STUDY GUIDELINES – Reproductive System– Chap. 26 (Amerman, 2nd ed.)
Instructor: Allison Tomson
1. What are the primary sex organs in males and females? What hormones do they secrete?
- Male: The primary sex organ in a male is the testes and it secretes the hormone testosterone.
- Female: The primary sex organ in a female are the ovaries and it produces estrogen and progesterone hormones.
2. What is the major difference between mitosis and meiosis?
- Mitosis only produces two identical daughter cells while meiosis produces four and is used for sexual
reproduction.
3. What organs make up the duct system? Accessory organs? External genitalia?
- Duct System: Epididymis, ductus vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, and the urethra.
- Accessory Organs
a. Male: Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands
b. Female: Fallopian tubes, mammary glands
- External Genitalia
a. Male: Penis and scrotum
b. Female: External sex organs, vagina etc
4. What are the roles of the cremaster and dartos muscles in maintaining optimum temperature conditions for sperm?
- Cremaster Muscle: This muscle consists of bands of skeletal muscle to elevate the testes
- Dartos Muscle: A smooth muscle within superficial fascia; pulls scrotum close to the body.
5. Identify and describe the major structures of the male reproductive system- testes, seminiferous tubules, spermatic
cord
- Testes: Stores sperm and contains the seminiferous tubules which is responsible for producing sperm. It is a saclike structure that stores semen ready for ejaculation.
- Seminiferous Tubules: Tightly coiled structures that is used for forming sperm through spermatogenesis. Then
empties sperm into the rete testis which is the first part of the duct system.
- Spermatic Cord: Contains the blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerve fibers going to and from the scrotum
(contains the testes)
6. Outline the process spermatogenesis. Where does it occur? What cells are involved? Know the structures associated
with each step in these processes. Which divisional process (i.e., mitosis or meiosis) is responsible for the generation
of gametes in humans? What is spermiogenesis?
- Spermatogenesis occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes.
- First: Spermatogonia which are two diploid cells located at the basal area of the seminiferous tubules. They
undergo mitosis to produce type a and b daughter cells (Mitosis)
- Type a daughter cell will stay at the basal area of the seminiferous tubules while the type be daughter cell goes
through spermatogenesis
- We have a primary spermatocyte that arise from type b spermatogonia and go through meiosis 1
- After meiosis 1, cells are now haploids and go through meiosis 2
- Now spermatids are produced which will later mature during spermiogenesis
- Spermiogenesis is the transformation of non-mature spermatids into a mature sperm (spermatozoa)
7. What is the role of sustenocytes/ sertoli cells in spermatogenesis? Interstitial/ Leydig cells?
- Sustenocytes/Sertoli: surrounds the developing cells for support, produces nutrients for sperm movement.
a. Produces androgen binding protein for testosterone
b. Secretes inhibin: FSH release from anterior pituitary gland
- Interstitial/ Leydig Cells: Secretes male sex hormone (androgen) = testosterone
8. How is spermatogenesis hormonally regulated?
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis
a. The hypothalamus releases GnRH
b. Anterior Pituitary releases FSH and LH
FSH targets Sertoli cells and development of gametes
LH targets Leydig cells for testosterone production
c. Testosterone then regulates spermatogenesis
d. Negative feedback: High testosterone and inhibin inhibit GnRH, FSH, and LH.
STUDY GUIDELINES – Reproductive System– Chap. 26 (Amerman, 2nd ed.)
Instructor: Allison Tomson
9. Identify and describe the major structures of the male reproductive system- seminal vesicles, rete testes, epididymis,
prostate, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, urethra (all 3 parts
- Seminal Vesicle: Secretes fluid with fructose, enzymes; nourish the sperm cells
- Rete Testis: Channels connecting seminiferous tubules to epididymis
- Epididymis: Sperm storage and maturation
- Prostate: Secrete enzymes that activate the sperm
- Bulbourethral Glands: Secrete alkaline to neutralize acidity from urine
- Urethra
a. Prostatic Urethra: Within the prostate
b. Membranous Urethra: Through the pelvic floor
c. Spongy Urethra: Through the penis
10. Describe the accessory glands and their functions. What does each secrete?
- Seminal Vesicle: Fructose to provide energy for sprem
- Prostate: Sperm activation
- Bulbourethral Glands: Alkaline > Neutralizes urine and vaginal acidity
11. What is the composition of semen? What is its function?
- Sperm which are secretions from seminiferous tubules
12. Describe the structures of the penis. What is its function?
- Function: Urine and sperm transport
- 3 corpora of erectile tissue
a. 2 corpora cavernosa
b. 1 corpus spongiosum
- Connective tissue, smooth muscle, vascular spaces
- Urethra (spongy or penile)
13. What physiological processes are involved in the male sexual response (erection) and eventual release of sperm
(ejaculation) from the male? What is the role of the autonomic nervous system? Trace the route that sperm travels as
it is produced, matures, and then passed through the male reproductive system.
- Erection: Parasympathetic NS → NO release → vasodilation → engorgement.
- Ejaculation: Sympathetic NS → spinal reflex → ducts/glands contract → semen expelled.
- Sperm Pathway: Seminiferous tubules → Rete testis → Epididymis → Ductus deferens → Ejaculatory duct →
Urethra (prostatic → membranous → spongy)
14. Identify and describe the major structures of the female reproductive system- ovaries, uterine/ Fallopian tubes,
cervix, uterus, vagina, ovarian ligament, broad ligament, suspensory ligament
- Ovaries: Produce ova and sex hormones (estrogen/progesterone)
- Fallopian Tubes: Transport oocyte and the site of fertilization
- Uterus: Supports the embryo/fetus
- Cervix: Canal into the uterus
- Vagina: Birth canal and where the semen goes
- Ligaments
a. Ovarian ligament: Ovary to uterus
b. Suspensory Ligament: ovary to pelvic wall
c. Broad Ligament: Supports uterus, tubes, and vagina
15. Outline the process of oogenesis. Know the structures associated with each step in this process?
- This is the production of the female gametes
- Begins with oogonia (2n) → primary oocyte (2n) → arrested in prophase I until puberty.
- Meiosis I resume → secondary oocyte (n) + polar body.
- Ovulated secondary oocyte arrested in metaphase II.
- Meiosis II completed only if fertilized → ovum + polar body.
STUDY GUIDELINES – Reproductive System– Chap. 26 (Amerman, 2nd ed.)
Instructor: Allison Tomson
16. List the changes, in chronological order, that occur in the ovary during the follicular and luteal phases of the ovarian
cycle.
-
Follicular Phase (Days 1–14): Primordial → Primary → Secondary → Vesicular follicle.
Ovulation (Day 14): LH surge triggers oocyte release.
Luteal Phase (Days 15–28):
a. Ruptured follicle becomes corpus luteum → secretes progesterone/estrogen.
b. If no fertilization → corpus luteum degenerates into corpus albicans.
17. What is ovulation? What causes it to occur? Describe the hormonal control.
- Mid cycle to release oocyte
- Triggered by LH due to estrogen positive feedback
18. Describe the uterine cycle. What are the layers of the endometrium? How is each phase of the cycle affected by
hormones?
- Menstrual (1-5): Shedding of functional layer
- Proliferative (6-14): Estrogen rebuilds endometrium
- Secretory (15-28): Progesterone thickens endometrium and prepares implantation
19. What are the roles of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) estrogen and progesterone
- LH: Stimulates ovulation, corpus luteum formation.
- FSH: Stimulates follicle development
- Estrogen: Stimulates endometrial growth and the LH surge
- Progesterone: Maintains endometrium and inhibits LH and FSH
20. Trace the route that an egg travels as it is produced, released and then passed through the human female reproductive
tract. What happens if the released egg is not fertilized? What are the hormones of labor?
- Ovary to the fallopian tubes (Fimbriae > Ampulla) to the uterus to the cervix and then the vagina
- If not fertilized, then menstruation occurs
- Hormones in labor are estrogen, oxytocin, and prostaglandins
21. Describe lactation and the mammary glands. Describe the external genitalia
- Includes mons pubis, labia majora/minora, clitoris, vaginal and urethral orifices
- Clitoris= erectile tissue, analogous to male