Reproduction: Female anatomy and development Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Reproduction: Female anatomy and development Deck (38)
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1
Q

What is the anatomical structure of the sperm cell? (3)

A

Head: chromosomes and acrosome
Midpiece: mitochondria
Tail: flagellum

2
Q

What is the process in spermatogenesis? (5)

A
  1. Spermatogonium
  2. Chromosomes replicate - 2 1st spermatocytes (2n)
  3. Meiosis 1 - 2 2nd spermatocytes (2 x n)
  4. Meiosis 2 - 4 spermatids (1 x n)
  5. Differentiation - spermatazoa (1 x n)
3
Q

Where does spermatogenesis occur in the testis?

A

Basement membrane to lumen

4
Q

How long does it take sperm to mature? (3)

A
  • 20 days
  • move to epididymis and acquire motility
  • move and stay in vas deferens until ejaculation
5
Q

What are the sexual responses in males and what are they controlled by? (5)

A
Controlled by: autonomic nervous system
- Spinal reflexes
- Phases
  > Erection - Parasympathetic NS
  > Emission - sympathetic NS
  > Ejaculation - sympathetic NS
6
Q

What happens when a male comes across a stimulus? (2)

A
  • Mechanoreceptors of penis and erogenous zones

- Descending signals from higher brain centers

7
Q

What are the steps in emission within a penis? (5)

A
  1. Response to mechanical stimulation continues
  2. Neural activity shifts from PS to S control
  3. Contractions of epididymis, vas deferens and ejaculatory duct
  4. Secretions from seminal vesicles and prostate
  5. Result - movement of semen into urethra
8
Q

What is the average sperm count and when are you considered infertile?

A

Average volume of semen - 2.75ml
66million sperm/ml
180million sperm

Infertile = < 20 million/ml

9
Q

What are the functions of the female reproductive tracts? (6)

A
  1. Production of the egg
  2. Reception of sperm
  3. Transport of the sperm and ovum to common date for union
  4. Maintenance of the developing fetes until it can survive in the outside world
  5. Giving birth
  6. Nourishing the infant after birth
10
Q

What are characteristics of the female reproductive system? (3)

A

Cyclic changes in activity (menstrual cycle)
Restricted periods of fertility - ovulation
Limited gamete production

11
Q

What are the female reproductive organs? (3)

A

Ovaries - site of ova maturation
Reproductive tract - uterus, uterine tubes, vagina
External genitalia = vulva

12
Q

What are follicles? (3)

A

Contain 1 ovum
Develop in ovary
Starts as primordial follicle (oocyte, granulosa cells)

13
Q

What are granulosa cells? (5)

A

Target cells of oestrogen and FSH
Secrete inhibin - provides negative feedback to FSH
Transport nutrients to oocytes through gap junctions
Secrete oestrogen’s
Can turn into theca cells

14
Q

What is the structure of the vagina? (4)

A

Female organ of copulation
Wall contains smooth muscle
Inner surface bathed in acid fluid secreted from uterus
Protects against bacterial infections

15
Q

What is the structure of the uterus and what does it do? (5)

A

Site of fetal development
Cervix - canal leading to vagina
Outer layer - perimetrium (epithelial)
Middle layer - myometrium (smooth muscle - thick)
Inner layer - endometrium ( epithelial etc)

16
Q

What are uterine tubes also known as?

A

Fallopian tubes or oviducts

17
Q

What is the role of the uterine tubes? (3)

A
  • Ova is transported from ovaries to uterus
  • Site of fertilisation
  • Peristalsis contractions
18
Q

What is the process of egg development? (2)

A

Oogenesis – oogonia –> ova

Number of oogonia fixed prior to birth

19
Q

What are the steps in oogonia? (3)

A
  1. Fetal - Oogonia undergo mitosis, primary oocyte forms
  2. Prior to ovulation - meiosis 1, secondary oocyte forms
  3. After fertilisation - meiosis 2, ovum formed
20
Q

What cycles occur in the menstruation cycle? (2)

A

Ovarian cycle
Uterine cycle

Caused by changes in oestrogen and progesterone

21
Q

What is the ovarian cycle? (2)

A

Pre ovulatory: follicular phase = oestrogens (days 1-14)

Post ovulatory: luteal phase = progestins days (14-28)

22
Q

What is the follicular phase and how long does it last?

A

Menstruation –> ovulation

roughly 14 days

23
Q

What is the luteal phase and how long does it last?

A

Ovulation –> Defoe menstruation

14 days

24
Q

What occurs in the uterine cycle made up of? (3)

A

Menstrual phase: 1-5 days
Proliferative phase: day 14
Secretory phase: 15-28 days

25
Q

What happens in the follicular phase? (4)

A
  • Follicles begin to develop from primordial follicles
  • oocyte grows
  • Dominant follicle continued development
  • Corona radiata develops
26
Q

What is a graafian follicle?

A

A mature follicle

27
Q

What are the features of a Graafian follicle (6)

A
Theca cells
Antrum
Corona radiata
zona pellucida
Oocyte
Cumulus oophorus
28
Q

What happens at ovulation? (5)

A
  • Wall of Graafian follicle ruptures
  • Antra fluid with oocyte flows to ovary surface
  • Released
  • Ova enters fimbrae
  • LH surge triggers ovulation and development of corpus lute in luteal phase
29
Q

What happens in the luteal phase? (4)

A

> Ruptured follicle –> gland = corpus luteum
Corpus luteum secretes estrogens and progesterone
Corpus luteum reaches max activity 10 days, then degenerates
Degeneration –> decrease oestrogen’s and progesterone –> menstruation

30
Q

What are fraternal twins? (3)

A
  • 2 of more follicles may become dominant and released at ovulation
  • if both fertilised, fraternal twins
  • dizygotic twins (2 zygotes)
31
Q

What happens in the uterine cycle menstruation phase? (4)

A
  • Shedding of uterine lining
  • Blood flow to tissue decreases
  • Tissues die and go into vagina - blood
  • Triggered by decreased hormone
32
Q

What occurs in the proliferative phase? (7)

A
  1. Uterus prepares for fertilised ovum
  2. Endometrial lining develops
  3. Endometrial layer grows
  4. Endometrial glands enlarge
  5. Smooth muscle layer thickens
  6. Cervical glands secrete mucus
  7. Estrogen stimulate development of uterine lining
33
Q

What is the secretory phase? (4)

A

Endometrium prepared for implantation
Blood supply increased
Glands enlarge and secrete glycogen rich fluids
Cervical secretions more sticky forming a plug

34
Q

What hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle and where are they secreted from? (3)

A

Estrogen - follicle then corpus luteum
Progesterone - corpus luteum
LH and FSH - anterior pituitary

35
Q

What do estrogens and progesterones inhibit?

A

LH and FSH

36
Q

What is FSH role during mid-follicular phase? (2)

A

Granulosa cells –> theca cells

Theca cells have LH receptors

37
Q

What is estrogens role during mid-follicular phase? (2)

A

LH receptors on granulosa cells

Progesterone receptors on endometrial cells

38
Q

What are the long term regulators of female reproductive function? (3)

A

Puberty - estrogen
Reproductive years - maintain sex characteristics
Menopause - estrogen levels decrease