens —> oestradiol
What are the 2 functions of the testes?
- Spermatogenesis
- Reproductive hormone production
- androgens —> testosterone
—> dihydrotestosterone
—> androstenedione - oestrogens —> oestradiol
—> oestrone - inhibin
- androgens —> testosterone
What is the process of spermatogenesis?
In sertoli cells:
1. Spermatogonium (44XY) —> mitosis
2. 1° Spermatocytes (44XY) —> 1st meitoic division
3. 2° Spermatocytes (22X/Y) —> 2nd meitoic division
4. Spermatids (22X/Y) —> differentiation
5. Spermatozoa (22X/Y) - 1,500/sec
(many lost ∵ malformed)
What are sertoli cells?
Testicular cells for spermatogenesis (FSH-receptors)
Location:
- in seminiferous tubules —> development of sperm
from out to in lumen
- in tunica propria
Functions:
1. Sperm development
- movement to tubular lumen
- transfer nutrients from capillaries
- phagocytosis of damaged germ cells
2. Hormone synthesis
- inhibin —> dec FSH
- activin —> inc FSH
- AMH (anti-mullerian hormone)
- ABP (andogen-binding protein)
What are leydig cells?
Testicular cells for hormone synthesis (LH-receptors)
Location:
- between seminiferous tubules
Functions:
1. Hormone synthesis (androgens)
- testosterone - can be aromatised to oestrogen
- androstenedione
- DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
- can be aromatised to oestrogen
—> pale ∵ cholesterol-rich
What are the 6 male reproductive hormones?
Androgens:
- testosterone
- dihydrotestosterone
- androstenedione
Oestrogens:
- oestradiol
- oestrone
Inhibin
What are the 8 stages of folliculogenesis?
- Primordial follicle —> at birth
- 1° oocyte - Primary follicle - 1° oocyte
inner granulosa cells
outer theca cells - Secondary follicle —> at menarche
- antrum forms (fluid-filled)
- FSH + LH receptors - Mature follicle - due to LH surge
- 2° oocyte - 2° oocyte ruptures follicle —> liberated —> early
corpus luteum left behind - Corpus luteum - produces oestrogen and
progesterone (∵ LH/HCG)
What is the process of oogenesis?
- Oogonium (44XX) —> mitosis (2nd trimester)
- 1° Oocytes (44XX) —> 1st meitoic division (halt PI)
- Menarche —> meiosis continues - 2° Oocytes (22X) —> 2nd meitoic division (halt MII)
- + polar body
- Fertilisation —> meiosis continues - Ootids (22X) —> differentiation
- + polar body - Ova (22X)
What are the 9 female reproductive hormones?
Oestrogens:
- oestradiol
- oestrone
- oestriol
Progestogens:
- progesterone
Androgens:
- testosterone
- androstenedione
- DHEA
Relaxin
Inhibin
What are theca cells?
Outer ovarian cells (LH-receptors)
Functions:
1. Folliculogenesis
- structural and nutritional support
2. Hormone synthesis (androgens)
- testosterone
- androstenedione
- DHEA
—> overactivity leads to PCOS
