Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
39 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Describe the three components of the function of the female reproductive organs |
Sexual intercourse Reproduction Menstruation |
|
Name the six components of the gross structure of the external female reproductive organs (the vulva) |
The labia Majora The labia minora The clitoris The vaginal opening The hymen The external urethra orifice |
|
Name the five components of the internal female reproductive organs |
The vagina The cervix The uterus The ovaries The fallopian tubes |
|
Describe the vagina |
A muscular canal that joins the cervix to the vaginal opening. It can widen to accommodate childbirth, and is lined with mucous membranes to keep it moist |
|
Describe the cervix |
The lowest part of the uterus, with a small opening that allows menstrual blood to escape, and semen to enter. It dilates to allow childbirth |
|
Describe the uterus |
A hollow pear shaped organ that holds a foetus during pregnancy. It has two parts, the corpus and the cervix, the corpus is the larger part, which expands during pregnancy |
|
Describe the ovaries |
Small, oval shaped glands on either side of the uterus which produce eggs and hormones |
|
Describe the fallopian tubes |
Narrow tubes that attach to the upper part of the uterus, serving as pathways for the ovum. Fertilization usually occurs here |
|
What do the ovaries produce? |
Ovum and reproductive hormones |
|
Where are the ovum transported to during ovulation |
The fallopian tube |
|
Where do fertilized eggs move to |
The uterus, implanting in the thickened uterine lining |
|
What happens if implantation of an egg doesn't take place? |
The uterine lining is shed as a menstrual period |
|
What occurs during menopause |
The gradual cessation of the production of menstrual hormones, making menstrual periods irregular. After one year without a period, a woman is considered menopausal |
|
Name the three phases of the menstrual cycle |
The follicular phase (egg development) The ovulatory phase (egg release) The luteal phase (hormone levels decrease if an egg is not implanted) |
|
Name the four hormones involved in the menstrual cycle |
Follicle stimulating hormone Luteinizing hormone Oestrogen Progesterone |
|
Describe the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle |
FSH and LH are released, and stimulate the growth of eggs, each in their own follicle. They also trigger an increase in the production of oestrogen, which when it rises, switches off the production of FSH. One follicle becomes dominant and continues to mature, suppressing other follicles. The dominant follicle continues to produce oestrogen |
|
The ovulatory phase |
Beginning around 14 days after the follicular phase, the rise in oestrogen triggers a surge in the amount of LH, causing ovulation. The fimbriae sweep the egg into the fallopian tube. 1-5 prior to ovulation, many people notice an increase in cervical mucus, which helps to capture and nourish sperm as it travels to the egg |
|
Describe the luteal phase |
After ovulation, the empty ovarian follicle develops into the corpus luteum, which secretes oestrogen and progesterone, which prepares the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg. If an egg is fertilized, it will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus, beginning pregnancy. If an egg is not fertilized, it dissolves in the uterus, and the lining of the uterus breaks down an sheds as a menstrual period |
|
Describe the timings of the menstrual cycle |
Days 1-4 menstruation Days 5-12 follicular phase Days 13-16 ovulation Days 17-28 luteal phase |
|
Name the external components of the male reproductive system |
The penis The scrotum The testicles |
|
Name the internal components of the male reproductive system |
The vas deferens The seminal vesicle The prostate The urethra |
|
Name the two hormones involved in the functioning of the male reproductive system |
Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone |
|
What is the function of follicle stimulating hormone in the male reproductive system? |
Sperm production (spermatogenesis) |
|
What is the function of luteinizing hormone in the male reproductive system? |
Stimulating the production of testosterone (which is necessary to continue the process of spermatogenesis) |
|
What is the function of testosterone in the male reproductive system |
Enabling the process of spermatogenesis Development of male secondary sex characteristics |
|
What is spermatogenesis? |
The process of developing male gametes (sperm) |
|
Where does spermatogenesis occur? |
The seminiferous tubules of the testes |
|
Describe the process of spermatogenesis |
Diploid spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules has 46 pairs of chromosomes, which allows the exchange of genetic information before dividing through meiosis into haploid spermatocytes. The two daughter cells further divide into four spermatids, and move from the lumen of the testes to the epididymis where they mature. |
|
Name the three parts of the penis |
The root The body (or shaft) The glans |
|
Describe the body of the penis |
The body of the penis has three chambers, filled with sponge like erectile tissue with large spaces for blood, which flows to the penis during sexual arousal, making it rigid and erect and allowing for penetration |
|
Describe the glans of the penis |
The cone-shaped end of the penis, covered with a loose layer of skin called the foreskin. The external urethral orifice is located here |
|
Describe the scrotum |
A loose, pouch-like sac of skin that hangs behind the penis, and holds the testes |
|
What is the function of the testes |
The scrotum protects the testes, and has muscles allowing it to contract and bring the testes closer to the body for warmth and protection, or further away from the body to cool the temperature |
|
Describe the testes and their function |
The testes are oval-shaped, around the size of very large olives, and are secured at either end by the spermatic cord, and contain coiled masses of tubes called seminiferous tubules. The Testes produce testosterone |
|
What is the epididymis |
A long coiled tube that rests on the back of the testicle, it carries and stories sperm cells created in the testes and brings them to maturity. During arousal, contractions force sperm into the vas deferens |
|
What is the vas deferens |
A long muscular tube that travels from the epididymis, into the pelvic cavity to just behind the bladder. It transports mature sperm cells to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation |
|
What is the purpose of the male urethra in reproduction |
Expulsion of semen (ejaculation) |
|
Describe the seminal vesicles and their functions |
Sac-like pouches attached to the vas deferents near the base of that bladder that make fructose to provide sperm with a source of energy and aids their motility. The fluid made here makes up the majority of the volume of ejaculate |
|
Describe the prostate gland and it's functions |
A walnut sized structure located below the bladder in front of the rectum, and contributes additional fluid to ejaculate, helping to nourish the sperm. The prostatic portion of the urethra runs through the prostate |