The Reproductive System

 The major function of the reproductive system

is to ensure survival of the species. An
individual may live a long, healthy, and happy
life without producing offspring, but if the
species is to continue, at least some
individuals must produce offspring.
 Within the context of producing offspring, the
reproductive system has four functions:
To produce egg and sperm cells
To transport and sustain these cells
To nurture the developing offspring
To produce hormones
 Reproductive development
 Gonad is a body organ that produces sex
cells (the ovary in females and the testis in
males)
 Mesonephric ducts develops in males
 Paramesonephric ducts develops in females
Physiology of Onset
 Puberty is initiated by hypothalamic-
pituitary – gonad complex.
 Puberty usually starts in Girls at 10-13
years old and Boys starts at 12-14
years old.
Puberty is the stage of life at which
secondary sex changes begin.
Girls (estrogen) Boys (testosterone)
 Growth Spurt  Increase in weight
 Increase in the  Growth of testes
transverse diameter
of the pelvis  Growth of face,
axillary & pubic hair
 Breast development
 Voice changes
 Growth of pubic hair
 Penile growth
 Onset of
menstruation  Increase in height

 Growth of axillary  spermatogenesis

hair
 Vaginal secretions
Female and Male Reproductive
System Homologues
 Female  Male
Clitoral glans Penile glans
Clitoral shaft Penile shaft
Labia majora Scrotum
Ovaries Testes
Skene’s glands Prostate
Bartholin’s Cowper’s
glands glands
Role of Androgens

Androgenic hormones- responsible

for muscular development,
physical growth, and an increase
in sebaceous gland secretions
causing typical acne in both boys
& girls.
- produced by adrenal cortex &
testes (males)
Functions of the Male Reproductive
System
Production of gametes
Male sex cells, i.e., sperm
Synthesis of androgens
Male sex hormones, e.g.
testosterone
Delivery of sperm into the female
reproductive tract.
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
•The main reproductive organs of
the male body are the testes,
which produce sperm and also
male hormones, in the form of
testosterone.
Male External Structures
 Penis
 Tubular structure located above the
scrotum, composed of shaft and glans.
 Half of it is an internal root and half is
the external visible shaft.
 Soft and flaccid (2.5 to 4 inches).
Erection- blood vessels in the shaft
become congested, penis become hard
and erect (5.5 to 7 inches)
  Glans
 The distal end of the organ is bulging
sensitive ridge of tissue which has the
external urinary meatus at its tip.
 Corona
 The proximal margin of the glans.
 Prepuce
 Also called the foreskin.
 Loose skin attached to the shaft, allowing
for expansion during erection.
 Retractable casing of skin that protects
the nerve sensitive glans at birth.
 Frenulum

 Ventral fold of tissue attaches the skin to the

glans.
Contains the urethra as well as 3 erectile bodies:
2dorsal erectile tissues known as the corpora
cavernosa
1 midventral tissue known as the corpus
spongiosum
Surrounds penile urethra
Expands distally to form the glans penis

 Sexual excitement → Nitric acid is
released from the endothelium of blood
vessels → Result in engorgement or an
increase in the blood flow to the arteries
of the penis →The Ischiocavernosus
muscle at the penis base then contracts
→ Trapping both venous and arterial
blood in the 3 sections of erectile tissue
→Leading to distention and erection of
the penis
 SCROTUM
 loose pouch-like sac of skin that hangs
behind the penis
 rugated, skin covered muscular pouch
suspended from the perineum
 contains testes, epididymis, and the lower
portion of the spermatic cord
• Contains male gonads (testes)
 help regulate the temperature of sperm
through contraction and relaxation and
moving closer to and further away from
the perineum
the looseness of the scrotum is
intentional to provide expansion and
contraction
 lowers T by 3C
Cool Temperature
Scrotum contracts and
draws the testes closer to
the body for warmth.
Warm Temperature
Scrotum becomes very
loose and allow the testes
to hand further away
from the near of the
body. High temperature
can cause delicate
sperm cell to die.
 Testes
Two ovoid glands, 2 to 3
cm wide that lie in the
scrotum (walnut size)
 Surrounded by 2 tunics:
•Tunica vaginalis
Derived from the
parietal peritoneum.
•Tunica albuginea
Feel smooth and are freely movable
within the scrotum.
In most males, one testis is slightly larger
than the other and is suspended slightly
lower in the scrotum than the other
(usually the left one) for less possibility of
trauma to them
Spermatozoa do not survive at the body
temperature
It is suspended outside the body where the
temperature is approximately 1 F lower than
the body temperature and sperm survival is
ensured
 Each testis is encased by
a protective white fibrous
capsule and is composed
of a number of lobules,
each lobule containing
interstitial cells (Leydig’s
Cell) and seminiferous
tubules.
SeminiferousTubules
-Produce spermatozoa

Leydig’s Cell
-Responsible for
producing of the male
hormone testosterone.
Male Internal Structures
 Epididymis
seminiferoustubule of each testis
leads to a tightly coiled tube, the
epididymis
Approximately 20 ft long
Site of sperm maturation and storage
Responsible for conducting sperm
from the testis to the vas deferens
Contains smooth muscle to
propel sperm during ejaculation
Sperm are immobile and
encapable of fertilization as they
passed or are stored at the
epididymis level
Ittakes 12-20 days to travel the
length of the epididymis
A total of 64 days to reach
maturity
Aspermia – absence of
sperm

Oligospermia – less than

20 million per mL

These are problems that

do not appear to respond
immediately to therapy but
rather only after 2 months
 Vas Deferens (Ductus Venosus)
It carries sperm from epididymis through the
inguinal canal into the abdominal cavity
where it ends at the seminal vesicles and
ejaculatory ducts. It is about 40cm long
The vas deferens serves a transport function
and the area of the ampulla serves as
astorage reservoir of sperm for release at
ejaculation.
Sperm mature as they passed through the vas
deferens
It is believed that the vas deferens acts as
reservoir for sperm between ejaculation
 Seminal Vesicles
2 convoluted pouches that lie along the
lower portion of posterior surface of the
bladder and empty into the urethra by
way of ejaculatory ducts
 Secrete seminal fluid
 Sperm become increasingly motile
because of viscous portion of the
semen secreted by these glands which
serves as nutrients and more favorable
pH)
Ejaculatory ducts

These are formed by

the fusion of the vas
deferens and the
seminal vesicles.
The ejaculatory ducts
empty into the urethra.
The ejaculatory ducts are part of the
human male anatomy, which cause the reflex
action of ejaculation. Each male has two of
them.
 They begin at the vas deferens, pass
through the prostate, and empty into the
urethra at the Colliculus seminalis. During
ejaculation, semen passes through the ducts
and exits the body via the penis.
 Prostate Gland
 a chest-nut size gland that
lies just below the bladder,
the urethra passes through
the center of it, like the
whole donut
 When added to the
secretion from the seminal
vesicles and the
accompanying
 sperm from the epididymis, this alkaline fluid
further protects sperm from being
immobilized by the naturally low pH level of
the urethra

Bulbourethral Glands
- 2 bulbourethral or Cowper’s gland lie beside
the prostate gland and by short ducts empty
into the urethra
 Secrete an alkaline fluid that helps
counteract the acid secretions of
the urethra and ensure the
passage of spermatozoa
Produce small droplets of fluid
during sexual activity that
neutralizes the acidity of the male
urethra and aid in the transport of
sperm
5% semen
 Urethra
a hollow tube leading from the base of the
bladder, which after passing through the
prostate gland continues to the outside
through the shaft and glans of the penis
3 sections
Prostatic
Within the prostate
Membranous
Within the urogenital diaphragm
Penile (spongy)
Within the penis
 The seminal vesicles, prostate gland
and Cowper’s gland produce a liquid
called a seminal plasma.
Seminal Plasma
Aids in the transport of sperm
Provides energizing nutrients for
the sperm
Contains form of sugar – fructose,
mucous, salts, water, base buffers
and coagulators to aid the sperm in
their journey.
The sperm collectively make up the semen.

 Semen / seminal fluid

 Thick,
creamy white fluid with the consistency
of mucus or egg whites
 Normal amount is 2 mL – 6 mL per ejeculation
 Fertile
man will dispel 20-160 million sperm per
ejaculate.
 Spermatozoon – is made up of a head and a
tail
- the head carries the male’s haploid number
of chromosomes (23)
- the part that enters the ovum at fertilization
- the tail specialize in motility
▪sperm maybe stored in the male genital
system for 42 days
▪sperm can live only 2-3 days in the female
genital tract once ejaculated.