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Flashcards in Human Reproduction Deck (56)
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1
Q

What is the role of the testis?

A

To produce sperm and testosterone.

2
Q

What is the role of the epididymis?

A

Matures and stores sperm

3
Q

What is the role of the sperm duct?

A

Carries sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.

4
Q

What are the roles of the seminal vesicles, Cowper’s gland and prostate gland?

A

-Produce seminal fluid which feeds the sperm and allows them to swim. Sperm and seminal fluid are collectively called semen.

5
Q

What is the role of the urethra?

A

Allows the passage of either urine or sperm.

6
Q

What is the role of the penis?

A

Places sperm inside the body of a female

7
Q

What is the role of the scrotum?

A

Keeps testes at a lower temperature.

8
Q

What is the optimum temperature for male gamete meiosis?

A

35 degrees

9
Q

What is a gonad?

A

Is an organ that produces sex cells in animals

10
Q

What is testosterone?

A

Is the male hormone responsible for the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics.

11
Q

What are primary sexual characteristics?

A

Are the presence of the male and female reproductive parts

12
Q

What are secondary sexual characteristics?

A

Refer to features that distinguish males from females, apart from the sex organs themselves.

13
Q

What are male secondary sexual characteristics?

A
  • Growth of pubic, facial and body hair
  • Enlargement of larynx, breaking of voice
  • Increased muscular development and bone development
  • Growth spurt at puberty
  • Increased secretion of sebum in the skin
14
Q

What does each sperm contain?

A
  • Acrosome
  • Nucleus
  • Midpiece
  • Tail
15
Q

What is the role of the acrosome in sperm?

A

Contains enzymes that can digest the membrane of the egg.

16
Q

What is the role of the ovary?

A

To produce the egg (ova)

To produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone

17
Q

What is the role of the Fallopian tube (oviduct)?

A

Catches the egg from the ovary and transports it to the uterus.

18
Q

Where is the site of fertilisation?

A

Fallopian tube

19
Q

What is the role of the uterus?

A

Site of implantation, holds the developing embryo.

Has a lining (endometrium) enriched with blood vessels to nourish the embryo. Forms the placenta

20
Q

What is the role of the vagina?

A

Allows entry of sperm and exit of baby at birth.

21
Q

What are the female hormones?

A

Oestrogen and progesterone

22
Q

What does a combination of oestrogen and progesterone cause at the onset of puberty?

A

Causes the development of the secondary female characteristics

23
Q

What the are the secondary female characteristics?

A
  • The maturing and enlargement of breasts
  • Widening of the pelvis to allow for birth
  • The growth of pubic and underarm hair
  • A growth spurt
24
Q

What happens once the meiosis of the egg is complete?

A

The egg is surrounded in a structure called the Graafian Follicle

25
Q

What happens when the egg is mature?

A

The follicle forms a swelling on the outside of the ovary. It bursts at ovulation to release the egg.

26
Q

What happens to the follicle after ovulation?

A

Fills with yellow cells and becomes the Corpus Luteum

27
Q

What hormone does the corpus luteum secrete?

A

Progesterone

28
Q

What hormones does the Graafian follicle produce?s

A

Oestrogen

29
Q

What is the menstrual cycle?

A

Is a 28 day sequence of event that produce an egg and prepares the body for pregnancy.

30
Q

When does the menstrual cycle begin and end?

A
  • Begins at puberty

- Ends with the menopause

31
Q

What happens through days 1-5 in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • The old lining of the uterus breaks down and is shed from the body.
  • A new egg is produced in the ovary by meiosis and this new egg is surrounded by the graafian follicle
32
Q

What happens through days 6-14 in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Hormone oestrogen produced by developing graafian follicle
  • Hormone has two functions: causes lining of endometrium to build up in preparation for pregnancy
  • Prevents the development of any more eggs
33
Q

What happens on day 14 of the menstrual cycle?

A

Ovulation

34
Q

What happens between days 14-28 of the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Graafian follicle develops into corpus luteum.
  • Corpus luteum produces progesterone
  • Two functions
  • Prevents breakdown of endometrium
  • Prevents new eggs from forming
35
Q

What happens by day 22 to the corpus luteum if fertilisation has not taken place?

A

It breaks down, resulting in a reduction of progesterone levels.

36
Q

Where is follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) produced?

A

The pituitary gland

37
Q

When is the (FSH) produced?

A

Between days 1-5 in the menstrual cycle

38
Q

What is the function of FSH?

A
  • Stimulates a few potential eggs to develop, surrounded by Graafian follicles.
  • Each Graafian follicle produces oestrogen, so that FSH can be said to cause the production of oestrogen.
39
Q

Where is oestrogen produced?

A

Produced by the graafian follicle in the ovary

40
Q

When is oestrogen produced?

A

Between days 5 to 14 in the menstrual cycle

41
Q

What is the function of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Causes endometrium to develop
  • Inhibits FSH, no more eggs developing
  • High levels of oestrogen just before day 14 stimulate the release of the next hormone
42
Q

Where is luteinising hormone (LH) produced?

A

Pituitary gland

43
Q

When is LH produced?

A

Produced on day 14

44
Q

What is the function of LH?

A

Causes ovulation

Causes remains of Graafian follicle to develop in corpus luteum

45
Q

Where is progesterone produced?

A

Corpus luteum in the ovary

46
Q

When is progesterone produced?

A

Days 14 to 28

47
Q

What is the function of progesterone?

A
  • Maintains structure of endometrium
  • Inhibits production of LSH
  • Inhibits production of LH
  • Progesterone also prevents contractions of the uterus
48
Q

What happens by day 28 if no fertilisation has occurred?

A
  • Due to the corpus luteum degrading by day 22, Low leves of progesterone produce the following effects:
  • FSH secretion by the pituitary gland- new eggs begin to develop
  • Uterus contracts and period starts
49
Q

What is insemination?

A

Is the release of sperm into the female.

50
Q

What is the name of the chemicals that the egg releases to attract sperm?

A

Chemotaxis

51
Q

What is fertilisation?

A

Is the fusion of the egg and sperm nuclei to form a diploid zygote.

52
Q

How long can the egg survive unfertilised?

A

2 days

53
Q

How long can the sperm survive in the female body?

A

7 days

54
Q

When is the fertile period?

A

12-18

Fertilisation may occur between days 7-18 (irregular cycles)

55
Q

What is implantation?

A

Is the embedding of the fertilised egg into the lining of the uterus

56
Q

When does implantation occur?

A

6-9 days after implantation