The Reproductive System

what are the primary sex organs for males and females?

males-testes females-ovaries

what is the gamete in males?

secondary spermatocyte

What is the gamete in females?

secondary oocyte

what are the secondary sex organs in males?

scrotum, penis, prostate

what are the secondary sex organs in females?

uterus, uterine tubes and the vagina

define fertilization

the process that results in the union of a male gamete and a female gamete to create a zygote then becomes a baby

What makes up the male reproductive system?

made up of the gonads, the duct system, the accessory glands, and the supporting structures.

where are the testes housed within?

scrotum

what is in the urogenital triangle?

urinary system and genitals

what is in the anal triangle?

digestive system

define the penis

a cylindrical structure which contains the urethra

Why is the urethra important?

its the principal pathway for the ejaculation of semen as well as the excretion of urine

what provides the bulk of the erectile volume?

the two identical corpora cavernosa

what wraps around the urethra in the penis?

corpus spongiosum

define the glans penis

The expanded distal tip of the penis, which is highly innervated with sensory receptors making it the main erogenous zone

what is the glans penis superficially covered by?

the prepuce

why is prolonged erection bad?

the penile tissue can die

define the scrotum

a supportive structure made of loose skin and underlying hypodermis which support the testes in a double layered sac

why is the scrotum important?

to keep the production of sperm in a normal temperature window which is a few degress below body temperature.

as the testes descend, they carry/drag a structure behind it called the what?

spermatic cord

What is the purpose of the spermatic cords?

critical for carrying spermatic ducts, blood, and lymphatic vessels and nerves from the abdominopelvic cavity into the scrotum

What are the 3 structures that maintain the optimal temperature for sperm production?

the cremaster muscle, the dartos muscle, and the pampiniform plexus of veins

what is the cremaster muscle for?

will move the testes superiorly and inferiorly based on external an internal temperatures.

depending on hot or cold temps what will the testes do?

if it’s hot outside, then they will relax and descend away from the abdominal cavity. if they have a fever they will relax

What is the purpose of the dartos muscle?

They crinkle or shrivel up when contracting and making the testes go further into the abdominal cavity. when relaxed, they expand

whats the purpose of the pampiniform plexus of veins?

Take the warm venous blood and disperse it to help regulate the temperature of the venous blood before it reaches the testes

what are the cells that help to produce the sperm?

Spermatogenic cells, Sertoli cells, and leydig cells

what are the sertoli cells?

cells that birth sperm (nurse cells)

What are Leydig cells?

producing testosterone. feed the nurse cells with testosterone to keep the process going

define spermatogenesis

the production of sperm through meiotic cell division

What type of stem cells begin mitosis at puberty?

spermatogonia

What occurs during meiosis 1?

cells become haploid with 2 (sister) chromatids

What occurs during meiosis 2?

Cells become haploid with single chromatids

define spermiogenesis

The maturation of a developing sperm to prepare it for eventual ejaculation.

as each sperm develops what does it have to do?

it must shed excess cytoplasm, increase its concentration of mitochondria, and form two structures in order for it be viable

define acrosome

organelle full of enzymes that help to break through the outer protective cells of the secondary oocyte

define flagellum

a motile organelle that moves in a spiral to propel the sperm forward

How long can sperm typically survive in the female reproductive tract?

48 hours

What does the mid-piece/neck do in the sperm?

full of mitochondria and has all the energy for the flagellum to move.

What stimulates the secretion of the anterior pituitary hormones targeted to the gonads?

gonadotropin-releasing hormone

What are the hormones released from the testes?

luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin

Define luteinizing hormone

stimulates leydig cells to secrete testosterone

define follicle-stimulating hormone

stimulates sertoli cells to secrete androgen-binding protein which keeps testosterone levels high within the seminiferous tubules

define inhibin

inhibits FSH to help regulate the rate of spermatogenesis

What is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system?

erection

What is associated with the sympathetic nervous system

ejaculation

How does the parasympathetic system work for erection?

the relaxation of the smooth muscles within the arterial walls of the penis allows the erectile tissue to rapidly engorge with blood

how does the sympathetic system work for ejaculation?

contracts the smooth muscle of the ductus deferens and the remaining ducts to expel semen into the urethra. The SNS constricts the smooth muscle, allowing blood to flow out of the penis.

define the ejaculatory ducts

empty the sperm into the urethra. It’s the joining of the ductus deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicles.

The final semen product is contributed by what glands?

The seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands

what is semens function?

supply nutrients for sperm and help to neutralize the acidity of both the male urethra and the vagina

what is the path of the sperm?

start out in the testes, seminiferous tubule, straight tubule, rete testes, efferent ductule, epididymis (head), body of epididymis, duct of epididymis, tail of epididymis and turn superiorly so they can go up, end in the ductus deferens.

what is the external genitalia region of the female called?

the vulva

what specifically are the mammary glands?

exocrine

How does milk come out of the breasts?

Oxytocin will cause myoepithelial cells to contract, which propels milk through the duct system and out through the nipple

why is the perineal membrane important?

it needs to stay in tact or your organs could fall out

why is the ampulla important?

its where fertilization occurs

whats the job of the suspensory ligament?

suspend the ovaries from the body wall

what is the mucosa in the vagina composed of?

non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium

why is the microflora important?

necessary for the vaginas self-cleansing properties and pH control.

what are the vaginas 3 principal functions?

menstrual canal, sexual intercourse, birth canal

Why is the rugae in the vagina important?

increases friction and speeds up the process of sexual intercourse

Since the posterior part of the vagina extends postero-superiorly, creating a false cervix, what is this called?

posterior fornix

define the uterus

a hollow, muscular organ with several parts including the fundus, the body, and the cervix

What is the job of the endometrium ?

The part that retrieves an embryo after fertilization and sloughs off during the menstrual cycle

define endometriosis

The endometrium is growing in places that aren’t the uterus. it can affect every organ.

Why is the fundus important?

we want the baby to be embedded here

whats the relationship between the internal cos and the external cos?

effacement occurs, which is the thinning of the cervical canal, so the internal os dilates. And when you dilate, the external os opens.

What occurs if your ovaries twist?

When you ovulate once a month, sometimes this can go wrong, and a cyst grows instead, which can grow big enough to cause the ovaries to twist, leading to severe pain and potential loss of blood flow.

What is the relationship between the suspensory ligament and the ovarian artery?

if the ovarian artery gets knocked off of the suspensory ligament you can kill the ovary

what is the job of the uterine glands?

supply different chemoattractants to make sure the embryo embeds at the right spot

Why are the venous sinusoids important?

principal foundation for the placenta. it will depend on the sinusoidal loose capillaries for adequate nutrients and blood cell exchange

What are the 3 blood supplies in the uterus?

ovarian arteries, uterine arteries, and vaginal arteries

define the ovarian arteries

They will run through the suspensory ligament, which secures the ovary to the abdominal wall, and will form an anastomosis with a branch of the uterine artery.

define the uterine arteries

arises from the internal iliac artery as a common artery with the vaginal artery from which it splits and continues on its own to supply the myometrium and endometrium of the uterus.

define the vaginal arteries

supplies the muscle and mucosal layers of the vagina. it does not anastomose with either of the other arteries.

define the uterine tubes

bilateral tubes which extend laterally off of the fundus of the uterus and help to loosely connect the uterus to the ovaries.

what is the uterus lined with and why?

cililated epithelial cells and smooth muscle so that peristaltic contractions can facilitate the transport of a secondary oocyte or zygote to the uterus for implantation or expulsion

what are the parts to the uterine tube?

infundibulum, fimbriae, ampulla, and the isthmus

define the broad ligament

sheet of peritoneum covering the superior aspect of the uterus and ovary

define the mesovarium

fascia covering the ovary and anchoring it to the uterine tube

define the ovarian ligament

anchors the ovary to the uterus

define the suspensory ligament

anchors the ovary to the pelvic cavity and houses the ovarian artery