Describe the features that limit infection in the male and female urogenital systems

What will be an ideal response?


In both men and women, factors that limit infection in the urinary tract include the slightly acidic pH and the flushing action of the urine through the ureters and urethra. In women, the much shorter urethra and the proximity of the urethral opening to anus make women more likely than men to experience urinary tract infections (UTIs). The microbiome of the urinary tract may provide protection against infection, but the relationship is not well-understood at this time. In females, the vagina has a number of protective features. Vaginal epithelial cells shed continually, taking potential pathogens with them. Vaginal and cervical mucous traps microbes and contains antimicrobial peptides and lysozyme. The vaginal epithelium releases glycogen which nourishes the main member of the vaginal microbiome, the lactobacilli. Fermentation of the glycogen to lactic acid lowers the vaginal pH significantly. The lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins which are toxic to anaerobic bacteria.

Biology & Microbiology

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Nondisjunction of X chromosomes may occur during meiosis 1 of oogenesis to form 2 types of eggs. If normal sperm fertilize these two types of egg, which of the following are possible sex chromosome complements?

A. XX and XY B. XYY and XO C. XYY and YO D. XXY and XO E. XXX and XYY

Biology & Microbiology

Comparative embryology helped clarify the relationships among major groups of animals. The bilaterians, for example, can be divided into the _____ based on the developmental fate of the blastopore

A. protostomes and deuterostomes B. coelomates and acoelomates C. coelomates and pseudocoelomates D. cnidarians and radiolarians E. protostomes and coelomates

Biology & Microbiology

For the bay checkerspot butterfly, a poor flyer, to recolonize small patch habitats, the new habitats must be ____

a. high quality b. low quality c. close to a source population d. far from a source population e. above a certain number of individuals

Biology & Microbiology

Which of the following factors can lead to diabetes insipidus?

A. Abnormally low level of ADH secretion from the hypothalamus which results in low levels of ADH in the posterior pituitary, preventing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. B. Abnormally low level of oxytocin secretion from the hypothalamus which results in low levels of ADH in the posterior pituitary, preventing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. C. Abnormally high level of ADH secretion from the hypothalamus which results in low levels of ADH in the posterior pituitary, preventing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. D. Abnormally low level of ADH secretion from the hypothalamus which results in low levels of ADH in the posterior pituitary, increasing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. E. Abnormally low level of ADH secretion from the hypothalamus which results in high levels of ADH in the posterior pituitary, increasing the reabsorption of water in the kidneys.

Biology & Microbiology