ninja nerd fertilization video

Which seminal gland produces about $60-70\%$ of the total seminal fluid? 💧

The seminal vesicles.

What carbohydrate in seminal fluid provides the 'fuel' ⛽ for sperm to swim?

Fructose.

"Prostaglandins in semen cause the uterus to undergo _____ effectively 'sucking' sperm upward. 🔄"

Retropulsion (backward contractions).

The enzyme _____ (also called vesiculase) helps sperm coagulate and stick to the vaginal walls. 🕸️

Coagulase.

The prostate gland contributes approximately what percentage of seminal fluid? 🏢

$30\%$.

What energy source intermediate is provided specifically by the prostate gland? 🍋

Citrate.

Which enzyme from the prostate gland breaks up the sperm 'clot' to release them for travel? ✂️

Fibrinolysin.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a clinical marker used to screen for which condition? 🩺

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Where are the $23$ chromosomes located within a sperm cell? 🧠

The head (specifically the nucleus).

The _____ is the 'cap' on the sperm head containing hydrolytic enzymes for egg penetration. 🧢

Acrosome.

Which part of the sperm is packed with mitochondria to generate ATP? 🔋

The midpiece.

The tail of the sperm is a flagellum characterized by a _____ arrangement of microtubules. 🧬

$9 + 2$.

What chemical in seminal fluid acts as an antibiotic to destroy microbes in the female tract? 🛡️

Seminoplasmin.

How does an alkaline environment affect sperm motility? 🏎️

It makes the sperm move faster.

"Before fertilization

the secondary oocyte is stuck (arrested) in which phase of cell division? 🧊"

What is the process of 'cleaning' the sperm head of cholesterol and proteins called? 🧼

Capacitation.

"Besides cleaning the head- capacitation induces _____ to help the sperm beat harder. ⚡"

Hypermotility.

Sperm must bind to which specific receptors on the zona pellucida? 🔑

ZP3 receptors.

Which ion influx triggers the acrosomal reaction once a sperm binds to the egg? 🌊

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$).

Name one of the two main types of enzymes released during the acrosomal reaction. 🧪

Acrosin (or proteases).

The 'fast block' to polyspermy is triggered by the influx of which ion? ⚡

Sodium ($Na^{+}$).

What is the primary purpose of the 'fast block' to polyspermy? 🚫

To prevent multiple sperm from binding by changing the membrane's electrical potential.

The 'slow block' to polyspermy begins when the _____ releases a massive amount of Calcium. 🌊

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum.

"During the slow block- which organelles fuse with the membrane to release 'scissor' enzymes? ✂️"

Lysosomes (cortical granules).

What do the lysosomal enzymes do to the egg's outer layer during the slow block? 🧱

They degrade ZP3 receptors and harden the zona pellucida.

A spike in Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) tells the secondary oocyte to finally finish which process? 🏁

Meiosis II.

"Meiosis II in the oocyte produces the definitive ovum and a small

non-functional _____. 🪵"

A zygote is formed when the male and female _____ fuse together. 🤝

Pronuclei.

What is the total chromosome count ($2n$) of a newly formed human zygote? 👨‍👩‍👧

$46$ chromosomes.

Where in the fallopian tube does fertilization typically take place? 📍

The ampulla.

The layer of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte is called the _____. ☀️

Corona radiata.

"Which hormone triggers ovulation- popping the oocyte out of the Graafian follicle? 💥"

Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

What protein complex allows the sperm tail to move via motor proteins? ⚙️

Dyneins.

Exposure to alcohol or lead can lead to 'freak sperm' with what structural abnormality? 😵‍💫

Double or multiple heads.

Which seminal fluid chemical helps speed up sperm motility after ejaculation? 💨

Relaxin.

What does the term 'Polyspermy' refer to? 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

Fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm.

"The thick- transparent membrane surrounding the oocyte is the _____. 🔴"

Zona pellucida.

Which subunit of the sperm's membrane protein first touches the oocyte to open Sodium channels? 🅱️

The beta subunit.

Which sperm protein subunit binds to the oocyte to trigger membrane fusion? 🅰️

The alpha subunit.

What is the primary energy currency the sperm's tail uses to move? 🔋

ATP.

True or False: Capacitation happens instantly upon ejaculation. ⏱️

False (it occurs as sperm move through the female reproductive tract).

Which female hormone helps stimulate the fluids needed for sperm capacitation? 🌸

Estrogen.

"In a single milliliter of healthy ejaculate- there can be up to how many sperm? 🌊"

$130$ to $150$ million.

What happens to the polar body produced during Meiosis II? 🚮

It is degraded by enzymes inside the cell.

What is 'copulation'? 👩‍❤️‍👨

Sexual intercourse between a male and a female.

The sperm tail's movement is described as being _____. 🚂

Locomotive.

What is the specific name for the sperm's flagellar core structure? 🦴

The axoneme (implied by the $9+2$ description).

Which gland produces the alkaline fluid that neutralizes vaginal acidity? 🛡️

The prostate (and seminal vesicles contribute).

What is the end result of 'conception'? 🎉

The formation of a zygote (the beginning of an embryo).