Male and Female Reproduction Vocabulary Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers male and female reproductive systems, hormone regulation, fetal development, and clinical conditions based on the University of Medicine lecture transcript.

Gonads (Male)

The male organs that produce reproductive cells, specifically the testes.

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm formation which requires a temperature approximately $1-2\,^{\circ}C$ cooler than the body cavity.

Epididymis

An organ attached to the testes where sperm undergo maturation and storage.

Seminiferous tubules

Tightly packed tubules in the testes, totaling approximately $250\text{ meters}$ in length, where sperm are formed.

Leydig cells

Cells located between the seminiferous tubules responsible for the production of testosterone.

Semen

The final composition of ejaculated fluid consisting of $90\%$ fluid from secretory glands and $10\%$ sperm.

Sertoli cells

Columnar cells forming the walls of seminiferous tubules that nourish sperm, form a blood barrier, and secrete inhibin.

Acrosome

A lysosome-like covering on the head of mature sperm containing digestive enzymes essential for fertilization.

GnRH

$Gonadotropin-releasing hormone$; secreted by the hypothalamus in pulses every $90\text{ minutes}$ in males to stimulate the anterior pituitary.

5-alpha-reductase

The enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Aromatase

The enzyme that converts testosterone into estradiol (estrogen).

Nitric oxide

A signaling gas released in the penis that triggers vasodilation of small arteries to cause an erection.

Cryptorchidism

A clinical condition where one or both testes do not descend into the scrotum, which can reduce fertility.

Oogenesis

The process of female gamete production from oogonia to mature ova.

Fimbriae

Fingerlike projections at the end of the fallopian tubes that sweep released eggs from the ovaries into the tubes.

Zona pellucida

A thick coating around the oocyte that contains receptors for proteins on the sperm head.

Atresia

The process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) that $99.9\%$ of all ovarian follicles undergo.

Corpus luteum

A gland-like structure formed from a ruptured follicle that secretes estrogen, progesterone, and inhibin during the luteal phase.

LH surge

A large spike in luteinizing hormone triggered by high levels of estrogen that induces ovulation and corpus luteum development.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful effects associated with the menstrual phase, such as cramps and nausea, caused by prostaglandins.

Endometriosis

A condition where endometrium tissue grows outside the uterus, often on ovaries or fallopian tubes, causing pain or infertility.

Menarche

The occurrence of the first menstrual period in a girl during puberty.

Amenorrhea

The lack of normal menstrual flow; can be primary (failure to start) or secondary (loss of previous periods).

Capacitation

A process occurring in the female reproductive tract over several hours that increases sperm motility and membrane fusibility.

Cortical reaction

The release of contents from cortical granules in an egg after sperm fusion, which inactivates sperm receptors and prevents polyspermy.

Cleavage

The process of mitotic divisions where the zygote's cells divide and become smaller without increasing in overall growth.

Morula

A ball of $12-15$ undifferentiated, totipotent cells that reaches the uterus approximately $3\text{ days}$ after fertilization.

Blastocyst

A differentiated stage of the zygote containing an inner cell mass and an outer trophoblast layer, which implants in the endometrium.

Trophoblast

The outer cell layer of the blastocyst that invades uterine tissues to become part of the placenta.

Chorionic villi

Fingerlike projections of the chorion that extend into maternal blood pools to form the placental barrier.

hCG

$Human chorionic gonadotropin$; a hormone secreted by the developing placenta that prevents the corpus luteum from degenerating.

SRY

$Sex-determining region of the Y chromosome$; a gene expressed at $7\text{ weeks}$ gestation that directs gonadal ridges to form testes.

AMH

$Anti-M\u00fcllerian hormone$; secreted by fetal testes to cause the regression of M\u00fcllerian ducts.

Oxytocin

A hormone from the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during labor and myoepithelial cell contraction for milk ejection.

Prolactin

The major hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the synthesis of milk in mammary glands.

Colostrum

A protein-filled fluid containing antibodies and immune cells secreted by the breasts for the first $1-2\text{ days}$ after delivery.