Reproductive System Review

1. What are two functions of the testes? (produce sperm and testosterone)

2. What are the components of semen and what purpose does each serve? (fructose - energy;prostaglandin - rhythmic contractions; alkaline buffer - vaginal acid; mucus - unknown)

3. Describe the structure of a human sperm. (head with DNA and tail)

4. What is the function of the sperm’s flagellum? (movement)

5. Why do sperm require mitochondria? (energy)

6. From where do these mitochondria obtain fuel? (fructose from seminal vesicle)

7. Through which passageway do sperm leave the male body? (urethra)

8. What hormone stimulates the testes to produce sperm? (testosterone and FSH)

9. Which female structure is analogous to the male testes? (ovaries)

10. Which female structure is analogous to the male vas deferens? (oviducts/Fallopian tubes)

11. Write the following structures in the order in which a sperm travels through them:

a) epididymis (b) testes (c) urethra (d) vas deferens (b, a, d, c)

12. Explain the function of each of the following of the seminiferous tubules and epididymis. (produceand store sperm, respectively)

13. Describe the effects of testosterone in males. (stimulates spermatogensis; secondary sexualcharacteristics; sex drive?)

14. It is important that only one sperm fertilize an egg. What would be the result if multiple sperm fertilized a single egg? (polyploidy)

15. Sometimes physical trauma to the mother can affect the fetus. How would partial detachment of the placenta from the endometrium affect the fetus? (lower birth weight)

16. What structure attaches the embryo to the placenta? (umbilical cord)

17. Where does fertilization occur? (upper part of oviduct)

18. a) An egg is released from what organ? (ovary)

b) From what specific structure? (follicle)

19. The other name for the female's Fallopian tubes are? (oviducts)

20. When is the fertile period during the menstrual cycle? (10-14 days after first day of last period)

21. The time when adult females permanently stop their menstrual cycle is called . (menopause)

22. Which of the two reproductive hormones is highest at the time of ovulation? (estrogen)

23. About how often is an ovum released? (28 days)

24. Describe the events associated with the flow phase, follicular phase, and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

25. Which hormone stimulates the development of follicles? (FSH)

26. What causes the follicle to burst and ovulation to occur? (matures because of rise in LH and highestrogen)

27. What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy occurs? (continues to make progesterone)

28. What if pregnancy does not occur? (disintegrates)

29. What occurs when the production of estrogen and progesterone drop? (cycle starts over)

30. How does an embryo get oxygen? (diffuse from mother through placenta)

31. Before birth, the male testes descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum. Explain why testes that fail to descend cannot produce sperm. (too warm in body cavity)

32. Why does menstruation not occur if the ovum is fertilized? (corpus luteum makes progesterone,prevents uterine lining from being shed)

33. What would happen if the corpus luteum disintegrated during pregnancy? (progesterone notproduced, so uterine wall would be shed, terminate pregnancy)

34. Explain how negative feedback regulates the level of FSH during the menstrual cycle. (causesfollicle to develop, leading to ovulation; after ovulation corpus luteum secretes high progesterone,suppressing FSH, so no more ovulation; if no fertilization, corpus luteum disintegrates and progesteronefalls, allowing FSH to accumulate again)

35. How does the birth control pill prevent pregnancy? (pill contains estrogen and progesterone whichmaintains the corpus luteum and inhibits hypothalamus and pituitary, preventing ovulation. The sugarpills are necessary to allow flow phase and a new cycle)

36. Identify the functions of estrogen in the menstrual cycle and in the birth process. (inhibits release ofFSH so no more ovulation; increases uterine contractions and sensitivity to oxytocin)

37. Suppose a woman’s oviducts were blocked. Would she produce ova? (yes) Could she become pregnant? (no, except by medical intervention)

38. Can a woman who has reached menopause ever become pregnant? Explain. (No. No eggs released)

39. What hormone level is increased during the last weeks of pregnancy, sparking the first contractions? (oxytocin)

40. How would oxytocin injections affect labor? (intensifies uterine contractions, shortening labor)

41. What does the after birth consist of? (placenta and umbilical cord)