Reproductive Anatomy And Physiology

Front 1

VENOUS Drainage

Back 1

Left ovary/testis --> LEFT gonadal vein --> LEFT renal vein --> IVC

Right ovary/testes --> RIGHT gonadal vein --> IVC

Front 2

Lymphatic Drainage

Back 2

Ovaries/testes --> para-aortic lymph nodes

Front 3

Ligaments of the Uterus

Back 3

1) Suspensory Ligament of Ovaries
=contains the ovarian vessels

2) Transverse Cervical (Cardinal) Ligament
=contains the uterine vessels

3) Round Ligament of the Uterus
=contains NO impt. structures

4) Broad Ligament
=contains the round ligaments of the uterus + ovaries and the uterine tubules + vessels

Front 4

Erection

Back 4

**Mediated by the PARASYMPATHETIC nervous system

(=think: "point and shoot!")

Front 5

Emission

Back 5

**Mediated by the Sympathetic NS

Front 6

Ejaculation

Back 6

**Mediated by VISCERAL and SOMATIC nerves

Front 7

Derivation of Sperm Parts

Back 7

**Acrosome
=derived from the GOLGI apparatus and the FLAGELLUM (=tail) from one of the centrioles

Front 8

Which piece contains the mitochondria?

Back 8

MIDDLE piece (=neck)

Front 9

What is the sperm food supply?

Back 9

FRUCTOSE

Front 10

Sperm Development

Back 10

**Spermatogenesis begins at puberty w/ SPERMATOGONIA (=type A and B)

**Full development takes about 2 months

Front 11

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

Back 11

Seminiferous tubules

Front 12

What is the Blood-Testis Barrier?

Back 12

**physical barrier in the testis between the tissues responsible for spermatogenesis and the bloodstream --> i.e. to AVOID IMMUNE RESPONSE

Front 13

Androgens

Back 13

=Testosterone, DHT, androstenedione

**Potency:
=DHT > testosterone > androstenedione

**Testosterone is converted to DHT by 5-alpha-reductase
=enzyme INHIBITED by finasteride

Front 14

Source of Androgens:

Back 14

**DHT and testosterone --> testis

**Androstenedione --> adrenal

Front 15

Targets:

Back 15

Skin, prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymis, liver, muscle, brain

Front 16

Functions:

Back 16

1) Differentiation of Wolffian Duct System --> internal gonadal structures

2) Secondary sex characteristics and growth spurt during puberty

3) Required for normal spermatogenesis

4) Anabolic Effects:
=inc. muscle size
=inc. RBC production

5) Increased Libido

Front 17

Source of Estrogen:

Back 17

**Ovary (=estradiol)

**Placenta (=estriol)

**Blood (=aromatization)

**Potency:
=estradiol > estrone > estriol

Front 18

What happens in pregnancy?

Back 18

**50x increase in estradiol and estrone

**1000x increase in estriol
=indicator of fetal well being

Front 19

Functions:

Back 19

1) Growth of follicle

2) Endometrial proliferation, myometrial excitability

3) Development of genitalia

4) Stromal development of breast

5) Female fat distribution

6) Hepatic synthesis of transport proteins

Front 20

Continued...

Back 20

7) Feedback inhibition of FSH

8) LH surge
=estrogen feedback on LH secretion switches to POSITIVE from negative just before the LH surge

9) Increased myometrial excitability

10) INCREASED HDL, DECREASED LDL

Front 21

Progesterone Source:

Back 21

**Corpus luteum, placenta, adrenal cortex, testes

**Elevation of progesterone is indicative of OVULATION

=i.e. Progesterone Prepares for Pregnancy

Front 22

Function:

Back 22

1) Stimulation of endometrial glandular secretions + spiral artery development

2) Maintenance of pregnancy

3) DECREASED myometrial excitability

4) Production of thick cervical mucus--> inhibits sperm entry into the uterus

5) Increases body temperature

6) Inhibition of gonadotropins (LH, FSH)

7) Uterine SM relaxation

Front 23

Mentstrual Cycle:

Back 23

**Follicular growth is FASTEST during the 2nd week of the proliferative phase.

**Estrogen stimulates endometrial proliferation.

**Progesterone maintains the endometrium to support implantation.

DECREASED PROGESTERONE --> DECREASED FERTILITY

Front 24

Ovulation

Back 24

**Estrogen surge the day before ovulation
=stimulates LH and inhibits FSH
=LH surge causes OVULATION --> i.e. rupture of follicle

**Increased temperature (=progesterone induced)

**Ferning of cervical mucosa

Front 25

Mittelschmerz

Back 25

=blood from ruptured follicle causes peritoneal irritation that can mimic APPENDICITIS

Front 26

What would oral contraceptives prevent?

Back 26

**Prevent the estrogen surge --> and thus the LH surge --> OVULATION DOES NOT OCCUR

Front 27

Meiosis and Ovulation

Back 27

**Primary oocytes begin Meiosis I during FETAL LIFE and complete Meiosis I just prior to ovulation
=i.e. Meiosis I is arrested in prOphase for years until Ovulation!

**Meiosis II is arrested in METaphase until fertilization
=i.e. when an egg MET a sperm!

Front 28

hCG Source:

Back 28

**Syncytiotrophoblast of the placecnta

Front 29

Functions:

Back 29

1) Maintains the corpus luteum for the 1st trimester by acting like LH
=in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, the placenta synthesizes its own estrogen + progesterone and the corpus luteum degenerates

2) Used to DETECT PREGNANCY
=appears in the urine 8 days after successful fertilization
=i.e. blood and urine tests available

Front 30

What can elevated hCG in women signal?

Back 30

**Hydatiform moles

**Choriocarcinoma

Front 31

Menopause

Back 31

**Cessation of estrogen production w/ age-linked decline in number of ovarian follicles

**Average age of onset is 51 years (=EARLIER in smokers)

Front 32

Hormonal Changes in Menopause:

Back 32

=DECREASED estrogen
=REALLY increased FSH
=Increased LH (=no surge)
=Increased GnRH

Front 33

Symptoms of Menopause:

Back 33

**Menopause causes HAVOC!

=Hot flashes
=Atrophy of the Vagina
=Osteoporosis
=Coronary artery disease