Reproductive System

• What is reproduction?
• The process of production of new one of own kind is called reproduction.

• Reproduction is most important life process of organisms as it is the

only means for the continuity of the race.

• Organisms can reproduce asexually or sexually.

Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
• Asexual Reproduction: The type of reproduction where there is no
formation and fusion of gametes is called asexual reproduction.

• Sexual Reproduction: The type of reproduction which involve

formation and fusion of gametes is called sexual reproduction.
Differences
between
asexual and
sexual
reproduction
 Human Reproductive System
• Human being have well developed reproductive system. Male and female have
anatomically different organs and different functions.
• The function of male reproductive system is to produces male gamete called as
spermatozoa (simply sperm) whereas female reproductive system is primarily meant
to produce female gamete called as ovum (simply egg).

• The fusion of these two opposite sex gametes (i.e. fertilization) takes place within
reproductive organ of female body.
• The result of fertilization is formation of one celled zygote. This zygote undergoes
mitotis cell division several times for the formation of embryo. The embryo
differentiate and there occurs formation of different body parts. And finally, a new
one of own kind gets birth. This is the process of reproduction.

• As there is production and fusion of male and female gametes in human

reproduction, hence it is a sexual reproduction.
Male Reproductive System
• Male reproductive system has two basic functions:
• Producing male gamete called as spermatozoa.
• Ejaculation and transferring spermatozoa to female reproductive system.

• Male reproductive system is made up of following organs:

• Scrotum
• Testes
• Epididymis
• Vas deferens
• Seminal vesicles
• Ejaculatory ducts
• Prostate glands
• Urethra
• Cowper’s glands
• Penis
Ejaculatory duct
Scrotum
• A scrotum is present outside the abdominal cavity, in front of upper
part of thighs, behind the penis.
• It is a pouch of deeply pigmented skin, made up of fibrous and
connective tissue and smooth muscles.
• It has two compartments, each consisting of a testis, one epididymis,
testicular end of spermatic cord.
Testes
• There are two testes, each present in a compartment of scrotum.
• Testes are about 4.5 cm long, 2.5 cm wide and 3 cm thick and are
suspended in the scrotum by spermatic cords.
• They are surrounded by three layer of tissues: tunica vaginalis, tunica
albuginea and tunica vasculosa.
• Internal structure of testes:
• Each testis consists of 200-300 lobules.
• Within each lobule are 1 to 4 convoluted loops of seminiferous tubules containing
germinal epithelial cells.
• The germinal cells of seminiferous tubules produces spermatozoa.
• Between the tubules there are groups of interstitial cells, called Leydig cells, which
secrete testosterone hormone after puberty.
• Function of testes:
• Production of spermatozoa
(male gamete) occurs in testes.
• Testes also produces
testosterone hormone after
puberty, which causes
development of secondary
sexual characteristics in male.
Also, it helps in development
and maintenance of secondary
sexual organs like seminal
vesicles, prostrate gland etc.

t.s. of seminiferous tubule

Epididymis
• At the upper pole of testis, the seminiferous tubules combine to form
a single tubule called epididymis.
• Epididymis is highly convoluted and about 6 m in length.
• It is divided into three regions: head (caput epididymis), body (corpus
epididymis) and tail (cauda epididymis).
• It continues forward as vas deferens.

• Function of epididymis: It is involved in the storage, nutrition, and

maturation of sperm cells.
Vas deferens
• It is a thick walled, muscular tube which continues from the tail of the
epididymis and is about 45 cm long.
• It passes over the urinary bladder in the abdomen and joins seminal
vesicle to form ejaculatory ducts.
Seminal vesicles
• There are two seminal vesicles in the posterior part of the urinary
bladder. (They are small fibro-muscular pouch lined with columnar
epithelium.)
• The seminal vesicles joins by a duct to the vas deferens of its own side
to form ejaculatory duct.
• Functions: Seminal vesicles produces seminal fluid which mixes with
the sperm (makes 60 % of total volume of semen). This seminal fluid
contains nutrients to support the sperm during their journey through
the female reproductive tract.
Ejaculatory ducts
• These are two tubes about 2 cm long, each formed by the union of
vas deferens and duct from a seminal vesicle.

• They pass through the prostate gland and joins the prostatic urethra.

• They carry seminal fluid and spermatozoa to the urethra.

Prostate gland
• It lies just below the urinary bladder surrounding the first part of
urethra.

• It secretes a thin, milky fluid that makes up about 30 % of semen, and

gives it milky appearance.

• Functions:
• It contains a clotting enzyme that causes the thickening of semen that keeps
the semen near the opening of the cervix after ejaculation.
• It also helps to neutralize the acidity of semen and its surrounding.
• Also, it keeps spermatozoa active and improves chances of fertilization.
Urethra
• The male urethra provides a
common path for the urine and
semen.
• It starts from the neck of the
urinary bladder and opens to
exterior at the tip of penis.
• It is about 20 cm long and divided
into three regions: prostatic
urethra, membranous urethra
and penile urethra.
Cowper’s gland
• These are present at the
base of penis and opens into
urethra by short duct.
• They produce clear, viscid
alkaline secretion that
neutralizes the acidic
secretion in the vagina.
• Its secretion also lubricates
vagina at the time of
copulation (sexual
intercourse).
Penis
• Penis is a cylindrical erectile copulatory organ. It is formed of three
cylindrical masses of erectile tissue and smooth muscles.
• The erectile tissue is supported by fibrous tissue and covered with
skin. Penis has rich blood supply.
• Penis has root and body. Its root lies in the perineum and body
surrounds urethra.
• The tip of the penis is called glans penis which is highly sensitive. It is
covered by a fold of skin called prepuce.
Female Reproductive System
• Internal female reproductive organs (internal genitalia)
• Ovary
• Fallopian tube
• Uterus
• Vagina
• External female reproductive organs (external genitalia)
• Labia majora
• Labia minora
• Clitoris
• Vaginal orifice
• Hymen
• Accessory glands
• Bartholin’s glands
• Mammary glands
Functions of female reproductive organs
• Production of female gametes (ovum).
• Receives male gametes.
• Provide site for fertilization, development of foetus and child birth
(parturition).
• Breast feeding to young ones for nourishment.
Internal female reproductive organs (internal
genitalia)
• OVARY
• There are two ovaries in female body in pelvis, one on either side of uterus.
They are small and almond shaped.
• Ovaries are bound to the body wall by mosovarium and attach to the uterus
by double fold of peritoneum called ovarian ligament.
• Internally, ovary is lined with germinal epithelium followed by a layer of
connective tissue.
• Each ovary consists of large number of ovarian follicle at different stage of
maturation. In every 28 days, one of them matures to graafian follicle.
Graafian follicle after releasing ovum (ovulation) gets converted to Corpus
luteum which secretes hormone progesterone. Corpus luteum degenerates
to give corpus albicans which disappear finally.
• FALLOPIAN TUBE
• These are a pair of ciliated muscular tube extending from ovaries to
uterus. It is divided into three regions:
• Ampulla: it represents the wide funnel shaped part that opens into abdominal
cavity by ostium. Ostium is surrounded by finger like projections called
fimbriae. Fimbriae capture the ovum from abdominal cavity.
• Isthmus: it is middle narrow ciliated tubular part of the fallopian tube.
• Uterine part: this part of the fallopian tube opens to upper part of uterus.

• Functions: They convey ovum produced by ovary to the uterus. Also, they
provide site of fertilization.
• UTERUS
• It is a pear shaped hollow and muscular organ. It is flattened antero-
posteriorly.
• It is present in pelvic cavity in between urinary bladder and rectum.
• It is about 7.5 cm long and 5 cm wide. It weighs about 40 grams.
• It is divided into three parts:
• Fundus: it is upper dome shaped part above the opening of the fallopian tube.
• Body: it is the middle part of the uterus where the embryo is implanted.
• Cervix: it is the lower part that leads to the vagina.

• The wall of the uterus has three layers: perimetrium, myometrium, and
endometrium. The inner layer endometrium is richly supplied with blood vessels.

• Functions: it provide the site for implantation of embryo and foetal development.
Also, it plays role in placenta formation. Later on, it helps in expelling the baby during
child birth (parturition).
• VAGINA
• It is elastic and muscular canal which opens to outside through
vaginal orifice.
• Vaginal canal has following functions:
• Receives penis during copulation.
• Passage for the menstrual flow.
• Acts as birth canal during parturition (child birth).
External female reproductive organs (External
genitalia)
• External female reproductive organs include labia majora, labia minora,
clitoris, vaginal orifice and hymen.

• Labia majora: Here, labia means lips. Labia majora are lips like fold of skin
forming the boundary of vulva (outer part of female genitals). They extend
from the mons pubis to the perineum. They are composed of fibrous
tissue, fat and sebaceous gland and covered by hair after puberty.

• Labia minora: these are smaller fold of skin inside to labia majora. They
also consist large number of sebaceous glands. The cleft between the labia
minora where there is opening of vagina, urethra and vestibular glands is
called vestibule.
• Clitoris: it corresponds to the penis of the male as it is erectile in
nature and contains sensory nerve endings. It has no reproductive
significance.

• Vaginal orifice: It is the external opening of vaginal canal and located

in vestibule.

• Hymen: It is a thin layer of mucous membrane which partially covers

the vaginal orifice.
Accessory glands
• Bartholin’s glands: they are bean shaped glands, present one on either side
of the vaginal orifice. They secrete lubricating fluid and pour into the
vestibule during copulation.

• Mammary glands: It is also called breast. There are two mammary glands
located in front of the chest.
• They are the glands which secrete milk. These glands are quite small until puberty.
After puberty their size increases under influence of oestrogen and progesterone
hormone. During pregnancy, their size further increases.
• After the birth of a baby, prolactin hormone stimulates the secretion of milk.
• Internally, each mammary gland consists of 20-25 lobes and each lobes has several
lobules. In each lobules, there are milk secreting cells (alveoli). The duct of lobules
opens in the nipples which lie in the middle of breast. The pigmented region around
the nipple is called areola.
Vestibular glands (Bartholin’s glands) Internal Structure of mammary glands
Ovulation
• The process of release of oocyte from ovarian follicle is called ovulation.
• Ovulation process is influenced by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and
luteinizeng hormone (LH), which are produced by pituitary gland.
• FSH promotes the maturation of ovarian follicles and secretion of oestrogen.
During the maturation of ovarian follicles the primary oocyte inside it also get
matured.
• LH triggers the ovulation and development of corpus luteum which secretes
progesterone.
• During the development and maturation of ovarian follicle,
• the epithelial cells of the ovarian follicle become multilayered.
• there appears a cavity in the follicle.
• Secondary oocyte is freed into the follicular cavity.

• And finally, the matured graafian follicle is ruptured and ovum is released from it.
Menstrual cycle (Ovarian cycle)
• The cyclic flow of blood from uterus of adult female at an interval of
28 days is called menstrual cycle. The period of 5-7 days in the
menstrual cycle during which there is flow of blood from uterus is
called menstruation period.
• During menstrual cycle there are several cyclic changes in the ovary
and uterus under the influence of FSH, LH, oestrogen and
progesterone.
• The first menstruation that occurs at age of 12-14 is called menarch.
• It permanently stops at the age of 45-50 years, and called as
menopause.
Menstrual cycle
• Menstrual cycle is regulated by ovarian hormones oestrogen and
progesterone.
• It has following three phases:
a. Menstrual phase
b. Proliferative phase
c. Secretory phase
Menstrual phase: due to decline of
progesterone and oestrogen
• Ovulation has two results: release of ovum and development of
corpus luteum.
• Corpus luteum produces primarily progesterone hormone. It along
with oestrogen hormone prepares the uterus for the implantation of
embryo, i.e, the endometrial layer becomes thick.
• However, if there does not occur fertilization of ovum, the corpus
luteum starts to degenerate. The level of progesterone and oestrogen
starts to fall. And, the endometrial wall of uterus is shed along with
blood which is called as menstrual discharge.
• It lasts for 3-5 days.
Proliferative phase: it is regulated by
oestrogen hormone
• Follicular cells produces oestrogen hormone. This hormone is
responsible for thickening of endometrium layer of uterus. It is called
as proliferation.
• This phase lasts for about 9-10 days.
Secretory phase: is under the control of
progesterone
• This phase starts after the ovulation and last till the end of the
menstrual cycle, i.e. from 15th to 28th day. It is also called luteal phase.
• The ruptured follicle develop into the corpus luteum and produces
progesterone.
• The progesterone stimulates uterine gland to secrete increased
amount of watery mucus.
• Endometrium of uterus thickens further for the implantation of
embryo.
3-5 days 9-10 days 14 days
Gametogenesis
• It is the process of formation of gametes, i.e. male gamete in the
testes of male and female gametes in the ovary of female.

• The process of formation of male gamete or spermatozoa in the

testes of male is called spermatogenesis.

• And, the process of formation of female gamete or ovum in the ovary

of female is called oogenesis.
Spermatogenesis
• The production of sperm in the testes in male is called
spermatogenesis.
• The sperm cells are formed from the germinal cells of seminiferous
tubules in testes.
• The germinal cells first undergo following stage to produce sperms:
• Multiplication Phase
• Growth Phase
• Maturation Phase
• Multiplication phase: During this phase, the germinal cells undergo
several cycle of mitotic cell division to produce spermatogonia. Some
of those spermatogonia further develop towards the course of sperm
production.
• Growth phase: During growth phase, spermatogonial cells store food
and increase in size. The matured spermatogonial cell is known as
primary spermaocyte.
• Maturation phase: During maturation phase, primary spermatocyte
undergoes meiotic cell division. By meiosis I, it gives two haploid
secondary spermatocytes. It is called as first maturation division. And
meiosis II results into results into four spermatids. It is called as
second maturation division. The spermatids differentiate into
spermatozoa, the process is called spermiogenesis.
Oogenesis
• The process of production of ovum inside the ovary of female is called
oogenesis.
• Ovum are produced from germinal cells of the ovary called as
primordial germinal cells.
• It occurs in following three stages:
• Multiplication Phase
• Growth Phase
• Maturation Phase
• Multiplication phase: the primordial germinal cells undergo repeated
mitotic division to produce large number of diploid cells called oogonium.

• Growth phase: A fully grown oogonium cells is called primary oocytes.

Primary oocytes have more cytoplasm and enlarged nucleus. Also, there
are other several changes in the cytoplasm, like appearance of thin vitelline
membrane around the oocyte, increase in numbers of mitochondria,
elongation of endoplasmic reticulum etc.

• Maturation phase: During maturation phase, primary oocyte undergoes

meiotic cell division. Meiosis I (first maturation division) results into two
unequal cells, larger is secondary oocyte and smaller is polar body.
Secondary oocyte develops into ovum. Meiosis II results into one ovum
and three polar bodies.