internal reproductive structures and oogenesis

what are the gonads

primary sex organs, testes ovaries

functions of gonads

develop, house and release gametes: sperm or oocyte, produce sex hormones

what are accessory reproductive organs

ducts, glands and external genitalia

what do ducts do

transport/store gametes

what do glands do

secrete substances for gametes

what happens during puberty

hypothalamus secretes hormones which stimulates the anterior pituitary

what does the anterior pituitary release

FHS and LH which act on ovaries and testes

why are FSH and LH needed

to start gamete maturation and increase sex hormone production by the gonads

function of testis

develop sperm and produce androgens

what are androgens

sex hormones, main testosterone

what are lobules

internal compartments of the testis

what does each lobule contain

4 seminiferous tubules

what are seminiferous tubules

they are where sperm form

what are inside seminiferous tubules

spermatogonia, developing sperm, sustentacular cells

what are spermatogonia

“stem cells”

what are sustentacular cells

support, protect and nourish the developing sperm

what are between seminiferous tubules

connective tissue and interstitial cells

function of interstitial cells

produce and secrete androgens

what do FSH and LH do to testis

what is the epididymis

comma shaped organ, located posterior to and on top of testis

function of epididymis

receives sperm from testis, location of sperm maturation and motility, stores

what is the vas deferens

an 18 inch long tube that runs form testis to prostate gland

what forms the ejaculatory duct

the ductus deferens and seminal vesicle

what is the ejaculatory duct

passes through prostate gland, will empty its contents into the urethra

what makes up semen

sperm and seminal fluid

what are seminal vesicles

lies on posterior wall of bladder, has duct that merges with ductus deferens to form ejaculatory duct

what is the prostate gland

single chestnut shaped gland, inferior to bladder, contains first part of the urethra

function of ovaries

mature, house and release oocytes, produce sex hormones

what does the ovarian cortex contain

ovarian follicles

what does the ovarian medulla contain

blood vessels

what is a premordial follicle

a primary oocyte and single layer of flattened granulosa cells

what is a primary follicle

primary oocyte and single layer of cuboidal follicle cells (granulosa cells)

what is a secondary oocyte

primary oocyte and multiple layers of cuboidal granulosa cells

what is a antral follicle

primary oocyte and multiple layers of granulosa cells and antrum (fluid filled space)

what is a mature follicle

secondary oocyte and multiple layers of granulosa cells with large antrum

typically, how many mature follicles are produced per month

one

which follicles undergo ovulation

mature follicle

what is ovulation and what causes it

process where secondary follicle is expelled from the ovary, caused by a spike/peak of LH

function of corpus luteum

secrete estrogen and progesterone to build uterine lining

oogenesis: before birth

ovary contains primary oocytes which are arrested in prophase 1- ovary contains mainly promordial follicles

oogenesis: during childhood

ovary is inactive

oogenesis: puberty

anterior pituitary secretes FHS and LH which stimulates ovarian follicle development

oogenesis: from puberty to menopause

20 premordial follicels develop into primary follicles, and some become secondary follicles and then antral follicles which will then become a mature follicle

what happens in a mature follicle

primary oocyte completes meiosis 1 but stops in metaphase ll

what causes ovulation

a peak in LH hormone around day 14

when does an oocyte complete meiosis

when it has been fertilized

what happens when LH and FSH levels drop

a ruptured ovarian follicle becomes a corpus luteum (secretes estrogen and progesterone)

what happens if pregnancy does not occur

10-13 days after ovulation corpus luteum degenerates, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and menstruation occurs

function of uterus

“pick up”