Wk 6 Vocab Reproductive Flashcards
(174 cards)
Acrosome
The caplike structure that partially covers the head of
a spermatozoon. It contains digestive enzymes that are activated
when the sperm enter the female reproductive tract. These
help the cell penetrate through the layers around the ovum to fertilize it.
Afterbirth
The name given to the placenta at parturition because
it is delivered after the newborn.
Allantoic sac
Part of the placenta. It is a fluid-filled sac formed
by the allantois that surrounds the amniotic sac.
allantois
Part of the placenta. It is the membrane that forms the
allantoic sac
Alveolar duct
The smallest air passageways in the lungs. The
alveolar ducts carry air to the alveolar sacs.
Alveoli
Microscopic, thin-walled sacs surrounded by networks of capillaries. The interface between the
wall of the alveoli and the wall of the capillary is where the actual
exchange of gases takes place in the lungs.
Amnion
Part of the placenta. It is the membrane that forms the
fluid-filled amniotic sac.
Ampulla
An enlargement in each semicircular canal that contains
the receptor structure (the crista).
Amniotic sac
Part of the placenta. It is the fluid-filled sac that
immediately surrounds the developing fetus.
Androgen
Hormones that promote the development of male
characteristics; male sex hormones. The principal androgen is
testosterone.
Antibody
Proteins produced by plasma cells (transformed B
lymphocytes) in response to the presence of an antigen. A specific serum antibody is generated for a specific antigen
Antrum
(1) The fluid-filled space within an ovarian follicle. (2)
The muscular part of the stomach that is responsible for grinding of food; located between the body of the stomach and the
pylorus.
blastocyst
The stage of development of a zygote that is ready for
implantation in the uterus. It is shaped like a tiny, hollow ball
of cells with a “bump” on one side that eventually develops into
the embryo
body of the penis
The largest portion of the penis. It contains
the majority of the erectile tissue of the organ.
broad ligaments
Paired sheets of connective tissue that suspend
the uterus from the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity and
attach it to the abdominal wall. They are often subdivided into
the mesovarium, which supports the ovary; the mesosalpinx,
which supports the oviduct; and the mesometrium, which supports the uterus.
bulb of the glans
An enlargement in the penis of the dog and
related species. It is made up of erectile tissue that slowly
engorges with blood during copulation. When muscles surrounding the vagina and vulva of the female clamp down on the
enlarged bulb, the male cannot withdraw the penis. He typically
dismounts and turns so that the two animals are tail to tail. This
position is known as the tie and usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes,
after which the animals can separate.
bulbourethral glands
Male accessory reproductive glands that
secrete a mucus-containing fluid just before ejaculation that
lubricates the urethra for the passage of semen and clears it of
urine. Bulbourethral glands are present in all common domestic
animals except dogs.
capacitation
The process spermatozoa undergo in the female
reproductive tract that increases their fertility before contact
with the ovum. Part of the process exposes the digestive enzymes
in the acrosome. This helps the cell penetrate through the layers
surrounding the ovum.
caruncle
Numerous mushroomlike structures in the lining of the
uterus of ruminant animals. They join with the cotyledons of
the placenta to form placental attachment sites called
placentomes.
cervix
The sphincter muscle “valve” between the uterus and the
vagina; controls access to the lumen of the uterus from the vagina.
It is normally closed except during breeding and parturition.
chorion
Part of the placenta; the outermost layer that attaches to
the uterine lining. The chorion is linked to the fetus by the
umbilical cord.
chromosome
Threadlike accumulations of DNA in the nuclei
of cells that are particularly visible during mitosis. The DNA of
the chromosomes contains the genetic material of the cell. The
number of chromosomes is constant within a given species
cleavage
The process of very rapid cell division after an ovum
has been fertilized. The cells divide so rapidly that they do not
have time to grow appreciably between divisions. The number
of cells increases rapidly, but the overall size of the cell mass does
not increase much.
clitoris
One of the structures of the vulva of the female. Homologous to the penis of the male, the clitoris contains erectile tissue
and is richly supplied with sensory nerve endings.