Biology > Human Reproduction > Flashcards

Human Reproduction Flashcards

(128 cards)

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1
Q

Define menstrual cycle

A

Series of events that occur in the ovary and uterus every 28 days, from puberty to menopause, if fertilisation has not taken place

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2
Q

Define menstruation

A

Shedding the unfertilised egg and endometrium. It occurs between days 1 and 5 of the cycle

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3
Q

Define ovulation

A

Release of a mature egg from the Graafian follice at surface of the ovary and into the fallopian tube on day 14 of the menstrual cycle

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4
Q

Define fertile period

A

Time during the menstrual cycle when fertilisation can occur

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5
Q

On what day does ovulation occur?

A

Day 14

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6
Q

On what days does menstruation occur?

A

Day 1–5

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7
Q

How many days is a full menstrual cycle?

A

28 days

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8
Q

What are the four main hormones associated with the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Oestrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
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9
Q

Draw a labelled diagram of the male reproductive system

A
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10
Q

What is the function of the penis?

A

Place sperm cells into the female.

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11
Q

What is the tip of the penis called?

A

Glans

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12
Q

What causes an erection?

A

Blood rushing to the penis

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13
Q

What is the function of the scrotum?

A

Holds the tests outside the body at a slightly lower temperature for optimum sperm development

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14
Q

What is the function of the testes?

A

Make sperm (meiosis) and testosterone.

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15
Q

What is the male gonad?

A

Testes

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16
Q

What is the function of the epididymus?

A

Stores and matures sperm

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17
Q

What is the function of the seminal vesicles?

A

Makes seminal fluid

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18
Q

What is the function of the prostate gland?

A

Makes seminal fluid

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19
Q

What is the function of the cowper’s gland?

A

Makes seminal fluid

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20
Q

What is the function of the sperm duct?

A
  • Carries sperm from testes to penis
  • Mixes sperm with fluid
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21
Q

What is the function of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the male reproductive system?

A

Causes the production of sperm by meiosis

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22
Q

What is the function of the luteinising hormone (LH) in the male reproductive system?

A

Stimulates the testes to produce testosterone

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23
Q

What is the function of testosterone in the male reproductive system?

A

Development of primary male sex characteristics, including the development of the penis and other male reproductive parts

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24
Q

Where are the the hormones involved in male reproduction made?

A

Endocrine glands

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25
Where are FSH and LH made in the male reproductive system?
Pituary gland near the brain
26
Where is testosterone made in males?
Testes
27
Define hormone
Chemical messenger made in endocrine gland transported by blood to a target organ causing an effect
28
Give an example of primary sex characteristics
Development of reproductive organs
29
Define secondary sex characteristics
Physical changes that distinguish the sexes but are not essential for reproduction
30
When does the development of secondary sex characteristics generally start?
Puberty
31
Give some examples of secondary sex characteristics in males
* Hair growth on face, underarm, chest, and pubic region * Enlarged larynx producing a deeper voice * Wider shoulders * Greater skeletal muscular development * Growth in height and weight
32
Give some examples of secondary sex characteristics in females
* Enlargement of breasts * Widening of the hips * Increased body fat * Growth of pubic and underarm hair * General growth spurt in height
33
Define infertility in males
Low production of sperm
34
What are some causes of infertility in males
* Stress * Alcohol * Drug abuse * High temperature of the testes * Low testosterone production
35
How is infertility treated in males?
* Fertility drugs * Avoid alcohol * Avoid drugs * Avoid stress
36
Draw a labelled diagram of a sperm cell
37
What does the acrosome contain?
Digestive enzymes
38
What does the nucleus of the sperm contain?
23 chromosomes
39
What does the collar of the sperm contain?
Many mitochondria
40
What is the function of the flagellum?
Causes the sperm to swim
41
What is another name for sperm cells?
Spermatozoa
42
When does the production of sperm begin?
Puberty
43
Why do sperm need a lot of mitochondria?
They need energy to swim long distances
44
Draw a diagram of the female reproductive system
45
What is the function of the fallopian tube?
Fertilisation occurs here (zygote formation)
46
What causes the egg to move along the fallopian tube?
Cilia and peristalsis
47
What is the function of the ovaries?
Produce the egg (female gamete) by meiosis.
48
What is the female gonad?
Ovaries
49
What is the egg surrounded by?
Graafian follicle
50
What does the Graafian follicle produce?
Oestrogen
51
Where does implantation occur?
Uterus
52
What is the function of the uterus?
Implantation occurs here. Holds baby during pregnancy.
53
What is the uterus lined with?
Endometrium
54
What is the function of the vagina?
Allows the sperm to enter the female as well as the baby to exit
55
What is the cervix?
Opening of the womb
56
Outline the development of the egg in the ovary
* Immature egg cells (oocytes) complete meiosis each month to become haploid eggs (ovum) * The ovum is located in the Graafian follicle * The Graafian follicle produces oestrogen * The Graafian follicle matures and bursts at ovulation to release the egg * After ovulation the follicle fills with cells and becomes the corpus luteum (secretes progesterone)
57
What is the function of oestrogen?
* Thickens the endometrium * Inhibits FSH * Stimulates LH
58
Where is oestrogen produced?
Ovaries - Graafian follicle
59
What is the function of progesterone?
* Inhibits LH * Thickens the endometrium
60
Where is progesterone produced?
Ovaries - corpus luteum
61
What does FSH stand for?
Follicle stimulating hormone
62
What is the function of FSH?
Produces the follicle cells in the ovary where meiosis takes place
63
Where is FSH produced in females?
Pituitary gland
64
What is the function of LH?
* Stimulated ovulation * Stimulates Graafian follicle to develop into corpus luteum
65
What does LH stand for?
Luteinising hormone
66
Where is LH produced in females?
Pituitary gland
67
Label the hormones in the diagram
Top pink: Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Top blue: Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Bottom pink: Oestrogen Bottom blue: Progesterone
68
What happens on days 1–5 of the menstrual cycle?
* Endometrium is shed (menstruation) * FSH causes meiosis to occur in the new oocytes to form the Graafian follicle, thus causing egg production * There are low levels of hormones at this stage
69
What happens on days 5-13 of menstruation?
* The Graafian follicle makes oestrogen which stimulated the endometrium to thicken and the production of LH. It inhibits FSH
70
What happens during ovulation?
* Surge of LH causes ovulation * Egg travels in the fallopian tube * Endometrium thickens
71
On what day does ovulation occur?
14
72
What happens during the luteal phase (days 14-28)?
* The Graafian follicle develops into the corpus luteum * The corpus luteum secretes progesterone which causes the endometrium to continue to thicken, prevents FSH from forming new eggs, and prevents the contraction of the uterus * If fertilisation did not take place the corpus luteum begins to degenerate * Progesterone and oestrogen then start to decline
73
Define female infertility
Inability to conceive either by fertilisation failure or implantation failure
74
What are some causes of female infertility?
* Hormone imbalance * Blockage of fallopian tubes
75
How is female infertility treated?
* Hormones * In-vitro fertilisation * Implantation
76
Name a menstrual disorder
Fibroids
77
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding
78
What are the causes of fibroids?
* Benign tumors * Hormone imbalance
79
How is fibroids prevented?
Unknown
80
How is fibroids treated?
Surgery
81
Describe the stages of copulation
* Sexual arousal occurs: - Males get an erection - In females the vagina becomes lubricated, elongated, and wet * Copulation * Orgasm occurs: - In females the muscles in the pelvis contract and heart and breathing rate increase - In males the penis becomes erect and ejaculation occurs * Insemination occurs which is the deposition of the semen
82
What is the survival time of the egg?
48 hours after ovulation
83
What is the survival time of the sperm?
Up to 7 days
84
When is the female's fertile period?
Day 12-16
85
Define fertilisation
Fusion of the male and female gamete to form a diploid zygote
86
What is chemotaxis?
When the egg releases a chemical to attract the sperm
87
Why is there no male mitochondria inherited?
Only the head of the sperm enters the egg
88
Outline the development of the zygote
* Zygote divides by mitosis to form a ball of cells called a morula after 3 days and moves down the fallopian tube * Further division occurs which forms a hollow cavity filled with fluid called a blastocyst on day 5 * After 5 days the blastocyst is implanted into the endometrium * After 10 days it divides further by mitosis to form 3 germ layers
89
What is the fertilised egg referred to as?
Zygote
90
How many chromosomes is in a zygote?
46
91
Define implantation
Embedding of a blastocyst (embryo) into the endometrium (lining of the uterus)
92
Define amnion
Protective sac that surrounds and protects the embryo
93
What is the function of the amnion?
Secretes amniotic fluid to protect the embryo and act as a shock absorber
94
What tissue does the placenta form from?
Uterine and embryonic tissue
95
What is the function of the placenta?
* Acts as a barrier to prevent blood mixing * Produces hormones such as progesterone which allow for the exchange of materials between the mother and embryo such as gases e.g. oxygen and carbon dioxide, glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, minerals, oestrogen and progesterone in to foetus and metabolic wastes, CO2, and urea diffuse out of the foetus
96
What are the function of oestrogen and progesterone during pregnancy
* Maintain the pregnancy * Prepare the mother's body for birth and lactation
97
What are the names of the three germ layers?
Ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm
98
Give examples of the ectoderm
* Skin * Hair * Nails * Nervous system
99
Give examples of the endoderm
* Inner linings of the digestive system * Liver * Pancreas
100
Give examples of the mesoderm
* Muscles * Skeleton * Excretory system * Respiratory system * Circulatory system
101
Define germ layer
Layer of cells in blastocyst that give rise to specific tissues
102
What has formed after eight weeks of pregnancy?
All major organs
103
What stage is the foetus at after ten weeks of pregnancy?
* Eyes low and widely spaced * Cartilage is replaced by bone * Nerves and muscle coordinate * Movement * Sex organs developed * Foetus can breathe, kick, and urinate
104
Define gestation
Length of pregnancy
105
Describe the hormone levels during pregnancy and birth
* After 10/12 weeks progesterone and oestrogen are made by the placenta * Before week 12 placenta stops making progesterone and oxytocin levels increase which causes walls of uterus to contract
106
How long is pregnancy in humans?
266 days (38 weeks or 9 months)
107
Outline the steps of birth
* Contractions cause the foetus to move head first towards the cervix * Amniotic fluid is released (waters break) * Cervix dilates (gets wider) * Foetus is pushed head first through the vagina * Umbilical cord is clamped * Afterbirth is expelled
108
Define lactation
Secretion of milk by the mammary gland
109
Where is prolactin produced
Pituitary gland
110
Why is prolactin not present/in low levels during pregnancy?
Inhibited by progesterone
111
What is the function of prolactin?
Stimulates milk production
112
What causes the secretion of oxytocin?
Suckling stimulates the pituitary to secrete oxytocin
113
Function of oxytocin
Causes the milk ducts to contract ejecting milk from the breast
114
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
* First milk (colostrum) is full of antibodies to boost the baby's immune system * It creates a bond between the mother and child * Warms the baby * Contains a balance of nutrients * Less risk of infection (by not using bottles)
115
What does IVF stand for
In vitro fertilisation
116
Define IVF
Fusion of the male and female gamete to form a diploid zygote outside the body
117
Explain the process of IVF treatment
* Females are given fertility drugs to aid the development of the egg * Eggs are collected as well as a sperm sample * Eggs and sperm are incubated together in a lab * If fertilisation occurs embryos are transferred back into the female
118
What hormone is sometimes used in fertility treatments and why?
FSH to stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs
119
Define birth control
Taking steps to reduce the number of offspring produced
120
Define abortion
Termination of pregnancy
121
Define contraception
Methods to prevent fertilisation
122
What are the four main methods of contraception?
Mechanical, chemical, surgical, and natural
123
Give an example of a natural contraception method
Abstinence: No sexual intercourse
124
Explain some examples of mechanical contraception methods
* Condom: Thin impermeable sheath covering the penis. Semen cannot be deposited in the vagina. * Cervix barriers: Diaphragm or cap that prevent sperm entering the uterus * Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): Plastic or metal loops or coils that prevent implantation
125
Define semen
Mixture of sperm and seminal fluid
126
Give some examples of chemical contraception
* Spermicides: Placed in the vagina to kill sperm * Oral contraceptive pill: Contain hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen that prevent ovulation
127
Give some examples of surgical contraception
* Tubal ligation: Fallopian tubes are tied preventing sperm and egg cells meeting * Vasectomy: The vas deferens (sperm duct) is cut. Sperm is not present in the semen. Testosterone is still produced.
128
What is the function of a gonad?
Makes sex cells
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