Lecture Test 4 - Reproductive System
What does the hormone Testosterone do for the male?
Maturation of reproductive organs, development of reproductive cells, metabolism, regulation of sex drive, masculinize the brain, also helps with bone & muscle mass, strength and fat distribution.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Breasts
Nourish a child
Why do males make over 400 million sperm a day?!
Only 20% is viable for fertilization, of that 99% are dead within minutes of entering the vagina.
What is the female gonad?
Ovary
Define ovulation
Ovulation is the release of an egg from an ovary, through the fallopian tube and into the uterus.
What female event happens due to each of the following: Estrogen level peaks
egg releases (ovulation phase)
What female event happens due to each of the following: Estrogen levels increase gradually
follicle starts to develop (follicular phase)
The ovarian cycle has two phases - the __________ phase before ovulation and the ______ phase after ovulation. Ovulation occurs on or around the __ th day of this ovarian cycle.
follicular, luteal, 14th
What dangers/difficulties do the sperm face in the uterus?
leucocytes sent by the females immune system act as assassins
The uterine cycle is also called the _________ cycle.
menstrual
What are the three stages of the uterine cycle?
menstrual phase, proliferative phase, secretory phase
The production of ova is called
oogenesis
Females have two cycles going on each month - the ovarian cycle in the _________ and the uterine cycle in the ______.
ovaries, uterus
The production of sperm is called
spermatogenesis
What is the male gonad?
testes
What female event happens due to each of the following: Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease suddenly
uterus sheds lining (menstrual phase)
State the purpose (function) of the following: Penis
Copulatory organ - it is used to transfer sperm from male to female.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Vagina
Copulatory organ receives sperm from male
How long does the capacitation of the sperm take?
at least 7 hours
Describe the basic structure of a sperm. What is the function of the head? (What is stored inside?) What is the function of the tail?
-Head: 23 chromosomes with genetic material, XY -Tail: Energy-producing mitochondria to propel the tail and move the sperm through the female body
Roughly what percentage of the sperm make it through the cervical canal alive?
0.000012
What two things does the male gonad do?
1. Make sperm 2. Make the hormone testosterone
What three kinds of protection do these cells give sperm?
1. Physically surround & enfold developing sperm 2. Nurture & provide structural support during the development 3. Blood testis barrier, preventing the immune system from attacking the immature sperm.
What two things does the female gonad do?
1. Produce ova (eggs) 2. Produce estrogen
There are special cells surrounding developing sperm cells that are essential for spermatogenesis to occur. What are the three names for these cells?
1. Sertoli cells 2. Sustentacular cells 3. Nursing cells
List the parts of the female reproductive tract that the sperm must travel through to reach the egg.
1. vagina 2. cervix 3. uterus 4. fallopian tube
How long does an unfertilized egg live once ovulated?
12-24 hours
What percentage of a man's sperm are well-formed and fully functional?
18-20%
What is the split of male and female sperm?
50/50
State the purpose (function) of the following: Scrotum
A sac that holds the testes, it lies outside the body to keep the temperature lower which is more suitable for sperm production.
What happens during ovulation to allow the sperm to enter the cervix?
A surge of estrogen goes through the female body
How long can sperm live in the female reproductive tract?
About 5 days
What dangers/difficulties do sperm face in the vagina?
Acid from the female's immune system
In what uterine phase does ovulation occur?
After the menstrual and proliferative phases, but before the secretory phase
Why do females make over 2 million oocytes in their lifetime?!
An oversupply, by puberty its only 400,000 most will not end in fertilization
When does ova production begin in females?
Begins in the fetus before birth
State which accessory gland secretes: An alkaline mucous
Bulbourethral gland
State the purpose (function) of the following: Fimbriae
Catch the egg released by one of the ovaries and sweep it into the fallopian tubes.
How long does ova production continue in females?
Ends at menopause
Why is the fallopian tube called "sperm heaven" in the film?
It has the right pH, nutrients, and correct concentration
Spermiogenesis is a part of spermatogenesis. Why do you think spermiogenesis is necessary?
It streamlines the sperm, shedding its cytoplasm & forms a tail. This prepares the sperm to meet & bind with the egg.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Epididymis
Location of sperm maturation and stored
State the purpose (function) of the following: Seminiferous tubules
Location of sperm production
What is proliferating during the proliferative stage?
The endometrium is rebuilding as the newly developing follicular layer of the oocyte begins to produce estrogen.
What does the hormone Luteinizing Hormone (LH) do for the female?
Produce estrogen & progesterone (helps to cause ovulation)
State the purpose (function) of the following: Ovary
Produces eggs & hormones
State which accessory gland secretes: An activating milky fluid
Prostate gland
When does sperm production begin in males
Puberty
What does the hormone Estrogen do for the female?
Regulating menstrual cycle, maturation of reproductive organs and cells, large effect on pregnancy, metabolism, feminizes the brain, regulates sex drive, and fat distribution.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Sperm
Reproduction - sperm passes on the necessary biological information from the male (bringing 23 chromosomes) to the female to produce a new organism.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Uterus
Reproductive organ used to house the developing uterus
State the purpose (function) of the following: Follicles
Secrete estrogen & guide the development of the oocyte (oogenesis)
State the purpose (function) of the following: Cells of Leydig
Secretion of the male hormone testosterone
The mixture of the seminal fluid and sperm is called
Semen
State which accessory gland secretes: A sugary nutritious fluid
Seminal vesicles
What is menstruating during the menstrual stage?
Shedding of the endometrium (blood)
What is meant by sperm capacitation? Why do sperm need to capacitate before they can fertilize the egg?
Sperm capacitation refers to the physiological changes spermatozoa must undergo in order to have the ability to penetrate and fertilize an egg. The sperm cells need to uncover receptors that may recognize the chemicals in the female reproductive tract that initiate changes in both motility in the form of hyperactivation and the morphological changes in the acrosome reaction.
What does the hormone Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) do for the female?
Stimulate gonads (ovaries) to undergo oogenesis & follicle maturation.
What does the hormone Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) do for the male?
Stimulates gonads (testes) to make sperm
What does the hormone Luteinizing Hormone (LH) do for the male?
Stimulates gonads to make sex hormone - testosterone
How does the "winning sperm" actually get into the egg to deliver its chromosomes (genetic material)?
The acrosome on the head of the sperm ruptures and releases an enzyme that allows the sperm to break through the egg.
How does the cervix help to select only the best/healthiest sperm?
The cervical canal has very thick mucus which weeds out the unfit sperm
What is secreting during the secretory stage?
The corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone, causing development of blood vessels & uterine glands so the uterus is ready in case a fertilized ovum arrives.
What is the cervix?
The opening to the uterus
How does the female body help the sperm find the opening to the fallopian tube?
The uterus muscles contract and help carry the sperm to the fallopian tubes
How do sperm in the fallopian tube find the egg?
There are receptors that point the sperm towards the egg and the egg has a smell that the sperm can detect, and they orient themselves toward it
How long does sperm production continue in males?
Throughout their lifespan
What is the epididymis? How many sperm can it hold?
Tightly coiled, 200 miles long tube where sperm "wait;" they may or may not ever leave here, over 1 billion sperm held within
State the purpose (function) of the following: Fallopian tubes
Transport sperm cells to the egg, provide suitable environment for fertilization and transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
State the purpose (function) of the following: Vas deferens
Tube that transfers sperm from epididymis to ejaculatory duct
How long after ejaculation does the sperm fertilize the egg?
Up to 7 days depending on when the egg is ovulated, if the sperm are already present and waiting it could take minutes.
What is the difference in motility between x sperm and y sperm?
Y sperm are faster, X sperm live longer
