Name Block Date

Bio 12 Notes: Testosterone & Female Reproductive Tract

I) Testosterone: main androgen (male sex hormone)A) Intro to Testosterone: -steroid hormone produced by

-produced in response (LH) from anterior pituitary gland-effects of lack of testosterone documented in livestock animals that have been ____________________ (testes removed)

1) meat more tender2) lack of sex drive3) lowered aggression (particularly sexual aggression)***Human castration: 17th-18th C many boys had testes removed to halt puberty and retain soprano voices “Castrati”

B) Functions of Testosterone1) 2) stimulates : signals of sexual maturity

-facial & body hair-enlargement & lengthening of larynx-increased production in body oils & pheromones-increased musculature: both skeletal & smooth (ie, male dermis = 40% thicker

than female)-change in bone structure & proportion

3 during puberty (primary sexual characteristics: )4) : sex drive5) increased : anabolic steroids are testosterone-like drugs

C) Regulation of Testosterone Production-at ~age 10 (GnRH) which targets anterior pituitary (this occurs in both males & females)-in response releases 2 hormones with different target tissues

1 (FSH): target = -stimulates 2 (LH): target in

testes-causes interstitial cells to

-testosterone can then act on its target tissues (ex )

-recall: hypothalamus = centre of homeostasis. It monitors testosterone levels in blood. -If testosterone is too high, hypothalamus

-therefore, anterior pituitary release-therefore, testes & sperm

cells-negative feedback loop:

Question: how can excessive use of steroid hormones (drugs) cause infertility & shrivelled testes in males? Explain (potential test bonus question)

II) Female Reproductive Tract-designed to produce ova, receive penis & semen, house & nourish fetus, produce milk

A) Main structures 1) ____________ (2) – _ (estrogen & progesterone)

-size & shape of almonds, close to wall of pelvic cavity, held in place with loose connective tissue and pelvic ligaments-outside = single epithelial layer-inside = loose connective tissue & ova (scattered in varying developmental stages)

1) _______________: contain maturing ova, mature in response to FSH from anterior pituitary

-release 1 ovum during “__________________________”

2) __ : remnants of follicle left in ovary that become a temporary gland in response to LH from anterior pituitary-produces -if no pregnancy, it disintegrates & becomes a scar called corpus albicans

2) ________________ (2) (aka fallopian tubes): receive ovum following ovulation

-not directly connected to ovary: fingerlike “_________________” catch ovum as it bursts from ovary wall-lined with beating __________ to sweep ovum down length. Also performs ________________-location of fertilization: ovum begins to disintegrate upon leaving ovary. By end of oviduct, ovum no longer capable of becoming fertilized by sperm so fertilization must occur before this

3) ______________: receives ovum or zygote (fertilized ovum), and nourishes fetus during pregnancy

-fist-sized, inverted-pear in shape-thick walls of smooth ____________-inner face is lined with membranous tissue:

-many capillaries for lots of transport to and from fetus-glandular tissue for secreting a nutrient medium to nourish zygote

4) : narrow opening at base of uterus-usually plugged with ____ to prevent entry of bacteria but also = barrier

for sperm-during ovulation, mucus becomes watery so sperm can pass

-allows endometrial layer to be shed during menstruation-keeps developing fetus inside uterus through pregnancy, but during birth, ________________ to ~10 cm (diameter of baby’s head) to allow exit-common site for cancer, often caused by HPV, transferred from head of penis

-detected by Pap Smear test5) _____________________: receives penis during sexual intercourse, birth canal for exit of baby (& endometrium during menstruation)

-stretchy elastic muscular tube which leads from cervix to outside body6) _____________________: organ _____________________________________, analogous to male penis

-in front of vagina, short (~2 cm) tissue with same nerve endings as head of penis-usually necessary to stimulate for female orgasm

Self Quiz: Can you identify each structure?