THE REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM
CHAPTER 16
 • Gonads (seeds) or primary sex organs are the:
I. Testes – men
II. Ovaries – women

Gametes (sex cells)–produce by the gonads

Man = produces male gametes “sperm”
Woman = produces “ova” eggs
Zygote = sperm & egg fuse
 ANATOMY OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
• Testes = paired; primary reproductive organs; with both exocrine (produce sperm) &
endocrine ( produce testosterone) functions.

=golf ball-sized ; approximately 4cm (1.5) inches long & 2.5cm (1inch) wide; connected
to the trunk via spermatic cord (encloses blood vessels, nerves, & the ductus deferens)
Tunica albuginea – a fibrous connective tissue surrounds each testis; extends & divide into
lobules (containing 1 to 4 seminiferous tubules –sperm is formed)
Seminiferous tubules = empty sperm into rete testis (set tubules located at one of
the testis)
Epididymis – receives sperm from the rete testis; external surface of the testis
Interstitial cells – lying in the soft connective tissue surrounding the seminiferous
tubules; produce androgens (the most important is testosterone)
SAGITTAL SECTION OF THE TESTIS &
ASSOCIATED EPIDIDYMIS
 DUCT SYSTEM= ACCESSORY ORGANS WHICH
TRANSPORT SPERM FROM THE BODY
• Includes: epididymis, ductus deferens, and urethra
• Epididymis = cup-shaped highly convoluted tube about 6cm (20feet) long; posterior
side of the testis
= 1st part of the male duct system; temporary storage site for the immature sperm
= sperm travels through the epididymis for about 20 days, they mature and
develop the ability to swim. The sperm is expelled into the next part (ductus
deferens)when a man is stimulated and ejaculates.
FRONTAL VIEW POSTERIOR
ASPECT OF PENIS
 DUCTUS DEFERENS/VAS DEFERENS=
“CARRYING AWAY”
• Runs upward from the epididymis via the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal into
the pelvic cavity & arches over the superior aspect of the urinary bladder.
• The ends of the ductus deferens expands as the ampulla & then empties into ejaculatory
duct which passes through the prostate to merge with the urethra.
• Main function: to propel sperm from their storage sites (epididymis & distal part of the
ductus deferens) into the urethra.
• Part of the ductus deferens lies in the scrotum (sac that hangs outside the body)
• Vasectomy = a minor operation ; a small incision is made into the scrotum & then cuts
through the ties of the ductus deferens.
= a man is sterile after the operation but retains his sex drive & secondary
sex characteristics
MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
 URETHRA
• Extends from the base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the penis
• Has three (3) regions:
I. prostatic urethra – surrounded by the prostate gland
II. Membranous urethra – spanning the distance from the prostatic urethra to
the penis
III. Spongy (penile) urethra – running within the length of the penis & opening to the
body exterior via the external urethral orifice.
When ejaculation occurs & sperm enter the prostatic urethra from the ejaculatory ducts, the
bladder sphincter (internal urethral sphincter) constricts.(preventing urine from passing into
the urethra but also prevents sperm from entering the urinary bladder)
 ACCESSORY GLANDS & SEMEN
• Accessory glands include:
I. the paired seminal vesicles,
II. the single prostate, &
III. paired bulbourethral glands (produce the bulk of semen)

Semen = sperm-containing fluid that is propelled out of the male’s reproductive tract during
ejaculation.

1. Seminal vesicles = located at the base of the bladder; large hollow glands
= 6-7cm; 60% of seminal fluid (fluid portion of semen)
=thick, yellowish secretion is rich in sugar (fructose), Vit. C,
prostaglandins & other substances that activate & nourish the sperm passing through the
tract.
• 2. Prostate = a single doughnut-shaped gland; encircles the upper (prostatic)
part of the urethra just inferior to the urinary bladder.
=prostate fluid is milky & plays a role in activating sperm
= located anterior to the rectum, its size & texture can be felt by finger
through the anterior rectal wall

Hypertrophy = increase in size affecting nearly every older man & strangles the urethra
Cystitis = infection of the urinary bladder
Prostatitis = inflammation of the prostate
Prostate cancer = 3rd most prevalent cancer in men
= most are slow growing, but can also be a swift and deadly- killer.
3. Bulbourethral glands – tiny, pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate gland.
= produce a thick, clear mucus that drains into the penile urethra
=this secretion is the first to pass down the urethra when a man
becomes sexually excited. It serves as a lubricant during sexual intercourse.

Semen = a milky, white sticky mixture of sperm & accessory gland secretions.
= transport medium for nutrients & chemicals that protect the sperm & aid their
movement.
=Alkaline (pH7.2-7.6) helps neutralize the acidic environment.
=semen also dilutes sperm
=2to 5 ml produced during ejaculation but there are 50-150 million in each milliliter.
 EXTERNAL GENITALIA
• Includes: scrotum & penis
I. Scrotum = “pouch” small sac that hangs outside the abdominal cavity
= provides a temperature about 30C lower below body temperature

II. Penis = functions to deliver sperm into the female reproductive tract
=the skin covered penis consists of a shaft which ends in the enlarged tip, the
glans penis
=the skin covering the penis is loose, and it folds downward to form a sleeve of
skin, the prepuce/foreskin

Circumcision = surgical removal of the foreskin

Erectile tissue = a spongy tissue that fills with blood during sexual excitement (causes
the penis to enlarge and become rigid = Erection)
 HORMONAL CONTROL OF
TESTOSTERONE RELEASE & SPERM
PRODUCTION
 ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Ovaries = paired ; almond-shaped but twice as large
ovarian follicles = tiny saclike structures; each follicle consists of an
immature egg “oocyte” surrounded by one or more layers of different cells
“follicle cells”.
=as the follicle mature, it enlarges & develops a fluid-filled central
region called an “antrum”
=the vesicular follicle/ Graafian follicle matures, the developing egg
is ready to be ejected from the ovary “ovulation” (occurs every 28days but more or
less in some women)
=after ovulation, the ruptured follicle is transformed into a corpus
luteum which eventually degenerates.
=The ovaries are secured to the lateral wall of the pelvis by the
suspensory ligaments; anchored to the uterus by the ovarian ligaments. In
between, they are enclosed & held in place by a fold of peritoneum, the broad
ligament.
ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 DUCT SYSTEM
• Includes the: uterine tubes, uterus & vagina

UTERINE TUBES = OR FALLOPIAN TUBES

= initial part of the duct system
=receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a site where fertilization can
occur
= each tube is about 10cm (4inches) long & extends medially from an ovary to
empty into the superior region of the uterus
= enclosed & supported by the broad ligament.
= the distal end of each uterine tube expands as the funnel- shaped
infundibulum which has fingerlike projections called fimbriae partially surround
the ovary.
=the fimbriae create fluid currents that carry the oocyte into the uterine tube and
toward the uterus by peristalsis & rhythmic beating of cilia.
 UTERINE TUBE
• Uterine tube = Usual site of fertilization

• Gonorrhea = infects the peritoneal cavity causing a severe inflammation called pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause scarring & narrow closure of the
uterine tube (major cause of infertility).
 THE HUMAN FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
 UTERUS
• Located at the pelvis between the urinary bladder & rectum
• A hollow organ
• Functions to receive, retain and nourish a fertilized egg.
• About the size & shape of a pear.
• During pregnancy, the uterus increases in size and can be felt above the umbilicus
• Suspended in the pelvis by the broad ligament & anchored anteriorly & posteriorly by the
round ligaments & uterosacral ligaments, respectively.
• Body = major portion of the uterus
• Fundus = rounded region superior to the entrance of the uterine tubes
• Cervix = a narrow outlet which protrudes inferiorly into the vagina
• The wall of the uterus is composed of three (3) layers.
 THREE (3) LAYERS OF THE UTERINE
• Endometrium = inner layer/mucosa
WALL
= if fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg burrows into the endometrium
( process called implantation)
=when the woman is not pregnant, the endometrium sloughs off
periodically (about every 28days) through the process called menstruation or
menses.
• Myometrium = bulky middle layer of the uterus wall; made of interlacing
bundles of smooth muscle
= plays an active role during childbirth when it contracts rhythmically
to force the baby out of the mother’s body
• Perimetrium = outermost serous layer of the uterus wall
 VAGINA
• A thin-walled tube 8 to 10 cm (3-4 inches) long
• Lies between the bladder and the rectum, and extend from the cervix to the body exterior
• Provides a passageway for the delivery of an infant (birth canal) and for the menstrual flow
to leave the body
• It is the female organ of copulation
• Hymen = a thin fold at the distal end of the vagina
=vascular and tends to bleed when it is ruptured during the first sexual
intercourse
= in some women, it is torn during a sport activity, tampon insertion, or
pelvic examination.
 EXTERNAL GENITALIA AND FEMALE
PERINEUM
• External genitalia = female reproductive structures that are located external to the vagina
= also called the vulva include the:
1. Mons pubis (mountain of pubis) – a fatty, rounded area overlying
the pubic symphysis; covered with pubic hair after puberty
2. Labia
labia majora–two elongated hair-covered skin folds that runs posteriorly from the
mons pubis; enclose the labia minora
labia minora – two delicate hair-free folds; encloses a region called the
vestibule
3. Clitoris – anterior to the vestibule; a small protruding structure that corresponds
to the male penis; hooded by the prepuce and is composed of sensitive erectile tissue that
become swollen during sexual excitement
4. Urethral and vaginal orifices -
5. Greater vestibular glands – a pair of mucus producing glands; secretions lubricates
the vagina during intercourse
Perineum = diamond-shaped region between the anterior end of the labial folds, the anus
posteriorly & the ischial tuberosities laterally
EXTERNAL GENITALIA OF
THE HUMAN FEMALE
 UTERINE (MENSTRUAL) CYCLE
• A series of cyclic changes that the endometrium (mucosa of the uterus) goes through each
month as it responds to changing blood levels of ovarian hormones.

• THREE PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

I. Days 1-5 Menstrual Phase
II. Days 6-14 Proliferative Phase
III. Days 15-28 Secretory Phase