Title: Physiology 2130 / Module 14: Reproductive System

Q: The function of the male and female reproductive systems are to:
1. Pass on [...] of individuals; &
2. Maintain [...].
A: genes; the species

Q: Each cell in the body had [...] pairs of chromosomes.
A: 23
Extra: Except for haploid cells which are gametes in humans.

Q: The sex chromosomes are [...] and [...].
A: X; Y

Q: An [...] contains a single X chromosome.
A [...] can carry a single X or Y.
A: egg; sperm

Q: The sex of a baby is determined at the point of [...].
A: fertilization
Extra: ie. if egg is X and sperm carries Y = XY = male
if egg is X and sperm carries X = XX = female

Q: Within the first [...] weeks of development, male and female embryos have indifferent glands.
A: 6
Extra: These structures will eventually form the testes in the male or the ovaries in the females (gonads).

Q: Primitive Reproductive Tracts:
1. [...];
2. [...].
A: Mesonephric or Wolffian Duct; Paramesonephric or Mullerian Duct

Q: Reproductive tracts develop from the [...].
A: primitive ducts

Q: Males testes begin to develop from the indifferent gonads at [...] weeks
A: 6-7

Q: Female ovaries develop at [...] weeks when XX activation occurs.
A: 9

Q: At 7 weeks, the male fetus testicular cells produce [...].
A: Mullerian Inhibiting Hormone (MIH)

Q: [...] causes the Mullerian duct to regress.
A: MIH

Q: At 9 weeks, testicular cells start to produce [...].
A: testosterone

Testosterone stimulates the Wolffian duct to develop into the: epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and the urethra.

Header: Label the part of the early reproductive organs:

Q: The development of the [...] reproductive tract and external genitalia has no hormonal control.
A: female

At 9 weeks the Mullerian duct develops into the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina.

Q: In female embryos at 9 weeks, the [...] duct regresses and the external genitalia develops.
A: Wolffian

Q: Developing sperm cells are called [...].
A: spermatogonia

Q: [...] is used to isolate developing sperm cells from the blood so immune cells do not attack them which would = sterility
A: Blood Testis Barrier (BTB)
Extra: bc sperm cells are genetically different

Q: The testes consist of almost 1000 coiled [...].
A: seminiferous tubules

Q: A single seminiferous tubulue is [...] long.
A: 150cm (60inchs)

Q: The epididymis is a coiled tube that is [...] meters long ([...] feet).
A: 6; 20

Q: The seminiferous tubulues contain [...] and are surrounded by [...].
A: Sertoli Cells; Leydig Cells (aka. Interstitial Cells)

Header: Label the parts of the male reproductive system:

Header: Label the part of the sperm cell:

Q: Complete maturation of sperm cells takes [...] days.
A: 12
Extra: Occurs as the sperm are moved to the epididymis by the fluid that is secreted by the Sertoli cells.

Q: The whole process of spermatogenesis takes [...] days.
A: 64

Q: [...] marks transition from childhood (non reproductive state) to adulthood (reproductive state).
A: Puberty

Q: At puberty (in males) between the ages of 9 to 14 levels of GnRH [...] = [...] in LH and FSH = [...] testosterone.
A: increase; increase; increase

Q: [...] and peak [...] levels are reached at around the age of 16 to 18 for males.
A: Sexual maturity; testosterone
Extra: This increase causes the final maturation of the male reproductive system which results in the production of mature sperm.

Testosterone Functions:
1. Development of male reproductive tract and external genitalia in the embryo;
2. Growth and development of all male reproductive organs at puberty;
3. Development of male secondary sex characteristics at puberty - ie facial hair, muscle growth, deep voice;
4. Sex drive at puberty;
5.Spermatogenesis;
6. Bone and skeletal muscle growth;
7. Increased aggressiveness .

Q: In males:
At roughly [...], slow decrease in the levels of testosterone.
At age [...], sperm production decreases.
A: 40; 50

Q: The period of decreased testosterone production is called [...].
A: andropause

Andropause is accompanied by:
1. Decreased sexual desire and erectile ability;
2. Fatigue and depression;
3. Decreased lean body mass;
4. Increased obesity; &
5. Decreased bone density.

Q: Female external genitalia is collectively called the [...].
A: vulva

The vulva includes: the clitoris, labium majus (aka. Labia majora) and labia minus, as well as the vaginal orifice.

Q: Sperm deposited into the vagina travels through the cervix into the uterus, and into the [...].
A: fallopian tubes (aka. uterine tubes

Q: Fallopian tubes are [...] in length.
A: 20cm (8inches)

Q: During fertilization, the egg is released from the ovaries and travels through the fimbria to the [...] to meet the sperm.
A: fallopian tubes

Q: [...] is the development of the egg.
A: Oogenesis

Q: During oogensis the egg is contained in a [...].
A: follicle

Q: [...] develop into primary follicles.
A: Oogonia

Q: The primary follicle consists of an outer layer of [...] cells that contain the primary oocyte.
A: granulosa

Q: Granulosa cells secrete fluid into the interior of the follicle, which forms into the [...].
A: antrum

Q: At puberty, the ovaries are activated by [...] and [...].
A: LH; FSH

Q: By the time puberty hits, only several [...] oocytes and follicles have survived (from the millions) and the [...] also begins.
A: hundrend thousand; menstrual cycle

Q: After puberty, the primary follicle develops another ring of cells called [...] = slow enlargement and development to a mature follicle.
A: theca cells

Q: [...] cells lie outside of granulosa cells.
A: Theca

Q: Oogensis results in the production of only [...] oocyte.
A: 1
Extra: This is unlike spermatogenesis where millions of sperm are produced.

Q: The [...] are sacs that contain immature oocytes that have the possibility to be fertilized.
A: follicles

Q: As the follicle grows, the production of [...] from the ovaries dramatically increases.
A: estrogen

Q: Estrogen increase causes [...] cells to grow = more estrogen produced = positive feedback.
A: granulosa

Q: Positive feedback of estrogen = increase in [...].
A: FSH and LH
Extra: But particularly LH, causes "LH surge."

Q: The LH surge causes [...] to secrete a lot of fluid into the [...] causing it to swell, rupture, and expel the egg.
A: granulosa cells; antrum

Q: Mature follicles degenerate into [...], then the [...] if pregnancy does not occur.
A: corpus luteum; corpus albicans
Extra: Degenerates when egg expelled.

Q: Estrogen refers to a group of hormones - [...], [...] and [...].
A: estradiol; estrone; estriol
Extra: Estradiol is the primary estrogen secreted in ovaries.

Production of Estrogen:
1. Uptake of cholestrol by theca cells;
2. LH stimulates theca cells to convert cholestrol into androstenedione;
3. Small amount of androstenedione converted to estradiol by theca cells and released into circulation;
4. Majority of androstenedione taken up by ganulosa cells;
5. FSH stimulates granulosa cells to convert androstenedione into more estradiol which is then secreted into the blood.

Q: Androstenedione is a hormone with [...] like effects.
A: testosterone

Q: [...] is produced by cholesterol as one of the first intermediaries.
A: Progesterone

Q: Progestrone is produced in small quantities by [...] and [...] cells before ovulation.
A: theca; granulosa

Q: [...] stimulates theca and granulosa cells to produce progesterone.
A: LH

Q: The corpus luteum secretes both [...] and [...] to prepare the lining of the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg.
A: estrogen; progesterone

Q: If the egg fails to be fertilized, the corpus luteum will develop into [...] called corpus albicans.
A: scar tissue

Q: Puberty for females occurs at about [...]years of age.
A: 8-13

Q: The causes of GnRH that trigger puberty are [...].
A: unknown

Q: There is a [...] nature of estrogen throughout the life of a female.
A: pulsatile

Q: Between the ages of [...], the menstrual cycle becomes irregular and ovulation may not occur during some cycles and eventually stop all together at around [...].
A: 40-50; 50

Q: The period marked by decreased estrogen and cessation of the menstrual cycle is known as [...].
A: menopause

Q: Throughout the life of a female, roughly [...] primary follicles grow into mature follicles.
A: 400

Q: Hundreds of thousands of follicles [...].
A: degenerate

Q: With fewer follicles, [...] estrogen can be produced.
A: less

Q: [...] is caused by decrease in number of primary follicles in the ovaries.
A: Menopause

Q: At low estrogen levels there is little negative feedback to the anterior pituitary, allowing [...] and [...] levels to rise dramatically.
A: LH; FSH
Extra: As a result, the ovaries appear to be less responsive to the high levels of LH & FSH, causing estrogen levels to drop.

Menopause is Characterized By:
1. Hot flashes;
2. Irritability;
3. Anxiety;
4. Fatigue;
5. Lack of strength;
6. Decreased bone density.

Q: Birth control pills have synthetic [...] and/or [...].
A: estrogen; progestrone

Q: Birth control pills with estrogen and progesterone act like the natural hormones and feedback to the hypothalamus to  decrease GnRH levels, and to the anterior pituitary decreasing LH and FSH.
Low [...] suppresses the development of follicles.
Low LH prevents surge which then prevents [...].
A: FSH; ovulation

Q: Synthetic Progesterone:
1. Creates thick [...] that prevents sperm from centering uterus;
2. Decreases [...] of the uterus and fallopian tubes (which helps transport egg and sperm to site of fertilization).
A: cervical mucous; motility

Header: Label the parts of the female reproductive system:

Header: Label the parts of the female reproductive system (close-up):

Header: Label the part of the ovary:

Q: The function of the male reproductive system is to produce the sex steroid [...], to produce [...], and to deliver it to the femal vagina.
A: testosterone; sperm (spermatogenesis

Q: The function of the female reproductive system is to produce the sex steroid [...] and the hormone [...], to produce [...], receive sperm, and provide the optimal conditions for the development of the fetus.
A: estrogen; progesterone; eggs

Q: The ovaries produce the female sex hormone [...] and [...], and produce eggs through a process called [...].
A: estrogen; progesterone; oogenesis

Q: 3 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle:
1. [...] = Days 7-14
2. [...] = Days 14-28
3. [...] = Days 0-7
A: Proliferative Phase; Secretory/Luteal Phase; Menses

During the secretory/luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the follicle develops into corpus luteum and increases production of progesterone that prepares the uterus for implantation.
Also, if fertilization and implantation don't occur, the corpus luteum degenerates into scar tissue called the corpus albicans, and progesterone levels drop.

Q: During the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, the [...] increases production of estrogen causing the [...] and [...].
A: follicle; LH Surge; ovulation

Q: [...] and [...] stimulate the growth of the uterin lining.
A: Estrogen; Progesterone

Q: During [...], the levels of all hormones are low. The [...] cannot be maintained and the [...] is lost.
A: menses; lining of the uterus; uterine lining