Male and Female Reproduction

Flashcards covering male reproductive anatomy, fertilization, and early embryonic development.

Bulbourethral Glands

Produces a lubricant containing mucin, a viscous material that is the pre-ejaculate.

Root of the Penis

The anchor of the penis, internal to the body.

Body of the Penis

The portion of the penis that contains the erectile columns of tissue.

Glans Penis

The tip or head of the penis.

Prepuce

Technically known as the foreskin.

Corpora Cavernosa

The cylindrical columns of tissue in the penis that fill with blood during an erection.

Corpus Spongiosum

A single column of erectile tissue underneath the corpora cavernosa, through which the urethra passes.

Fertilization

The process whereby two cells, each on the verge of death, unite to create a new organism.

Zygote

The fertilized egg after its first cell division, consisting of two cells.

Capacitation

A process in the female reproductive tract that sperm must undergo to become capable of fertilizing an egg, involving the removal of receptors and cholesterol from the sperm surface.

Acrosome

A package of enzymes located in the head of the sperm that is released to help dissolve a path through the corona radiata and zona pellucida of the oocyte.

Zona Reaction

A change in the zona pellucida of the oocyte that prevents more than one sperm from fertilizing the egg (polyspermy).

Cleavage Division

The first several generations of cell divisions after fertilization, characterized by no growth one or growth two phase, resulting in smaller cells with each division.

Blastomeres

The cells formed during the early cleavage stages of development.

Morula

A stage of embryonic development with about 18 or more cells, resembling a mulberry.

Totipotent

The ability of early blastomeres to develop into an entire individual.

Blastocyst

A stage of early embryonic development characterized by a hollow cavity and the differentiation of cells into the inner cell mass and trophoblast.

Inner Cell Mass

The group of cells within the blastocyst that will develop into the embryo.

Trophoblast

The outer layer of cells in the blastocyst that will become part of the placenta.

Pinopodes

Small projections on the surface of the endometrium with receptors that facilitate the attachment of the zygote.

Cytotrophoblast

The inner layer of trophoblast cells, consisting of single cells with nuclei.

Syncytiotrophoblast

The outer layer of trophoblast, formed by a multinucleated mass of cells that erodes into the uterine lining.

Chorion

The outer membrane surrounding the embryo, which develops villi for nutrient and gas exchange.

Amnion

The inner membrane enclosing the embryo, filled with amniotic fluid.

Placenta Previa

A condition where the placenta implants low in the uterus, potentially covering the cervix.

Effacement

The thinning of the cervical wall during the early stages of labor.

Umbilical Vein

Carries oxygen-rich blood to the fetal heart.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Implantation of the fertilized egg outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube.