graven Reproductive System ultimate review sheet

Flashcards covering key concepts of the male and female reproductive system.

Which structure regulates the temperature of the testis?

Cremaster muscle and dartos muscle

What is the term for the formation and development of sperm?

Spermatogenesis

Approximately how many sperm are produced per day?

About 300 million

Where does sperm go first once it is transported out of the testes?

Epididymis

What is the principal method of sterilization of males?

Vasectomy

Which structure carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct?

Vas deferens (ductus deferens)

Where do the ducts from the seminal vesicles and vas deferens unite?

Ejaculatory duct

What is the function of the ejaculatory ducts?

To transport sperm and seminal fluid into the urethra

Which portion of the urethra serves as a passageway for semen?

Spongy (penile) urethra

Which gland secretes prostatic fluid?

Prostate gland

What is the normal size of the prostate gland?

About the size of a walnut (approximately 4 cm wide)

Which gland secretes fluid directly into the spongy urethra?

Bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands)

How many sperm are typically ejaculated per ejaculate?

200 to 500 million

What is the function of the penis?

To deliver semen into the female reproductive tract and serve as an exit for urine

What is the covering of the glans penis called?

Prepuce (foreskin)

What causes an erection?

Increased blood flow to the erectile tissues (corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum)

What is the powerful release of semen from the urethra to the exterior called?

Ejaculation

What is the term for the surgical procedure in which part or all of the prepuce is removed?

Circumcision

Which gland's increased size affects urine flow as aging occurs?

Prostate gland

What is the primary fluid that makes up the greatest volume of semen?

Seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles

Which structure transports eggs from the ovaries to the uterus?

Fallopian tubes (uterine tubes or oviducts)

What is the primary function of the uterus?

To nurture and house a developing fetus

What is the name of the constricted region located between the body and cervix of the uterus?

Isthmus

Which layer of the uterus is shed during menstruation?

Endometrium

What is the primary function of cervical mucus?

To protect sperm, facilitate or hinder sperm passage, and act as a barrier to pathogens

What is the surgical removal of the uterus called?

Hysterectomy

Which structure serves as the lower portion of the birth canal?

Vagina

What is the primary function of the mammary glands?

Milk production (lactation)

What is the period of time when secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop called?

Puberty

What is the termination of the menstrual cycles called?

Menopause

Which hormones decline in females between the ages of 40 and 50?

Estrogen and progesterone

Which reproductive disorder becomes increasingly common with age in males?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

What is the main function of the vulva?

To protect the internal genitalia and urinary opening

Which layer of the uterus contracts during labor to expel the fetus?

Myometrium

What is the function of the labia majora?

To protect the inner structures of the vulva

What is the space between the anus and vulva in females or anus and scrotum in males called?

Perineum

What is the main function of cervical mucus during ovulation?

To aid the transport of sperm into the uterus

Which layer of the uterus is responsible for attaching the uterus to the pelvic cavity?

Perimetrium

Which structure serves as the passageway for sperm and menstrual flow?

Vagina