Podcast
Questions and Answers
What triggers ovulation?
What triggers ovulation?
- Peak in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Peak in luteinising hormone (LH) (correct)
- Peak in progesterone levels
- Peak in oestrogen levels
What are the two main hormones secreted by the corpus luteum?
What are the two main hormones secreted by the corpus luteum?
- GnRH and FSH
- Testosterone and inhibin
- Progesterone and a small amount of oestrogen (correct)
- Oestrogen and inhibin
What happens to GnRH secretion during puberty in males?
What happens to GnRH secretion during puberty in males?
- It remains the same
- It increases (correct)
- It decreases
- It stops
What is the result of hypothalamus maturation in males?
What is the result of hypothalamus maturation in males?
What is the age range for the onset of puberty in females?
What is the age range for the onset of puberty in females?
What is the effect of oestrogen and progesterone on GnRH and LH/FSH secretion before puberty in females?
What is the effect of oestrogen and progesterone on GnRH and LH/FSH secretion before puberty in females?
What happens to the reproductive organs during puberty in both males and females?
What happens to the reproductive organs during puberty in both males and females?
What is the outcome of maturation of the hypothalamus in females?
What is the outcome of maturation of the hypothalamus in females?
What is the purpose of mitosis?
What is the purpose of mitosis?
What is the main difference between mitosis and meiosis?
What is the main difference between mitosis and meiosis?
Where does fertilization normally occur?
Where does fertilization normally occur?
What is the function of the epididymis?
What is the function of the epididymis?
What is the primary function of the seminal vesicles?
What is the primary function of the seminal vesicles?
What is the function of the prostate gland?
What is the function of the prostate gland?
What is the function of the bulbourethral glands?
What is the function of the bulbourethral glands?
What is the approximate length of the vas deferens?
What is the approximate length of the vas deferens?
What is the composition of semen?
What is the composition of semen?
What is the role of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules?
What is the role of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules?
What is the final stage of spermatogenesis?
What is the final stage of spermatogenesis?
Where do oocytes pause during meiosis?
Where do oocytes pause during meiosis?
How many oocytes are present at birth?
How many oocytes are present at birth?
What is the structure that surrounds the oocyte in a primary follicle?
What is the structure that surrounds the oocyte in a primary follicle?
What is the fate of the majority of oocytes in the ovaries?
What is the fate of the majority of oocytes in the ovaries?
What is the purpose of the epididymis in the male reproductive system?
What is the purpose of the epididymis in the male reproductive system?
What is the term for the process by which sperm cells are formed?
What is the term for the process by which sperm cells are formed?
Study Notes
Cell Division
- Mitosis: 4 stages, occurs in somatic cells, produces 2 diploid daughter cells, chromosome number remains the same, purpose is cellular proliferation
- Meiosis: 8 stages, occurs in germ/sex cells, produces 4 haploid daughter cells, chromosome number is halved in each daughter cell, purpose is sexual proliferation
Female Reproductive System
- Ovaries open into the peritoneal cavity
- Fimbriae direct ovum into the uterine tube/fallopian tube/oviduct
- Successful fertilization normally occurs in the first third of the uterine tube
- Vagina: channel connecting to the cervix
Male Reproductive System
- Testis and scrotum: contains epididymis for maturation
- Vas deferens or ductus deferens: approximately 45cm long, has peristaltic movement, contains blood vessels and nerves
- Urethra: channel connecting to the penis
- Seminal vesicles: produce prostaglandin, stimulate motility of sperm, fructose, clotting agents
- Prostate gland: produces citric acid, proteolytic enzymes
- Bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands: produce mucous, alkaline fluid
Spermatogenesis
- Seminiferous tubules in testes: contain germ cells, develop into spermatocytes, nourished by Sertoli cells
- Spermatogonia: develop into primary spermatocytes (2n), then secondary spermatocytes (n), then spermatids (n)
- Spermatid differentiation: forms head, acrosome, midpiece, and flagellum
- Released into the lumen of seminiferous tubules to the epididymis for further maturation
Oogenesis
- Ovaries: suspended by ligaments, contain oogonia (5 million before birth, 400,000 at birth, 300,000 at puberty)
- Ovarian follicle: contains oocyte, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves
- Primordial follicle: primary oocyte pauses at Prophase I
- Primary follicle: layers of granulosa cells, zona pellucida
- Secondary follicle: at puberty, only 400 develop fully
- Ovulation: triggered by peak in luteinising hormone (LH), completes Meiosis I and pauses during early Meiosis II
Hormones in Males and Females
- Before puberty: low GnRH, low LH and FSH secretion
- Puberty: hypothalamus maturation, increased GnRH, LH, and FSH secretion, development of secondary characteristics
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