Lecture #2 – Male Reproductive System
Key Words to Know
1. What is gametogenesis?
a. What are the male and female gametes?
b. What is the product of fertilization?
2. Anatomy of Male Reproductive System
a. What is the PRINCIPAL reproductive organ? – The Brain
b. Primary male sex organs?
c. Secondary male sex organs?
d. What are the three type of cells in male repro system and what do they do?
e. what is spermatogenesis? –
i. Where is the site of spermatogenesis in the testis? –
ii. What is spermatocytogenesis? –
iii. What is spermiogenesis? –
f. What are the parts of the mature spermatozoa? –
i. What is the threshold when a man is considered sterile? –
g. How many spermatids are formed from one spermatogonium? How long does it
take? –
h. What can harm the development of sperms?
Lecture #2 Study Guide Answers
1. development of male and female sex cells or gametes
a. Sperm and Ovum
b. Zygote
2. a. The Brain
b. The testis
c. epididymic, vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, seminal vesiscles, prostrate and
bulbourethral glands, penis with urertha
d. i. Germ Cells – fertilization ii. Interstitial Cells of Leydig – secrete testosterone iii.
Sertoli Cells – secretory and repro
e. process of formation of male gametes
i. seminefeirous tubules
ii.
first stage of meiosis – spermatogonium (N = 46) to spermatocytes (N=23)
to spermatids
iii.
second stage of maturation, spermatids become spermatozoa
f. head with acrosome, midpiece, long tail or flagellum, 23 chromos, and LARGE number
80-100 million per ejaculation.
i. less than 20 million
g. 500-600 and 70 days
h. HEAT!!
Lecture
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10.
#3 Female Reproductive System
What is the primary female sex organ?
What are the secondary sex organs?
What are the two function functions of the ovaries?
what is N=46 chromosome germ cell in the female called?
what is the hormone that stimulates the release of estrogen from the follicular cells?
Describe the succession of hormones that promote ovulation.
what is this system of hormonal regulation between these three organs called?
what type of hormones are GnRH, LH and FSH?
what type are estrogen and progesterone?
Describe the relative hormonal levels during the menstrual cycle?
Lecture #3 Answers
1. Ovaries
2. oviducts, vagina and external genitalia
3.
a. Produce the ova
b. Secretion of estrogen and progesterone (from what type
of cell?) and protein hormones relaxin and inhibitin
Notes/Extra Stuff on Inhibin and Relaxin
Relaxin encourages relaxation of cervical muscles (one of strongest muscles in the body) thus
assisting in labor and delivery.
Inhibin is the hormone which stop the pituitary hormones from being released. It actually
opposes activin (follicle-stimulating hormone-releasing protein). In studies, the addition of
activin increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Inhibin by itself did not modify
placental immunoreactive GnRH, hCG, and progesterone secretion but reversed the activininduced changes.
4. – oogonium
5. FSH
6.
a. GnRH – from hypothalamus into portal system
b. FSH and LH released by anterior pituitary
c. FSH stimulates granulose cells to produce and release
estrogen
d. LH stimulates the rupute of the follicle around Day 14
7. hypothamal – pituitary – gondal axis
8. Peptide
9. Steroid
10.
a. follicular period (1-14 days)? – FSH elevated,
estrogen elevated
b. ovulation (Day 15) – burst of LH, follicle ruptures
c. luteal phase (15-28 Days) follicle becomes corpus
luteum which produces estrogen and progesterone IF
NO FERTILIZATION CL involutes, estrogen and
progesterone decrease, FSH increases, back to Day 1
Also see Granulosa Cell Handout (will be posted on-line)
Lecture #4 Fertilization
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What are the three phases of fertilization?
What does the ovum do at fertilization?
What is the role of the sperm at fertilization?
True or False – The sperm are mature when they leave the
testis.
What is capacitation and what is involved?
Where in the oviduct does fertilization usually occur?
How long after ovulation usually occur?
Where are the specific receptors to which the spermatozoa bind
and what do they promote?
What is the result of fertilization?
Place these in order of division from earliest to latest:
blastocyst, zygote, morula
COVER THIS UP – YOU CHEATER!! 
Day 3-4
Day 6-8
Answers to Lecture #4
1. a. Penetration of ovum by sperm b. Activation of sperm and
ovum c. Fusion of nuclei
2. a. maternal component of chromos b. rejects all sperm but one
c. provides nourishment for developing zygote
3. a. GETS THERE!! b. Activates nuclear and cytoplasmic division c.
Contributes paternal chromos AND DETERMINES SEX!!!
4. False – not fully motile until get through male and female tract
and get all those good juices!!!
5. The way in which the sperm are able to fertilize the ovum.
Involves increasing adherence of spermatozoa to ovum,
promotes acrosomal reaction and penetration of the ovum.
6. medial 1/3 (closest to ovary)
7. 48 hours
8. Zona pellucida receptors bind to spermatozoa. They act as
binding sites and stimulate fusion of acrosomal membrane with
plasma membrane of ovum.
9. a. DIPLOID number of chromos for the zygote b. SEX,
determination of, not the act…c. cell division
10. zygote, morula, blastocyst
Lecture # 5 Implantation
1. What happens when fertilization does not occur 48 hours after ovulation for any number
of reasons i.e. sperm got lost, stupid latex barrier, drunken date couldn’t…, well you
know, etc.?
2. If fertilization does occur, at what day/s does the fertilized implant in the uterus? What is
this stage of cellular division called?
3. Why do you need implantation to occur at this time?
4. What is nidation and what does it involve?
5. What does estrogen and progesterone do the uterine wall?
6. Which cells of the fertilized egg are dividing faster and why?
7. Why do you need the chorion?
8. What will the inner cells become?
Note: For the sake of the trees – fold your paper over. Look at you, you environmentalist/tree
hugger.
Lecture #5 Answers
1. Ovum degenerates (you can’t keep a girl waiting that long). It travels down to uterus and
expelled with the menses (this happens because the corpus luteum involves, estrogen
and progesterone levels decrease, endometrium is no longer maintained, but you knew
that right?)
2. 6-8 days, Blastocyst
3. a. the fertilized egg is OUT OF MOJO – nutritional resources have been taxed and need a
refill (it’s like a road trip without a pit stop, for god sake’s you need Mountain Dew to
keep going!!), b. protection – where would you rather go – a biggy, cushy pillow that has
immune protection or a long, dark tunnel.
4. Fancy-shmacy Latin way of saying implantation – use this at cocktail parties (or frat
parties) and impress your friends. It involves a complex set of interactions between
zygote and mother that prepares the uterus for implantation.
5. Estrogen – proliferation of uterine wall (becomes hypertrophic), Progesterone –
vascularization of uterine wall (becomes hypervascularized)
6. Outer cells – need to assure implantation and these are the cells that will becomes the
chorion
7. The chorion releases hCG which maintains corpus luteum (a good hormonal enviroment)
and is the first means of communication (nutrient, oxygen, etc transfer) between mother
and blastocyst.
8. THE BABY!!!
Note: THIS IS THE EXACT PICTURE FROM LECTURE. I found it on UCSD’s med school website.
You love me, I know.
Vocab:
Cytotrophoblast : inner layer of trophoblast
Syncytiotropoblast: outer layer of the trophoblast; site of
synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin.
Cytokines: hormone-like proteins, secreted by many cell types, which regulate the intensity and
duration of immune responses and are involved in cell-to-cell communication
Lecture #6 Early Embryonic Stages and Placenta
But first…a little sex ed:
1. How does oral contraceptive prevent pregnancy? How effective is it?
2. What are the mechanical means of contraceptive?
3. What do both IUD and “morning after” pill prevent?
4. How effective are coitus interuptus and the rhythm method?
Now for the “serious” stuff:
5. What is the placenta and VERY BASICALLY how is it formed?
6. What is its function?
7. What is hCG, where is it produced and what does it do?
8. What is a uterine sinus?
9. What are chorionic villi and what do they do?
10. What is the arrow pointing to?
11.
12.
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14.
15.
What is the yolk sac, how long does it last and what does it do?
What is the allantois and what will it become?
What is the amnion and what its function?
What is the deciduas? Basalis? Capularis? Parietalis?
How is amniocentesis performed and when is it done? What are the risks? What can it
detect?
16. What is chorionic villi sampling? When? What can it detect?
17. Why would you perform these tests?
Answers Lecture #6
1. Prevents ovulation and changes cervical mucosa to make it more acidic thus killing
sperm. 95-97% if taken regularly.
2. Tubal ligation and Vasectomy.
3. Implantation
4. 75-80% effective, makes you think twice doesn’t it!!
5. The organ by which the fetus will get all its nutrients and oxygen throughout the
pregnancy. (will also accept Leonardo da Vinci). It is formed by a fusion (or apposition)
of fetal and maternal tissues.
6. Feed the fetus, take away it’s waste, protect it immunologically, make hormones (hCG,
hCS, estrogen, progesterone)
7. HSC (Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin)) or HPL (Human Placental Lactogen) –
Hormone producted by plancenta and regulated by estrogen that helps develop
mammary glands. Also reduces the level of glucose consumed by the mother. The levels
increase steadily from 3 weeks gestation to a limit in the last month of pregnancy
(remember what estrogen does?)
8. Blood filled cavity or the uterus.
9. Thread like projections that extend into the uterine sinus from the chorion through which
nutrient, oxygen and waste transfer occur.
10. Ok I didn’t really expect you to know this. It’s a cotelydon – a subdivision of the uterine
surface of the discoidal planceta. You can also point out villi.
11. Yolk sac lasts from 6 weeks to 6 months. It produces fetal blood and is back-up feeding
for the fetus.
12. The allantois is around for a very short time 3rd-4th wk. Why? Because it becomes the
umbilical cord, arteries and vein which are ESSENTIAL to fetal survival.
13. The amnion right from implantation to birth. It serves as protection for the embryo/fetus.
14. These are all maternal membranes.
a. Deciduas is the uterine mucosa shed with delivery of placenta.
b. Basalis lies in between zygote and uterine wall and forms the maternal part of
the placenta, stays throughout pregnancy.
c. Capsularis lies over the chorion, thin and distended, eventually fuses with
parietalis.
Decidua capsularis
Decidua vera
d. Parietalis cover the uterus but
Eventually atrophies as the pressure from the fetus increases.
15. Amniocentesis is an invasive prenatal diagnostic tool that involves inserting a hypodermic
transabdmoinally (usually with ultrasound guidance) into a pregnant woman’s uterus to
collect amniotic fluid. It can be performed any time after the 14th week of pregnancy;
early in pregnancy (usually between 14 and 18 weeks), it is uselful in detecting birth
defects, while later in pregnancy (3rd trimester) it is useful in measuring fetal lung
maturity if the baby needs to be delivered early. Can be use to detect alpha-feto protein
which indicate neural tube defect and karyotypes show genetic abnormalities like Down’s
Syndrome.
What are the risks of amniocentesis?
A.
Infection (1:1000, increases risk of premature labor)
B.
Hemorrhage
C.
Needle may damage fetus (rarely)
D.
Fluid Leak (1:100, usually self-limiting)
E.
RH+ exposure
F.
Spontaneous abortion (between 1:200 and 1:450)
G.
Ethical conflict re. selective termination
16. CVS samples the chorionic cells and can be done earlier than amnio at 8-10 weeks of
pregnancy.
17. advanced maternal age {note 80% of Down’s Syndrome children are born to mothers
under 35}, alpha feto-protein, family history of genetic abnormalities.
Lecture #7 Hormones of Pregnancy
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9.
One more time: what are the hormones secreted by the placenta?
Is the FPM unit which creates the endocrine environment?
What does hCG do, when does it peak and what is produced by?
What does hCS do? Where is it produced? Who does it affect? When does it appear?
When does estrogen surpass progesterone as the most abundant hormone?
What does estrogen do during pregnancy and where is the majority produced?
What does progesterone do during pregnancy and where is the majority produced?
Why would you want to inhibit pituitary gonadotropins?
What is the precursor to hormones estrogen, progesterone and hormones produced by
the fetus?
10. What does the fetal adrenal cortex produce that impacts fetal development?
11. The medulla?
FOLD HERE!!!!
Answers to Lecture #7 Guide
1. Estrogen, progesterone, hCG, hCS
2. Fetal-Placental-Maternal Unit – the integrated way in which these three
function to create the correct balance of hormones to maintain a successful
pregnancy.
3. hCG is produced by the placenta, it maintains the corpus luteum to
encourage endometrial growth, suppresses maternal lymphocytes and peaks
at 60-70 days of pregnancy.
4. hCS is a hormone produced by the placenta that is similar to growth
hormone. It appears ONLY in the maternal blood starting at about 10 weeks
and is related to increasing estrogen levels. It maintains placental sufficiency
(it is proportionate to placental size) by maintaining high levels of glucose in
the blood. It also serves iin the development of mammary tissue.
5. week 16 (not shown well on this chart)
6. Maintains uterine structure and function. 90% in placenta
7. Maintains uterine vascularization, mammary growth and development, and
inhibits pituitary gonadotropins, 80-90% in planceta
8. Because FSH and LH are responsible for ovulation. Don’t need that!!
9. CHOLESTEROL!!
10. Cortex produces glucocorticoids (cortisol and development of surfactant in
5th fetal month), mineralcorticoids (aldesterone which acts on water and
electrolyte balace hence it comes much later in pregnancy when fetus needs
to prepare for self-resulation) and sex steroids
11. The medulla produces catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
which help in dealing with stress.