BMS100 Chapter 19 Part 1
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Male Reproductive System (p. 491)
  1. testes & scrotum
    1. composed of lobules filled with seminiferous tubules.
    2. interstitial cells (in spaces between tubules) - produce hormones
    3. scrotum - pouch of skin etc. that encloses the testes
    4. “descent of the testes”
      1. in embryo, testes are at approx. level of vertebra T10
      2. ideal temperature for sperm production is 3oC. lower than internal temp.
      3. during fetal life, each testis "descends," passes through inguinal canal of abdominal wall, and enters scrotum
  2. sperm cells
    1. meiosis reduces the chromosome number from 46 to 23 and produces four sperm cells from each original cell
    2. parts of a sperm cell
      1. head – with nucleus and acrosome
      2. midpiece – with mitochondria
      3. "tail" (flagellum) - with microtubules that use ATP to slide past each other
  3. epididymis
    1. tightly coiled tube; stores and nourishes immature sperm
    2. leads to vas deferens
  4. vas deferens (ductus deferens)
    1. muscular tube (smooth muscle propels sperm)
    2. passes through the inguinal canal and ends behind the urinary bladder
    3. fuses with duct from the seminal vesicle
  5. seminal vesicles (2)
    1. saclike structures attached to the vas deferens
    2. secrete a fluid that is alkaline and which contains nutrients such as fructose, etc.
  6. prostate gland (1) - surrounds urethra; secretion contains enzymes, etc.
  7. semen consists of sperm cells and secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and other glands
  8. penis
    1. contains erectile tissue & urethra
    2. during erection, spaces within the erectile tissue engorge with blood

Female Reproductive System (p. 500)
  1. ovaries & ovarian follicles
    1. primordial follicles
      1. millions form during prenatal development
      2. each contains a primary oocyte and a layer of follicular cells
      3. the primary oocyte begins meiosis, but the process halts until puberty

    2. follicle development & maturation
      1. beginning at puberty, some primary oocytes are stimulated to continue meiosis
      2. usually, only one follicle at a time fully develops
      3. meiosis gives rise to a secondary oocyte
    3. ovulation
      1. mature follicle ruptures >>> secondary oocyte is released
      2. after ovulation, the secondary oocyte is drawn into the uterine tube, and the remainder of the follicle becomes the corpus luteum
  2. uterine tubes
    1. ciliated cells transport the secondary oocyte away from the ovary and toward the uterus
    2. normal site of fertilization is “outer” part of uterine tube
      1. sperm penetration triggers completion of meiosis (oocyte becomes ovum)
      2. sperm nucleus + ovum nucleus unite
      3. zygote – one cell with 46 chromosomes
  3. uterus
    1. uterine wall includes the endometrium, myometrium, etc.
    2. endometrium
      1. basal layer - permanent
      2. functional layer
        • grows from basal layer under influence of hormones
        • site of implantation if fertilization occurs (approx. 6 days after fert.)
        • shed as menses if fert. does not occur
  4. vagina
    1. wall consists of mucosa, muscular layer, and fibrous layer
    2. mucosa produces acidic secretion that inhibits microorganisms
      • vaginal pH is approx. 4.2
Chapter 19 Study Questions - 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 38, 40, 41
Fall 2008