reproductive system

what are gonads?

the gonads are the organs that produce sex cells

what are the male gonads?

testes (=testicles)

\[one testis\]

\[two testes\]

what are the male sex cells?

sperm

sperm is the only cell in humans that has a _____

tail

what are gametes?

sex cells

the testis is divided into compartments, what does each compartment contain?

each compartment contains a tiny coiled tube called a semineferous tubule

what do the cells that make up the wall of the semineferous tubule do?

cells that make up the wall of the semineferous tubule divide to form sperm cell by a type of cell division

what is this cell division called?

meiosis

when and for how long does a male produce sperm?

a male starts producing sperm when he goes thru pubrety (at the age of 10-12) and continues to do so for the rest of his life

what is scrotum?

a sac of skin containing the testes

where are the testes?

the testes are in the scrotum (outside the core of the body)

why are the testes outside of the body?

because … they need to be cooler than the temperature inside the body

why do the testes need to be cooler than the temprature inside the body?

for meiosis to occur proprely

where do immature sperm cells travel to to finish maturing?

the epididymis

sperm cells stay in the epididymis until…?

ejaculation

what is ejaculation?

the release of semen during orgasm

what is semen?

sperm cells and liquid produced by 3 glands

which 3 glands produce semen?

1. prospate gland
2. seminal vesicles
3. cowper’s gland

what do these fluids do? (2)

these fluids

1) protect the sperm from the acidity of the vagina

2) contain nutrients (e.g. fructose) that provide a source of energy for the sperm cells

what % of the volume of semen consists of sperm cells?

5%

how many \~# sperm cells are in a single ejaculation

\~250 million

what is the path taken by a sperm cell thru a man’s body?

testes → epididymis → vas deferens → urethra

what is a vasectomy? (2)

\- a surgery in which the 2 vas deferens are cut and tied off

\- a permanent form of birth control

label the male reproductive system

answer key

label the female reproductive system

answer key

what are the female gonads?

ovaries

what do the ovaries produce?

the female gamates

what are the female gametes?

ova (=eggs)

how many eggs does each ovary contain?

Each ovary contain \~200,000 eggs 

what is an ovarian follicle?

= consists of an ovum surrounded by many **follicle cells**

how does a girl get her follicles?

A girl is born with all of the follicles that she will ever have 

what is ovulation?

= the process by which a follicle bursts releasing an ovum 

On average, a woman ovulates once every ___ days

28

how many eggs does a woman ovulate during her life?

\~500

what is the fimbriae?

what do the fimbriae do?

\- The fimbriae are finger-like structures found at the end of a fallopian tube 

\- Fimbriae bring the ovulated egg into the fallopian tube 

An egg is moved down a fallopian tube toward the uterus by?

**1) Cilia that line the fallopian tubes that beat and make a current** 

**2) Muscles** in the **wall** of the **fallopian tubes** create peristaltic contractions

what is fertilization?

= the process by which an egg cell and a sperm cell fuse to form a fertilizied egg

what is another name for a fertilized egg?

zygote

where does fertilization usually occur?

Fertilization usually occurs in the top **⅓** of a fallopian tube 

The zygote begins to divide by cell division to form an **_____**

embryo

what is implantation?

= the process by which an embryo attaches to the **endometrium**

what is the endometrium?

(=inner lining of the uterus)

what is an ectopic pregnancy?

occurs when implantation occurs somewhere other than the uterus 

what % of all pregnancies are ectopic?

2%

where do 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur?

in the fallopian tube 

what is the menstrual cycle?

= a 28-day cycle that a woman experiences from puberty until menopause  

what’s a word that means a time when a woman is most likely to get pregnant? + when is a woman that?

fertile

A woman is fertile (=most likely to get pregnant) **during a certain part of her menstrual cycle** 

what happens in day 1 of the menstrual cycle?

**Day 1** of the menstrual cycle is when a woman “gets her period” (**=menstruates**)

what is menstruation? + what does it consists of? + what does it indicate? + when does it happen during the menstrual cycle?

\- = the process by which the endometrium detaches from the uterus and exists the body thru the vagina

\- Menstrual flow consists mostly of blood and extra tissue from the lining of the uterus

\- Indicates that a woman is **not** pregnant

\- Day 1-5

The menstrual cycle is regulated by __ _________

4 hormones

what is a hormone?

= a chemical that is formed in one part of the body, travels thru the blood, and affects the function of cells elsewhere in the body

what are endocrine glands?

An organ that releases hormones

what does FSH stand for? + what does it cause? + where is it released from?

**- FSH –>** **F**ollicle **S**timulating **H**ormone

\- The hormone that causes the growth of several follicles in the ovaries during the first half of the menstrual cycle

**- FSH** is released from the **pituitary gland**

when does ovulation occur + what does it indicate?

\- Occurs on (or around) day 14

\- This is when a woman is most fertile

what does LH stand for? + what does it cause? + where is it released from?

**- LH –>** **L**uteinizing **H**ormone

\- The hormone that specifically causes ovulation

\- **LH** is released from the pituitary gland

what happens after menstruation is complete (day 5)?

\- Thickening Of The Endometrium

\- After menstruation is complete (day 5), the endometrium begins to get thicker in preparation for a possible pregnancy

what are the 2 other hormones? + what do they cause? + where are they made?

Estrogen & Progesterone

\- The hormone that causes the endometrium to get thicker

**- Estrogen** is made by the ovaries

\- Progesterone is made by the **corpus luteum**

what does corpus luteum consist of?

it consists of the left over cells after a follicle has ovulated its egg

what does testesterone cause? + what does it include?

\- The development of the **secondary sex characteristics** in the male

\- Body hair, muscle development and deep voice.

Why are the testes in the scrotum, outside the body? + What is this necessary for?

\- The scrotum keeps the testes at a temperature slightly lower than the rest of the body

\- This is necessary for the production and storage of sperm

What would happen if the testes become too warm? + what would happen if they become too cool?

\- If the testes become too warm, muscles in the scrotum relax, allowing the testes to fall away from the body

\-  If the testes become too cool, the scrotal muscles pull them closer to the body

Where do the testes form? When? And what happens after? when?

\- The testes form inside the body 

\- during development 

\- they move down into the scrotum 

\- In the last month before birth

Can testes that stay within the body make sperm? Why or why not?

\- No

\- Testes that stay within the sperm cannot make sperm because the temperature is too high

sometimes one, or both testes do not pass into the scrotum. What can be done about it?

\- They can be moved **surgically** or with **hormone treatment**

What is each testis made up of? (define) + What is it called? + What is made in there?

\- Each testis is made up of small, coiled tubes.

\- Called the seminiferous tubules

\- Premature sperm are made in the seminiferous tubules

How many seminiferous tubules are in each testis?

300-600

What is the epididymis?

A storage area on the upper rear part of each testis

What is the vas deferens?

A tube that carries the sperm out of the testes

What is the urethra?

The passageway for the excretion of urine

Where do the two vas deferens empty into? + What about mammals?

\- Into the urethra

\- In mammals, it is also the passageway thru which sperm leave the body

In the human male, where does the urethra pass?

The urethra passes thru the penis to the outside of the body

What happens as sperm enters the urethra?

As sperm enters the urethra, the seminal vesicles, cowper’s glands and the prostate gland all secrete fluids into the urethra.

why does the sperm need these fluids?

These fluids nourish the sperm and protect them from the acidity of the female reproductive tract (vagina)?

What is semen?

The mixture of sperm and fluids

What is ejaculation?

\- A process

\- Involuntary muscular contraction forces the semen thru the urethra and out of the body.

What happens for a short time before, during and after ejaculation? + what does this prevent?

\- for a short time before, during and after ejaculation, reflex actions keep the outlet of the urinary bladder closed

\- This prevents urine from entering the urethra and mixing with the semen

Where are premature sperm made?  Where does it go from there?

\- In the seminiferous tubules

\- From there the immature sperm, pass to the epididymis

How long does it take sperm to mature in the epididymis?

about 18 hours

Where does the sperm leave the epididymis thru?

thru the vas deferens

What do the ovaries make?

eggs

What are the eggs?

the female gametes

What do the ovaries secrete?

The female sex hormone - **estrogen**

What does estrogen cause? (2) + What are the female secondary sex characteristics?

\- Estrogen causes the development of female secondary sex characteristics

\- Also plays a big role in the menstruation cycle

* Breasts
* A broadened pelvis
* The distribution of body fat

How many ovaries are there? + Where are they found? + size?

\
\- There are **two** ovaries

\- They are found in the lower part of the abdomen

\-They are about 4cm long and 2cm wide

What does each ovary contain? + What is it called? + What can you find in each follicle?

\- Each ovary contains about 200,000 tiny egg sacs 

\- Called follicles

\- An immature egg

Are immature eggs present at the time of birth? + About how many eggs mature during the life of a female?

\- yes

\- no more than 500

What happens to an egg’s follicle when the egg matures? + What is this process called?

\- When an egg matures, its follicle moves to the surface of the ovary

\- The follicle then breaks, releasing the egg

This process called **ovulation**

What is the time frame of when an egg can be fertilized after ovulation?

An egg can be fertilized for **about 24 hours** after ovulation

What’s near every ovary but NOT connected to it? + what is it also known as?

An oviduct

AKA fallopian tube

What is the oviduct (fallopian tube)?

The oviduct is a tube with a funnel-like opening

What lines the oviduct (fallopian tube)? + why?

\- cilia

\- Cilia lining the oviduct create a current that draws the released egg into the tube

The _____ is where the _____ may be fertilized if any _____ are present 

\- oviduct

\- egg

\- sperm

Where does the egg go from the oviduct (fallopian tube)?

From the oviduct, the egg passes into the **uterus**

What is the uterus?

A thick-walled, muscular, pear-shaped organ

If the egg has been fertilized, where does it finish its development? + attached to what?

\- It finished its development in the uterus

\- attached to the uterine wall

What is the cervix?

the narrow neck of the vagina

What does the cervix open to? + what else is it known as?

\- the cervix opens into the vagina

\- AKA birth canal

What does the vagina (birth canal) lead to?

the outside of the body

In the early stages of the human female embryo, the ____ joins the ____, as does the _____  _____ in the male

\- vagina

\- urethra

\- vas deferens

During later development a ______ ______ is formed for the vagina

second opening