Bio131 Exam 3

Spermatogenesis

The process leading to the production of sperm.

Oogenesis

The process leading to the production of eggs.

Testes

A pair of male reproductive organs that produce sperm and some reproductive hormones.

Semen

A mixture of sperm, spermatic duct secretions and fluids from accessory glands.

Folliculogenesis

The growth and development of ovarian follicles, oocytes, and their supporting cells.

Ovaries

A female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced.

Fertilization

Occurs when a sperm and an oocyte (egg) combine and their nuclei fuse.

Zygote

The new single cell produced from fertilization. Contains all of the genetic material needed to form a human—half from each biological parent.

Capacitation

The process of preparing sperm for fertilization. Fluids in the female reproductive tract improve the mobility of the sperm.

Polyspermy

Fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm. Incompatible with life.

Zona pellucida

A jelly layer, composed of glycoproteins (proteins that have sugars stuck to them), that releases species-specific chemoattractants that guide sperm to the egg.

Cortical granules

Vesicles that contain enzymes that will degrade the proteins that hold the vitelline envelope around the plasma membrane. Assists with preventing polyspermy.

Bindin

Species-specific proteins that recognize and bind to receptors on the egg plasma membrane.

Acrosome

Contains digestive enzymes that will degrade the jelly layer/zona pellucida to allow the sperm to reach the egg plasma membrane.

Cleavage

A series of rapid cell divisions occurring shortly after fertilization.

Blastula

The embryo produced after cleavage has produced 100 blastomeres.

Blastomeres

Smaller and smaller cells produced by cleavage.

Blastoderm

Spherical layer of blastomeres that are considered to be the first embryonic tissue.

Blastocoel

Fluid-filled or yolk-filled cavity.

Blastocyst

The mammalian blastula.

Trophoblast

Outer cell layer of the blastocyst.