Reproductive Lab

What are the primary sex organs?

Gonads (testes and ovaries)

What do the gonads produce?

Gametes (sperm and ova)

What do the testes produce?

Sperm and testosterone

What do the ovaries produce?

Ova, estrogen, and progesterone

What are accessory reproductive organs?

Ducts, glands, and external genitalia

What is the HPG axis?

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis that regulates reproductive hormones

What hormone does the hypothalamus release?

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone)

What hormones does the anterior pituitary release?

FSH and LH

What does LH stimulate in males?

Testosterone production by Leydig cells

What does FSH stimulate in males?

Spermatogenesis through Sertoli cells

What does LH stimulate in females?

Ovulation and corpus luteum formation

What does FSH stimulate in females?

Follicle development

Where are the testes located?

In the scrotum outside the abdominopelvic cavity

Why are the testes outside the body?

To stay about 3°C below body temperature for sperm production

What muscle wrinkles the scrotum?

Dartos muscle

What muscle raises and lowers the testes?

Cremaster muscle

What divides the testes into lobules?

Septa

What structures are found in each lobule?

Seminiferous tubules

Where does sperm production occur?

Seminiferous tubules

What cells support developing sperm?

Sertoli cells

What cells produce testosterone?

Leydig (interstitial) cells

What is the sperm pathway?

Seminiferous tubules → Epididymis → Ductus (vas) deferens → Ejaculatory duct → Urethra

Where are sperm stored until ejaculation?

Epididymis

Which duct is cut during a vasectomy?

Ductus (vas) deferens

What is the function of the ejaculatory duct?

Transports semen into the urethra

What is the function of the urethra in males?

Conveys urine and semen (at different times)

What are the stages of spermatogenesis?

Spermatogonia → Primary spermatocyte → Secondary spermatocyte → Spermatid → Spermatozoa

What are spermatogonia?

Stem cells that continually produce sperm

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

In the seminiferous tubules

How long do males produce sperm?

Throughout life

Which hormones regulate spermatogenesis?

GnRH, FSH, LH, and testosterone

What are the three accessory sex glands?

Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands

What percentage of semen is produced by the seminal vesicles?

About 60%

What is the function of the seminal vesicles?

Add fructose-rich fluid to nourish sperm

What percentage of semen comes from the prostate?

About 33%

What is PSA?

Prostate-specific antigen found in prostatic fluid

What is the function of the prostate?

Produces fluid that activates sperm

What is BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)

What do the bulbourethral glands secrete?

Clear alkaline mucus before ejaculation

What are the three parts of the penis?

Root, shaft, and glans penis

What is the prepuce?

Foreskin covering the glans penis

What tissue surrounds the urethra?

Corpus spongiosum

What tissue produces most of the erection?

Corpora cavernosa

What are the three regions of the male urethra?

prostatic, membranous, and spongy urethra

Where does the urethra open?

External urethral orifice

External urethral orifice What are the internal female reproductive organs?

Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina What are the female gonads?

Ovaries What female hormones do the ovaries secrete?

Estrogen and progesterone What are ovarian follicles?

Structures in the ovarian cortex containing developing oocytes What is an oocyte?

An immature egg cell Where are ovarian follicles located?

Ovarian cortex What is the ovarian medulla?

Inner region containing blood vessels and nerves What are the stages of follicle development?

Primordial → Primary → Secondary → Vesicular (Graafian) follicle What is the antrum?

Fluid-filled cavity within a mature follicle What is ovulation?

Release of the secondary oocyte from the ovary What forms after ovulation?

Corpus luteum What is the function of the corpus luteum?

Produces progesterone and estrogen What happens if fertilization does not occur?

The corpus luteum degenerates What are the three regions of the uterine tube?

Isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum Which region of the uterine tube is the usual site of fertilization?

Ampulla Which region connects the tube to the uterus?

Isthmus Which region contains fimbriae?

Infundibulum What is the function of fimbriae?

Sweep the oocyte into the uterine tube What is the uterus?

Hollow muscular organ that receives, retains, and nourishes the fertilized ovum What are the three regions of the uterus?

Fundus, body, and cervix What is the fundus?

Superior rounded portion of the uterus What is the body of the uterus?

Main central region What is the cervix?

Inferior neck of the uterus opening into the vagina What are the three layers of the uterine wall?

Perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium What is the perimetrium?

Outer serous layer What is the myometrium?

Smooth muscle layer What is the endometrium?

Inner mucosal lining Which endometrial layer is shed during menstruation?

Stratum functionalis Which endometrial layer regenerates the functional layer?

Stratum basalis What arteries supply the uterus?

Uterine arteries What arteries branch into the endometrium?

Arcuate arteries What arteries branch from arcuate arteries?

Radial arteries What arteries undergo spasm during menstruation?

Straight and spiral arteries What is the vaginal fornix?

Recess around the cervix at the upper end of the vagina What is the hymen?

Thin membrane partially covering the vaginal opening What is the mons pubis?

Fatty pad over the pubic symphysis What are the labia majora?

Outer folds of the vulva What are the labia minora?

Inner folds of the vulva What is the vestibule?

Space between the labia minora What is the fourchette?

Posterior junction of the labia minora What are mammary glands?

Modified sweat glands that produce milk What structures produce milk?

Alveoli What is the areola?

Pigmented skin around the nipple What supports the breast?

Suspensory ligaments What hormones regulate the female reproductive cycle?

estrogen, and progesterone What are the two phases of the ovarian cycle?

Follicular phase and luteal phase What happens during the follicular phase?

Follicle growth and maturation What happens during the luteal phase?

Corpus luteum secretes progesterone What are the three phases of the uterine (menstrual) cycle?

Menstrual, proliferative, and secretory What occurs during the menstrual phase?

Shedding of the functional layer of the endometrium What occurs during the proliferative phase?

Rebuilding of the endometrium by estrogen What occurs during the secretory phase?

Endometrium becomes glandular and vascular under progesterone When does oogenesis begin?

During fetal development What are oogonia?

Female stem cells What do oogonia become?