Reproductive System Learning Outcomes

The gonads of the male reproductive system are:

testes

The gonads of the female reproductive system are:

ovaries

The pathway of the sperm in the male reproductive system is:

From the seminiferous tubules through ducts including epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, and urethra.

The pathway of the sperm in the female reproductive system is:

ova travel from ovaries through uterine tubes to the uterus.

The accessory organs of the male reproductive system include:

seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands.

The internal organs of the female reproductive system include:

uterus and vagina

The external structures of the male reproductive system include:

scrotum and penis

The location of the female reproductive system is primarily:

within the pelvic cavity

The ovaries are homologous to the…

testes

The clitoris is homologous to the…

penis

The urogenital folds in the penis are homologous to the…

labia minora

The labioscrotal swellings that develop into the labia majora are homologous to the…

scrotum

What do the testes produce and secrete?

androgen hormones, testosterone, and sperm cells

What role does the epididymis play with sperm?

promotes sperm cell maturation, stores sperm, and moves sperm to ductus deferens

What function does the ductus deferens serve?

stores and moves sperm to ejaculatory duct

What function does the ejaculatory duct serve?

transports sperm from ductus deferens into urethra

What function does the urethra serve?

transports semen out of the penis

What does the seminal vesicle secrete?

slightly alkaline fluid with nutrients with prostaglandins, and coagulating enzyme that supports, maintains, and enhances the motility of semen in the female reproductive tract after ejaculation

What does the prostate gland secrete?

slightly alkaline fluid with nutrients and several components that support, activate, enhance motility, and maintain semen in the female reproductive tract after ejaculation

What does the bulbourethral gland secrete?

mucus to lubricate glans penis and neutralize acidic traces of urine in urethra

What function does the scrotum serve?

encloses, protects, and regulates testes temperature

What function does the penis serve?

transports urine and semen out of the body and can transport semen into vagina via insertion during intercourse

What do the ovaries produce?

oocytes, estrogens, progesterone, and inhibin

What function does the uterus serve?

protects and sustains conceptus during pregnancy, cyclic shedding results in menstrual flow

What function does the uterine (fallopian) tubes serve?

moves oocytes or fertilized ovum toward uterus, site of fertilization and early stages of development

What function does the vagina serve?

receives penis during sexual intercourse, provides passageway for menstrual flow for sperm, and for infant during birth

What function does the mons pubis serve?

Protects the underlying pubic bones and structures of the female external genitalia

What function does the labia majora serve?

enclose and protect other external reproductive structures

What function does the labia minora serve?

enclose vestibule and protect openings of vagina and urethra

What function does the clitoris serve?

sexual stimulation

What function does the greater vestibular glands serve?

secretes mucus that lubricates the opening of the vagina

What function does the lactating mammary gland serve?

produces milk

What function does the nonlactating mammary gland serve?

guides milk outside to the nipple

What phase is from days 1-5 of the uterine cycle?

menstrual phase

What phase is from days 6-14 of the uterine cycle?

proliferative phase

What phase is from days 15-28 of the uterine cycle?

secretory phase

What happens to the uterine wall during the menstrual phase?

The uterus sheds the stratum functionalis, resulting in menstruation. Inflammatory mediators called prostaglandins trigger contractions of the myometrium, which helps shed the stratum functionalis.

What happens to the uterine wall during the proliferative phase?

The stratum functionalis develops with endometrial glands and spiral arteries and veins. As the layer proliferates, the uterus sheds the stratum functionalis, its endometrial glands enlarge and its spiral arteries and veins increase in number.

What happens to the uterine wall during the secretory phase?

The spiral arteries convert the stratum functionalis to secretory mucosa and endometrial glands secrete uterine milk to sustain the conceptus.

What is the function of placenta?

Facilitates the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between the mother and fetus.

What is the function of the yolk sack (part of the extraembryonic membranes)?

Forms the digestive tract of the developing conceptus

What is the function of the amnion (part of the extraembryonic membranes)?

Encloses the conceptus in a fluid-filled amniotic cavity that protects from trauma, maintains constant temperature, and allows for symmetrical muscle development.

What is the function of the allantois (part of the extraembryonic membranes)?

Forms part of the umbilical cord base that connects the conceptus to the placenta

What is the function of the chorion (part of the extraembryonic membranes)?

Encloses the other extraembryonic membranes and forms the main embryonic part of the placenta

How is the placenta formed?

How is the extraembryonic membrane formed?

What is parturition?

List the pathway the sperm must take from the seminiferous tubules to the external urethral orifice

How is sperm produced?

List the components of semen

What is the function of semen?

List the pathway the oocyte must take from the ovary to the uterus

First, the oocyte

What is spermatogenesis?

The development of a male gamete

What is spermiogenesis?

The maturation of the size and shape of a sperm cell

What is the 1st step in spermatogenesis?

Spermatogonium differentiates into a primary spermatocyte

What is the 2nd step in spermatogenesis?

One primary spermatocyte undergoes meiosis I to produce two haploid secondary spermatocytes.

What is the 3rd step in spermatogenesis?

The two secondary spermatocytes each undergo meiosis II to produce a total of four haploid spermatids.

What is the 1st step in spermiogenesis?

Spermatids elongate as they begin spermiogenesis

What is the 2nd step in spermiogenesis?

Spermatids migrate to the epididymis and continue to undergo spermiogenesis to eventually become mature sperm cells.

What is the role of the nurse (sustentacular/Sertoli) cells in spermatogenesis?

They form a blood testis barrier that separates the forming sperm cells from the immune system.

What is the role of the interstitial cells (of Leydig) in spermatogenesis?

They produce and secrete adrongens, particularly testosterone.

What is oogenesis?

The development of an ovum

What is the first stage during oogenesis?

During the before birth stage, the oogonium stem cell undergo a miotic division before birth during the fetal period.

After seven months of fetal development, many oogonia die, while the rest undergo meiosis I and are now called primary oocytes.

What is the second stage during oogenesis?

During the childhood to puberty stage, the primary oocytes don’t develop further until a girl reaches puberty.

What is the third stage during oogenesis?

During the puberty to menopause stage, 20-30 primary oocytes are stimulated to continue development.

One primary oocyte will complete meiosis I to produce two haploid cells that are different in size. The smaller one often degenerates, but the larger cell contains DNA and most of the cytoplasm plus absorbed extracellular fluid.

What happens during the first stage in folliculogenesis?

The primordial follicle stage is where the primary oocyte has a single layer of squamous follicular cells around it.

What happens during the second stage in folliculogenesis?

The primary follicle stage is where the primordial follicle develops into a primary follicle as the follicular cells develop into granulosa cells.

Microvilli and thecal cells appear on the cell. The microvilli will develop on the oocyte and grow into the surrounding granulosa cells.

What happens during the third stage in folliculogenesis?

The secondary follicle cell phase is where the primary follicles develop into secondary follicles.

The follicle’s wall thickens as the deeper granulosa cells secrete follicular fluid. This forms small pockets increasing the overall size of the follicle.

What happens during the fourth stage in folliculogenesis?

Rising FSH and LH secretion stimulates a group of secondary follicles to continue maturation. Typically only one follicle completes this process and becomes a vesicular follicle.