Reproductive Anatomy and Structure
This male reproductive organ produces sperm and testosterone.
What is the testis?
This hormone from the anterior pituitary stimulates ovulation.
What is LH (luteinizing hormone)?
This process produces haploid gametes from diploid germ cells.
What is meiosis?
This structure surrounding the egg must be penetrated by sperm during fertilization.
What is the zona pellucida?
This organ allows exchange of gases, nutrients, and wastes between maternal and fetal blood.
What is the placenta?
This structure transports the ovum from the ovary to the uterus and is the usual site of fertilization.
What is the oviduct (fallopian tube)?
This hormone maintains the uterine lining after ovulation.
What is progesterone?
This is the name of the process by which sperm cells are produced.
What is spermatogenesis?
This reaction prevents polyspermy by modifying the zona pellucida after one sperm enters.
What is the cortical reaction?
This hormone stimulates uterine contractions during labor.
What is oxytocin?
These cells in the seminiferous tubules provide nourishment and structural support to developing sperm.
What are Sertoli cells?
This hormone is released by the developing embryo and maintains the corpus luteum in early pregnancy.
What is hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)?
In oogenesis, this cell is arrested in prophase I until puberty.
What is the primary oocyte?
This early embryonic stage is a hollow ball of cells that implants in the uterus.
What is the blastocyst?
These finger-like projections increase surface area for exchange in the placenta.
What are chorionic villi?
This structure forms from the follicle after ovulation and secretes progesterone.
What is the corpus luteum?
This hormone exerts negative feedback on FSH during the follicular phase.
What is estrogen?
This stage of meiosis is completed only after fertilization in humans.
What is meiosis II (of the secondary oocyte)?
This group of cells inside the blastocyst will develop into the embryo proper.
What is the inner cell mass?
This hormone, produced by the placenta after the first trimester, maintains the uterine lining when the corpus luteum degenerates.
What is progesterone?
These fetal blood vessels within the placenta carry deoxygenated blood away from the fetus.
What are the umbilical arteries?
This hypothalamic hormone controls the release of both FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary.
What is GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone)?
During spermatogenesis, these cells undergo meiosis II to produce spermatids.
What are secondary spermatocytes?
This process transforms the three germ layers during early development into specialized tissues and organs.
What is differentiation (or organogenesis)?
Despite exchange of materials, this protective mechanism prevents direct mixing of maternal and fetal blood under normal conditions.
What is the placental barrier?