Human Reproduction

Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system is located in the pelvic region.

It consists of the testes, accessory ducts, accessory glands and external genitalia.

The accessory ducts include the rete testes, vasa efferentia, epididymis and vas deferens.

The accessory glands include a pair of seminal vesicles, a prostrate and a pair of
bulbourethral glands.

The external genitalia include the penis. It is a copulatory organ.

Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix, vagina and the
external genitalia located in the pelvic region.

The female accessory ducts include the oviducts, uterus and vagina.

The Uterus is a hollow pear shaped muscular organ and is highly distensible.

The female external genitalia are called the vulva.

The mammary gland houses the lactiferous duct that provides nutrition in the form of milk to
infants after their birth.
 Menstrual Cycle

Menstrual cycle is defined as cyclical changes in the genital system during the reproductive
phase.

The menstrual cycle is controlled by the interplay of the following hormones:

• Luteinsing Hormone
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• Estrogen
• Progesterone

During the menstrual phase, the endometrial lining of the uterus and its blood vessels break
down and get discharged through the vagina as menstruation.

During the follicular phase, the primary follicle matures into a Graafian follicle.

During the ovulatory phase, the Graafian follicle ruptures to release an ovum or egg cell into
the pelvic cavity in a process called ovulation.

During the luteal phase, the Graafian follicle transforms into a yellow mass called the corpus
luteum.

The menstrual cycle is controlled by the interplay of the following hormones.

• Luteinising Hormone
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• Estrogen
• Progesterone
 Fertilisation And Implantation

Insemination is the release of semen into the vagina.

Sperms present in the semen are transported to the junction of the isthmus and ampulla of
the fallopian tube.

One of the sperms fertilise the ovum leading to the formation of a diploid zygote.

The presence of X and Y chromosome in the sperm determines the sex of the zygote.

The zygote undergoes repeated mitotic division called cleavage.

Cleavage leads to the formation of a blastocyst.

The implantation of a blastocyst in the uterus results in pregnancy.

Embryonic Development and Parturition

The structural and functional unit between the developing embryo and maternal body is
called the placenta and it is formed when the chorionic villi interlock with uterine tissues.

The inner cell mass differentiates to from an embryonic disc consisting of the :

• Outer Ectoderm
• Middle Mesoderm
• Inner Endoderm

The embryo remains attached to the placenta via an umbilical cord and stays inside its
mother’s uterus for nine months, which is called the gestation period.
 Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), Human placental lactogen (HPL) and relaxin are
secreted only during pregnancy.

At the end of the gestation period, the foetus as well as the placenta start secreting hormones
that set in motion mild uterine contractions called the foetal ejection reflex.

The process of childbirth is called parturition.

Gametogenesis

In males, sperm is produced by a process called spermatogenesis.

In females, an ovum is produced by a process called oogenesis.

During spermatogenesis:

• The spermatogonium divides mitotically to produce a primary spermatocyte

• The primary spermatocyte divides meiotically to form two secondary spermatocytes.
• The secondary spermatocyte divides meiotically to form four equal, haploid, round
spermatids.
• Round spermatids get differentiated into an elongated and tadpole-like spermatozoa or
sperm.

During oogenesis:
• The germinal epithelium cells divide mitotically to form gamete mother cells called oogonia.
• The oogonium divides again to form two primary oocytes.
• The primary oocyte undergoes meiotic division to form a secondary oocyte and a polar
body.
• The secondary oocyte matures into an ovum.