Deck 23: The Reproductive System

Question 1

A 17-year-old boy felt a small nodule on the anterior part of his testes after showering. Because there was no pain, he ignored this nodule. Three years after, he experienced a severe heaviness in one side of his testes, especially when walking. His physician examined him, and after biopsy diagnosed him with testicular cancer.
Describe the treatment of choice for testicular cancer without metastasis.

Answer 1

Testicular cancers without metastasis can be treated with procedure name as the orchiectomy. It is a surgical procedure used for the removal of the one or both the testicles. Orchiectomy can be classified as simple, inguinal and the sub capsular. Inguinal orchiectomy is also known as radial orchiectomy is used for the treatment of testicular cancers to prevent the metastasis of the cancer into the spermatic cord and the lymph nodes around the kidneys.
Inguinal orchiectomy can be of unilateral or bilateral types. In Inguinal orchiectomy the removal of entire spermatic cord as well as testicle is performed. It is the best treatment for the testicular cancers without metastasis. Sometimes the Inguinal orchiectomy is followed by the sessions of the chemotherapy to prevent the spread of the cancer.
Unilateral orchiectomy that is removal of single testicle is much less complicated in comparison with the bilateral orchiectomy in, which both the testicles are removed. Bilateral orchiectomy causes infertility in the men and also induces the side effects related to the loss of testosterone in the body like, breast enlargement, erection problems, and osteoporosis.

Question 2

Which of the following is incorrect?

A) The head of a human spermatozoa contains a nucleus.
B) The tail of a human spermatozoa is called a flagellum.
C) The middle piece of a human spermatozoa contains acrosome.
D) The human spermatozoa contains many mitochondria.

Answer 2

C
Spermatogenesis is defined as the process, which involves the formation of spermatozoa or sperm cells. A mature sperm cell is divided into body, head and tail. The head portion of the sperm is flattened and contains a nucleus along with a compact chromatin, consisting of 23 chromosomes.
The body of sperm cell also called as midpiece contains spiraled mitochondria and a filamentous core. The flagellum or tail is composed of microtubules in the cell membrane's extension.
Hence, the options A, B and D are incorrect.
A small protrusion called the acrosome possesses enzymes that are required to assist the sperm penetrate the egg during fertilization. It is present over the anterior half (tip) of the head region of sperm cells.

Question 3

Which hormones are released from the testes and ovaries? Describe their functions.

Answer 3

Testes are paired organs, in which the sperms are produced. Each of the testes is 2.5cm in diameter and 4cm in length and is present within the scrotum's cavity. Three hormones majorly control the male reproductive functions, that is, anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus and the testes.
Sex hormones in males are androgens that are produced mostly by testicular interstitial cells. Small amounts of these hormones are also produced by the adrenal cortex. The most important androgen is the testosterone that is attached loosely to the plasma proteins for secretion as well as for transport through blood.
Testosterone is responsible for enlarging the accessory reproductive organs and testes as well as develops the secondary sex characteristics in males, such as hair on the body including chest, face, pubic region and armpits gets increased, sometimes, hair growth decreases on the scalp and the bones thickens and strengthens besides other secondary characteristics.
Testosterone is also responsible for increasing the production of red blood cells and cellular metabolism. It stimulates sexual activity, thus also affects the brain. Testosterone as well as inhibin exerts negative feedback controls on anterior pituitary and the hypothalamus.
The egg cells or ova are produced in the specialized organ known as ovary. These ovaries are paired organs, which are attached to the uterus outside of it. Ovaries perform three major functions, namely, production of oocytes, secretion of sex hormones, like progestins and estrogens and also inhibin secretion.
Estrogen is a hormone, which is secreted due to the stimulation of human chorionic gonadotropin. Estrogen prevents ovulation by suppressing luteinizing and follicular stimulating hormones production. Estrogens as well as other related hormones promote enlargement of female accessory sex hormones.
Estrogens are also responsible for the development and maintenance of the secondary sex characteristics in females, such as development of mammary gland ductile systems and breasts, increasing deposition of adipose tissue in thighs, buttocks, breasts and subcutaneous layer among other characteristics.
Progesterone is also released by ovaries in non-pregnant females. This hormone affects mammary glands, promotes uterine changes during monthly cycle, and also assists in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion.

Question 4

Briefly describe the effects of aging on the male reproductive system.

Question 5

Interstitial cells of the testis produce

A) nutrients
B) sperm
C) androgens
D) inhibin

Question 6

Which of the following is incorrect?

A) An ovary releases FSH.
B) An ovary produces estrogen.
C) An ovary produces progesterone.
D) An ovary is located in the peritoneal cavity.

Question 7

Describe spermatogenesis and oogenesis.

Question 8

A membranous fold sometimes found at or near the vaginal canal opening is called the

A) cul-de-sac
B) fornice
C) hymen
D) ampulla

Question 9

Sperm production occurs in the

A) epididymis
B) rete testis
C) ejaculatory ducts
D) seminiferous tubules

Question 10

The erectile tissue located on the ventral surface of the penis is the

A) prepuce
B) corpora cavernosa
C) membranous urethra
D) corpus spongiosum

Question 11

Explain the anatomy of the uterus and its function.

Question 12

A typical ejaculation releases approximately __________ sperm.

A) 200,000
B) 800,000
C) 100 million
D) 250 million

Question 13

Which of the following structures are located at the base of the penis, and produce a lubricating substance?

A) bulbourethral glands
B) preputial glands
C) prostate glands
D) seminal vesicles

Question 14

Which portion of the uterine tube is closest to the ovary?

A) infundibulum
B) ampulla
C) isthmus
D) anterior segment

Question 15

Describe the ovarian cycle and ovulation.

Question 16

The principal hormone secreted by the corpus luteum is

A) estrogen
B) LH
C) FSH
D) progesterone

Question 17

The fold of skin that covers the tip of the penis is the

A) corpus spongiosum
B) corpus cavernosa
C) prepuce
D) penile urethra

Question 18

Describe the female sexual response.

Question 19

The inferior portion of the uterus that projects into the vagina is the

A) fornix
B) cervix
C) fundus
D) isthmus

Question 20

Explain the most effective types of birth control.

Question 21

The structure that transports the ovum to the uterus is the

A) infundibulum
B) uterine tube
C) endometrium
D) fundus

Question 22

A 17-year-old boy felt a small nodule on the anterior part of his testes after showering. Because there was no pain, he ignored this nodule. Three years after, he experienced a severe heaviness in one side of his testes, especially when walking. His physician examined him, and after biopsy diagnosed him with testicular cancer.
Explain the structures of the testes and penis.

Question 23

Discuss the four stages of syphilis.

Question 24

Describe the male duct system.

Question 25

During menses,

A) the old functional layer of tissue is sloughed off
B) the secretory glands and blood vessels develop in the endometrium
C) a new uterine lining is formed
D) the corpus luteum is formed

Question 26

A bundle of tissue that contains the ductus deferens, blood vessels, and nerves is called

A) a straight tubule
B) an efferent duct
C) a spermatic cord
D) an ejaculatory duct

Question 27

Describe the drug of choice for chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, and syphilis.