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BI1002 - structure and function of living organisms > Reproductive systems > Flashcards

Reproductive systems Flashcards

(91 cards)

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1
Q

Functions of the reproductive system?

A

Not essential to life of individual but for species survival, produce haploid gametes, store, nourish and transport haploid gametes for fertilisation.

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2
Q

What are the three types of embryological development?

A

Oviparous, ovoviviparous, viviparous.

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3
Q

How is Gonadal sex determined?

A

By the sex chromosomes in mammals and birds, XY/ZZ for testes and XX/ZW for ovaries.

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4
Q

What does androgen release in utero cause in mammals?

A

Masculinisation of genitalia.

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5
Q

What does oestrogen release in ovo cause in birds?

A

Feminisation of genitalia in birds.

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6
Q

What variations from mammals do other animals have for sex determination?

A

Not genetically determined, both male and female reproductive tissues.

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7
Q

What temperature variations can determine sex in some animals?

A

16-28C = testes, >32C = ovaries

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8
Q

What are two different names for sex determination?

A

Simultaneous and sequential.

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9
Q

What type of reproductive organs do females have?

A

Internal and external.

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10
Q

What are characteristics of the internal reproductive organs of females in relation to location?

A

Share pelvic cavity with bladder and rectum, covered superiorly by peritoneum.

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11
Q

What is the function of the ovaries?

A

Oogenesis and follicle development, maturation, hormone production (oestrogen/progesterone).

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12
Q

How many eggs are present at birth?

A

Total at birth which decreases during life.

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13
Q

What is stage 1 of follicle development?

A

Primordial follicles, primary oocyte enclosed by single layer follicular cells and basal lamina, follicles stimulated = primary follicles.

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14
Q

What is stage 2 of follicle development For uni layered follicles?

A

Primary follicle, oocyte enlargers and cells increase in size, oocyte produces zona pellucida (glycoproteins, binding of sperm).

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15
Q

What is stage 2 of follicle development For multi layered follicles?

A

Follicular cells increase in number and thickness = stratified, zona pellucida assembled.

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16
Q

What is stage 3 of follicle development?

A

Secondary follicle, spaces develop containing fluid, coalesce to form cavity, production of oestrogen by granulosa cells.

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17
Q

What is stage 4 of follicle development?

A

Graafian follicle, antrum, fluid filled cavity, surrounded by corona radiata (glowing crown) = nutrition.

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18
Q

How is the oocyte expelled into the entrance of the uterine tube during ovulation?

A

Proteolytic activity stimulated by gonadotropin (LH).

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19
Q

What is the Corpus luteum?

A

Yellow body, endocrine function follicular cells release progesterone and oestrogen.

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20
Q

What is the Corpus albicans?

A

White body, cells replaced by collagen scar.

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21
Q

What are the scientific names for the funnel and fringe of the uterine tube?

A

Infundibulum and fimbriae respectively.

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22
Q

What are the four key areas of the uterine tube in order from ovary to womb?

A

Infundibulum, ampulla (wide convoluted), isthmus, intramural.

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23
Q

What is the uterine tube?

A

Muscular tube (peristalsis), site of fertilisation.

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24
Q

What are the two types of cells in the epithelium of the uterine tubes?

A

Secretory (peg) and ciliated.

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25
What is the role of the secretory cells in the epithelium of uterine tubes?
Watery secretion for gamete nourishment.
26
What is the role of the ciliated cells in the epithelium of the uterine tubes?
Cilia beat rate increases in response to oestrogen.
27
What types of comparative anatomy do primates/humans, cows/sheep, pigs and rodents have?
Simplex, bipartite, bicornuate, duplex respectively.
28
What are the different anatomical variations of the uterus?
Unicornuate, didelphic, bicornuate, septate partial, septate complete, arcuate.
29
What is the large connective tissue attaching and protecting all parts of the uterus?
Broad ligament.
30
What are the three key sections of the uterine wall?
Myometrium, endometrium, para/perimetrium.
31
What is the myometrium section of the uterine wall?
Interwoven smooth muscle/CT - hormonal response = hypertrophy/hyperplasia (childbirth).
32
What is the endometrium section of the uterine wall?
Epithelial layer (menstrual cycle, zygote embeds itself).
33
What is the para/perimetrium section of the uterine wall?
Visceral peritoneum.
34
What is leiomyoma?
Uterine fibroids, prevalence 75% of people >30yrs, depending on location to layers of uterine wall.
35
What are the key components of the female external genitalia - the vulva?
Mons pubis, labia majora (homologous to scrotum), labia minora = “lips”, vaginal opening, vestibule (porch), glans clitoris (homologous to gland of penis).
36
What is estrogen/oestrogen and umbrella term for?
Estradiol, estrone, estriol.
37
What are the ovaries?
Primary female reproductive organs, produce ova (oogenesis), secrete female sex hormones.
38
What is the role and function of oestrogen?
Essential for ova maturation and release, establishment of secondary sexual characteristics, transport of sperm from vagina to fertilisation site, breast development for lactation.
39
What are the roles of progesterone?
Regulates development of endometrium, prepares suitable environment for embryo, contributes to breast producing milk.
40
Roughy how many primordial follicles are present in the ovary at birth?
1-2million.
41
What is different for females compared to males in follicular development?
Mitosis complete by end of first trimester.
42
What happens to follicles each day as embryos grow?
Small numbers develop but most die (atresia).
43
Approximately how many follicles remain at puberty?
200,000.
44
What must a follicle receive to grow through to ovulation?
Correct levels of LH and FSH.
45
How many follicles develop each cycle despite only one continuing to ovulation whilst the rest die?
15-20.
46
How are the ovaries ‘awaken’ to begin female sexual development?
GnRH pulse generation beings prior to puberty, luteinizing hormone LH and follicle stimulating hormone FSH released from anterior pituitary, follicular development starts.
47
What does the release of oestrogens from developing follicles during early female sexual development lead to?
Female secondary characteristics, auxillary hair, libido, pubertal growth spurt (rise in adrenal androgens).
48
When does the first period occur (menarche)?
When sufficient GnRH, LH and FSH are present.
49
What are the key characteristics of the menstrual cycle?
Average 28days, interrupted only by pregnancy, terminated in menopause, two alternating phases.
50
What are the two alternating phases that the menstrual cycle consists of?
Follicular phase and Luteal phase.
51
What happens during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle?
First half, dominated by presence of maturing follicles, produces oestrogens.
52
What happens during the Luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?
Second half, presence of corpus luteum, produces progesterone and oestrogen.
53
How do hormone levels change during follicular phase?
FSH/LH rise at beginning due to GnRH, rising stimulates oestrogen release, oestrogen inhibits FSH but not LH, inhibit also inhibits FSH, oestrogen stimulates +ve feedback on follicle, more release.
54
What is the LH surge?
High oestrogen levels stimulate anterior pituitary to produce large amounts of LH, positive feedback, ovulation occurs.
55
What is ovulation during Luteal phase?
Released oocyte enters oviduct where it may or may not be fertilised.
56
What hormonal changes occur during the Luteal phase?
Corpus luteum produces large amount of progesterone.
57
What forms the corpus luteum during the Luteal phase?
A ruptured follicle.
58
What does the production of progesterone in the luteal phase lead to?
Inhibits LH/FSH release from anterior pituitary.
59
What happens after approximately 10 days in the Luteal phase?
Corpus luteum degenerates, progesterone and oestrogen levels drop, FSH/LH rise, new cycle begins.
60
What are the primary functions of the corpus luteum?
Oestrogens responsible for endometrium thickening, progesterone responsible for endometrium development and maintenance, progesterone inhibits LH/FSH secretion.
61
What happens during the first 4 days - menstrual phase - of endometrium development?
Lining of uterus disintegrates, bleeding occurs from ruptured vessels, expelled as menstrual fluid.
62
What happens during the second stage - proliferative phase - of the endometrium development?
Oestrogen secreted by follicle leads to growth of endometrium, uterine glands develop but don’t produce yet.
63
What is the third stage - secretory progestational phase - of endometrium development?
Corpus luteum formed secretes progesterone and oestradiol, stimulates uterine glands to secretly milk (high in protein and glycogen), correct environment provided.
64
What is the final - new menstrual phase - of endometrium development?
CL regresses and hormones not produced if fertilisation doesn’t occur, endometrium not maintained, necrosis, menstrual fluid expelled, lasts 3-5 days.
65
Where does sperm deposited in the vagina travel?
Through cervical canal, uterus and up to upper third of oviduct.
66
Where is the site of fertilisation and when must it occur?
Oviduct (upper third), within 24-36hrs of ovulation.
67
How long can sperm survive?
Usually about 48hrs but can be up to 7 days in female reproductive tract.
68
What gives time for endometrium to develop into a suitable state for implantation of developing blastocyst?
Fertilised ovum begins to divide and reaches uterus in 3-4days.
69
What happens by day 9 of fertilisation/implantation?
Blastocyst produces human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at high levels for 8 weeks.
70
What is the role of hCG?
Prevents corpus luteum from regressing and degenerating into a corpus albicans.
71
What happens when an egg is not fertilised?
Corpus luteum stops secreting progesterone and decays into corpus albicans, lining is expelled.
72
What happens when an egg is fertilised?
hCG signals corpus luteum to continue progesterone secretion maintaining endometrium.
73
What does the corpus luteum continue to produce for 8 weeks after fertilisation before its function declines and why?
Progesterone and oestrogen to maintain the endometrium and survival of blastocyst until placenta develops.
74
What does the placenta take over?
Production of oestrogen and progesterone.
75
After how long may pregnancy tests be negative despite being pregnant and why?
After 16 weeks due to low hCG levels.
76
Why are beta-hCG levels monitored in high risk pregnancies?
Titers of hCG that do not rise rapidly in early pregnancy may signal lack of growth or miscarriage.
77
What is parturition?
Childbirth, contraction of myometrium that are sufficiently strong to expel feotus.
78
What is the first way that contractions can be stimulated by?
High O:P ratio upregulates oxytocin receptors in myometrium so circulating oxytocin can bind, stimulates muscle contraction.
79
What is the second way that contractions can be stimulated by?
Pressure of feotus against cervix stimulates oxytocin secretion to cause contractions.
80
Explain the positive feedback cycle of childbirth and contractions.
Contractions lead to more oxytocin productions, progressively increases until cervical dilation and delivery are complete.
81
What happens during gestation to promote lactation?
Elevated placental O and P develop ducts and alveoli in mammary glands.
82
What does prolactin do?
Stimulates synthesis of enzymes essential for milk production by alveolar epithelial cells, withdrawal of placental steroids at birth initiates lactation.
83
How is lactation sustained by suckling?
Triggers release of oxytocin and prolactin, oxytocin causes milk ejection, prolactin stimulates synthesis of more milk to replace milk ejected.
84
What is the role of the testes?
Release sperm and testosterone.
85
What is the tunica vaginalis of the penis?
Parietal layer and visceral layer.
86
What is the tunica albuginea of the penis?
Septa and lobules.
87
What is the vas deferens of the penis?
Ductus deferens, epididymis - ejaculatory ducts + spermatic cord - inguinal canal.
88
What are the sections of the urethra?
Preprostatic part, prostatic urethra, membranous, spongy.
89
What is the corpus spongiosum?
Bulb of penis, bulbourethral glands, perineal membrane.
90
What are the three tubes in the penis?
Two corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum.
91
What is the scientific name for the end of the penis?
Glans penis.

BI1002 - structure and function of living organisms (10 decks)

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