Module 3
1. Module 3
1.41. Module Glossary
Module 3—The Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Module Glossary
Consult the glossary in the textbook for other definitions that you may need to complete your work.
abstinence: not having sexual intercourse
amenorrhea: lack of menstruation due to low body fat, stress, or medical problems
anabolic steroids: male steroid hormones (including testosterone) that enhance muscle development
androgens: male group of steroid hormones; includes testosterone
antibodies: blood proteins that bind to and destroy infectious antigens such as bacteria and viruses
asymptomatic infection: infection that is present but the affected person does not experience symptoms
bacterial STIs: examples are gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia; can be treated with antibiotics
body fluids: primarily semen, vaginal fluid, saliva, and blood
bone density: solidity of the bone; related to calcium intake, impact exercise, and blood estrogen levels
bone marrow transplant: a procedure in which bone marrow from a donor is used to “seed” new bone marrow in blood and bone marrow cancer patients
cancer: uncontrolled cell division resulting in tumours that may be life-threatening
cervix: the tightly constricted opening from the vagina into the uterus
chemotherapies: drug therapies designed to poison and kill cancer cells but spare normal cells
condom: a closed tube that covers the penis during sex, providing a barrier to semen and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses
corpus luteum: the structure that develops from a matured follicle that has released its egg
The corpus luteum produces progesterone and some estrogen. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates.
Cowper’s gland: a gland secreting fluids to form semen
ductus deferens: a smooth muscle tube that carries the semen from the epididymis to the penis
dysmenorrhea: severe menstrual cramps
egg [ovum (singular), ova (plural), oocyte]: the female gamete that contributes half of the chromosomes to the zygote in sexual reproduction
ejaculation: the release of semen from the penis
ejaculatory duct: a tube from the ductus deferens to the penis
embryo: the offspring in the period of development from the cleavage of the zygote to the ninth week, when the embryo becomes a fetus
encodrine disruptor: a chemical capable of disrupting hormone function
In reproduction, the term refers to man-made or natural chemicals found in the environment that have unintended negative effects on the reproductive tract, ranging from infertility to cancer.
endometrial lining: the lining of the uterus that is thickened monthly to allow implantation of an embryo, and is shed in menstruation if fertilization does not occur
endometriosis: excessive buildup of the endometrial lining of the uterus
endometrium: the lining of the uterus that is developed under the influence of estrogen from days 1 to 14, becoming thick and engorged with blood to accept an implanting embryo should fertilization take place
epididymis: a cap on each testicle where sperm are matured and stored prior to ejaculation
estrogen: a female steroid sex hormone secreted by the developing follicle prior to ovulation and the corpus luteum after ovulation
Estrogen develops the endometrium and female secondary sex characteristics.
fertility: the ability to produce gametes and reproduce
fimbriae: finger-like projections that sweep the ovulated ovum into the oviduct
follicles: specialized cells that surround and nurture the developing ova in the ovary and that secrete estrogen and progesterone
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary; causes spermatogenesis in males
follicular stage: the first 14 days of the menstrual cycle in which the follicle is developing a mature ovum for ovulation and the endometrium is building in preparation for implantation of a possible embryo
fraternal (dizygotic) twins: twins produced when two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm; not identical and may be of different genders
gamete: a haploid cell made during meiosis that participates in fertilization to make a zygote
gametogenesis: the process of creating gametes from somatic cells; includes meiosis
gender: the sex of an organism
genitalia: external and internal sex organs
gestation: the period of pregnancy
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH): a hormone produced by the hypothalamus; stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce FSH and LH
gonads: sex organs that produce gametes (sperm or egg); testes in males and ovaries in females
hormone replacement therapy: combinations of estrogen and progesterone prescribed to decrease hot flashes and other discomforts that may come with menopause
hot flashes: periods of intense heat and sweating that occur as estrogen and progesterone hormone levels fluctuate during the years of menopause
impotence: inability to sustain an erection
infertility: the inability to reproduce
inhibin: a hormone produced by Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis that inhibits GnRH, preventing excessive sperm production
interstitial cells: tightly packed testosterone-secreting cells that surround the seminiferous tubules in the testes
interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH): also known, in the male, as the luteinizing hormone
laparoscopy: a non-invasive surgical technique using cameras, specialized tools, and small incisions
luteal stage: the period of the menstrual cycle after ovulation (days 15 to 28), when the old follicle forms a corpus luteum that secretes progesterone and estrogen to maintain the endometrium
luteinizing hormone (LH): a reproductive hormone produced by the anterior pituitary; causes the release of testosterone in males, where it is also known as the interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH)
In females, LH triggers ovulation, stimulates the formation of the corpus luteum, and acts with FSH to stimulate estrogen production.
menarche: a female’s first menstrual cycle
menopause: the time in a woman’s life, at approximately age 50, when the production of estrogen and progesterone decreases, resulting in the cessation of menstrual cycles, reproductive function, and limited loss of secondary sex characteristics
menstrual cycle: the female reproductive cycle of producing an egg and developing then shedding the endometrium every 28 days, on average
menstruation: the monthly shedding of the endometrial lining
oligospermia (oligozoospermia): a condition in which there are less than 20 million spermatozoa per millilitre of semen
oocytes: cells that are undergoing meiosis in the ovary
oogenesis: the process of egg production in females
oogonia: diploid cells in the ovary that will undergo meiosis
osteoporosis: the loss of bone density that increases risk of fracture
If osteoporosis occurs after menopause, the cause is often lack of estrogen.
ovarian cycle: the 28-day cycle of ovum development, in the following order: primary follicle, developing and mature follicle, ovulation of the egg, formation of the corpus luteum, and disintegration of the corpus luteum
ovarian cysts: fluid-filled swellings on the ovary
ovarian hormones: estrogen secreted from the pre-ovulatory follicle and estrogen/progesterone secreted from the corpus luteum
ovaries: the paired female gonads that produce eggs and secrete progesterone and estrogen hormones
oviduct (Fallopian tube): the cilia-lined tube of smooth muscle that carries the ovulated egg from each ovary to the uterus
ovulation: the release of the mature ovum from the follicle of the ovary into the oviduct
PAP smear: a screening test used to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous changes in the cervix due to human papillomavirus (HPV)
pituitary hormones: FSH and LH secreted from the anterior pituitary
primary oocytes: the two cells produced prenatally by the mitotic division of the diploid oogonium
Primary oocytes remain at the meiotic prophase 1 stage of oogenesis until the female reaches puberty.
primary sex characteristics: structures in the male or female that are essential for reproduction
progesterone: a female steroid sex hormone secreted by the corpus luteum after ovulation
Progesterone helps estrogen maintain the developed endometrium until menstruation.
prostate gland: a muscle-like gland secreting alkaline fluid to neutralize the acids in urine
puberty: the period when reproductive abilities begin
radiation treatment: ionizing radiation directed at tumours to destroy cancer cells
safe sex: the use of a barrier, such as a condom, during sex to prevent transmission of infection
scrotum: a pouch of skin located below the penis that holds the testes
secondary sex characteristics: characteristics that distinguish male from female but are not required for reproduction
semen: the ejaculated liquid that contains sperm plus the secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate, and Cowper’s gland
seminal vesicles: glands producing a fluid containing fructose, which supplies energy for use by sperm
seminiferous tubules: coiled, hollow tubes in the testes where sperm are produced
Sertoli cells: ‘nurse’ cells in the seminiferous tubules that assist in spermatogenesis and produce the hormone inhibin
sex characteristics: structures and characteristics that differentiate one gender from the other
sex chromosomes: the twenty-third pair of chromosomes that determines gender
XX is female, XY is male.
sex hormone: a biochemical compound controlling the development, maintenance, and function of the reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics
somatic cell: a normal diploid body cell; a cell not involved in fertilization
sperm: the male gamete
In sexual reproduction, the haploid sperm contributes half the chromosomes to the zygote; the egg contributes the other half.
spermatogenesis: the process of sperm production in males
spermatozoa: mature sperm stored in the epididymis
STD: a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria, fungus, or virus
All male and female sex hormones are steroids.
stem cell transplant: transplant of a donor’s stem cells from sources such as bone marrow or umbilical cord blood; used to treat cancers of the blood and bone marrow
STI: sexually transmitted infection due to bacteria, fungus, or viruses; may not cause symptoms but is still contagious
surgery: performing an operation on a patient using instruments; in cancer, the removal of tumours and affected tissues
testes: paired male gonads that produce sperm and secrete testosterone
testicles: a pair of male gonads producing sperm and testosterone; also called testes
testis determining factor (TDF): a protein produced by a gene on the Y chromosome, which results in male primary sex characteristics
testosterone: male sex hormone secreted by interstitial cells of the testes; results in male primary and secondary sex characteristics
toxic shock syndrome: a rare, rapidly developing, and potentially fatal bacterial infection of the vagina; associated with extended tampon use
ultrasound: a medical diagnostic technique in which high-frequency sound waves are bounced off body structures to obtain an image
urethra: the tube leading from the bladder to the penis
The urethra may carry either urine or semen.
uterine cycle: the 28-day cycle of shedding of the old endometrium (menstruation) and development of a new one
uterus: the reproductive organ in which embryonic and fetal development occurs
vagina: the muscular tube that leads from the uterus to the external environment
venereal: referencing the genitals or external sex organs
viral STIs: examples are HIV, HPV, and hepatitis; more problematic, possibly incurable because they cannot be treated with antibiotics
vulva: the external female genital organs