HAPP111; WEEK 17: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Reproductive System
GONADS (Fertilized Egg – Zygote – Fetus)
 Gonads produce sex cells/ gametes and secrete sex hormones.
 Female Gonads (Ovaries) – produce Egg Cells
 Male Gonads (Testes) – produce Sperm Cells
Anatomy of Male Reproductive System

 Scrotum – is a divided sac of skin with sparse hairs that hangs

outside the abdominal cavity, between the legs at the root of the
penis.
 Penis – functions to deliver sperm into the female reproductive
tract.
 Shaft – body of the penis.
 Glans penis – enlarged tip of the penis.
 Prepuce/ Foreskin – loose skin around the proximal end of
the glans penis
Testes - this can be surgically removed through circumcision.
 Primary Reproductive Organ of Male Male Reproductive Functions
 Has exocrine and endocrine function
 Golf ball-sized male gonad approx. 4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide Spermatogenesis
and is connected to the trunk via Spermatic Cord.
 Spermatic Cord – connective tissue sheath that encloses blood  Commonly known as the Sperm
vessels, nerves, and the ductus deferens. Production
 Tunica albuginea - A fibrous connective tissue capsule, “white  Begins at puberty in seminiferous
coat” surrounds each testis. tubules in response to FSH.
 Seminiferous tubules – “Sperm-forming factories” Spermatogenesis involves meiosis, a
Duct System special nuclear division that halves the
 Accessory organs of the male reproductive system chromosomal number in resulting
 Epididymis – highly convoluted tube that hugs the posterior side spermatids. An additional process that
of the testis; temporary storage site for the immature sperm. strips excess cytoplasm from the
 Ductus Deferens /vas deferens- runs upward from the spermatid, called Spermiogenesis, is
epididymis via the spermatic cord; propel live sperm from their necessary for production of functional,
storage sites motile sperm.
 Urethra – Terminal part of the male duct system; Extends from
the base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the penis; carries both
urine and sperm to the body exterior.
Three regions of Urethra
 Prostatic Urethra – surrounded by the prostate gland.
 Membranous urethra – spanning the distance from prostatic Mature sperm
urethra to the penis.
 Spongy (penile) urethra - running within the length of the penis
and opening to the body
exterior via the external
urethral orifice.
Accessory Glands and Semen
 Seminal Vesicles – located at
the base of the bladder.
Produce about 60% of seminal
fluid, the fluid portion of
semen.  Has 3 regions: head, midpiece, and tail
 Prostate - a single doughnut-  Sperm head is the nucleus and contains compacted DNA, the
shaped gland about the size of genetic material.
a peach pit. It encircles the  Acrosome – helmet like structure anterior to the nucleus, which is
upper (prostatic) part of the produced by the Golgi apparatus and is similar to a large
urethra just inferior to the lysosome.
urinary bladder. Testosterone Production
 Prostate fluid – milky and  The most important hormonal product of the testes.
plays a role in activating  Testosterone production begins at puberty in response to LH. It is
sperm. produced by interstitial cells of the testes.
 Bulbourethral glands – are tiny, pea-sized glands inferior to the Testosterone causes the appearance of male
prostate gland. They produce a thick, clear mucus that drains into secondary sex characteristics and is necessary
the penile urethra. It cleanses the urethra of trace acidic urine for sperm maturation.
prior to ejaculation, and it serves as a lubricant during sexual Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System
intercourse.  more complex than that of the male. Not only must she produce
 Semen - a milky white, somewhat sticky mixture of sperm and the female gametes (ova), but her body must also nurture and
accessory gland secretions. protect a developing fetus during 9 months of pregnancy.

Ovaries
External Genitalia

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 HAPP111; WEEK 17: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

 Primary female reproductive organs

 Has exocrine and endocrine functions
 Also called as Vulva
 Ovarian Follicles – tiny saclike structures in the ovaries.
 Mons pubis – “mountain of pubis” is a fatty, rounded area
 Oocyte –immature egg, surrounded by follicle cells
overlying the pubic symphysis.
 As a developing egg within a follicle begins to ripen or mature,
 Labia majora – hair-covered skin folds; encloses the vestibule
the follicle enlarges and develops a fluid-filled central region
called an antrum. At this stage, the follicle, called a vesicular  Labia minora – hair-free skin folds
follicle or Graafian follicle, is mature, and the developing egg is  Vestibule – contains the urethral orifice and vaginal orifice
ready to be ejected from the ovary, an event called ovulation.  Clitoris – is a small, protruding structure that corresponds to the
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle is transformed into a very male penis
different-looking structure called a Corpus luteum, which  Greater vestibular glands - A pair of mucus-producing glands
eventually degenerates. Ovulation generally occurs every 28 days. that lubricates the distal end of the vagina during intercourse.
Duct System: Uterine Tubes Female Reproductive Functions and Cycles
Oogenesis
 Oogenesis (production of female
sex cells) occurs in ovarian
follicles, which are activated at
puberty by FSH and LH to
mature and eject oocytes
(ovulation) on a cyclic basis. The
egg (ovum) is formed only if
sperm penetrates the secondary
oocyte. In females, meiosis
 Uterine Tubes – aka Fallopian Tubes; approx. 10cm (4 inches)
produces only one functional
long and extends medially from an ovary to empty into the
ovum (plus three nonfunctional
superior region of the uterus. These receive the ovulated oocyte
polar bodies), as compared with
and provide a site where fertilization can occur.
the four functional sperm per
 Infundibulum – funnel-shape located at the distal end of each
meiosis event produced by males.
uterine tube.
 MITTELSCHMERZ
 Fimbriae – fingerlike projections that partially surround the
ovary.  Hormone production: Estrogens
 Ends form fringed fimbriae that “wave” to direct ovulated oocytes are produced by ovarian follicles in response to FSH. Estrogens
into uterine tubes. These tubes then conduct the oocyte (or stimulate development of female secondary sex characteristics.
embryo) to the uterus by peristalsis and ciliary action.  Progesterone, produced in response to LH, is the main hormonal
Duct System: Uterus product of the corpus luteum.
 Also called as the womb  Helps to maintain pregnancy
 located in the pelvis between the urinary bladder and rectum, is a  Prepare the breasts for milk production
hollow organ that functions to receive, retain, and nourish a Uterine Menstrual Cycle
fertilized egg.  The menstrual cycle involves changes in the endometrium in
 In a woman who has never been pregnant, it is about the size and response to fluctuating blood levels of ovarian hormones.
shape of a pear. During pregnancy, the uterus increases  28 days
tremendously in size and during the latter part of pregnancy can There are three phases:
be felt well above the umbilicus. a. Days 1-5 Menstrual phase. Endometrium sloughs off and
Walls of Uterus: bleeding occurs. Ovarian hormones are at their lowest levels.
 Endometrium – inner layer; sloughs off each month in menses b. Days 6-14 Proliferative phase. Endometrium is repaired,
unless an embryo has become embedded in it. thickens, and becomes well vascularized in response to
 Myometrium – bulky middle layer; plays an active role during increasing levels of estrogens.
childbirth, when it contracts rhythmically to force the baby out c. Days 15-28 Secretory phase. Endometrial glands begin to
of the mother’s body. secrete nutrients, and lining becomes more vascular in response
 Perimetrium – outermost serous layer. to increasing level of progesterone.
Duct System: Vagina Stages of Pregnancy and Development
 It lies between the bladder and rectum and extends from the  Fertilization, Embryonic period, Fetal period,
cervix to the body exterior. Childbirth/Parturition
 Often called the Birth Canal Pregnancy and Embryonic Development
 Female organ of copulation  Pregnancy refers to events that occur from the time of fertilization
 Hymen – a thin fold of the mucosa (conception) until birth.
which partially closes the distal end of  Conceptus - woman’s developing offspring
the vagina; very vascular and tends to
bleed when it is ruptured during the
first sexual intercourse.

External Genitalia and Female Perineum

Fertilization

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 HAPP111; WEEK 17: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 The oocyte is viable for 12-24 hours after ovulation.  also called parturition, is the culmination of pregnancy. It
 Within the female reproductive tract, sperms are viable for 24-48 usually occurs within 15 days of the calculated due date (which is
hrs 280 days from the last menstrual period). The series of events that
 It takes 1 to 2 hours for sperm to complete the journey up the expel the infant from the uterus is referred to as labor.
female duct system into the uterine tubes.
 Hundreds of sperm must release their acrosomal enzymes to break
down the oocyte’s plasma membrane (corona radiata).
 a single sperm makes contact with one of the oocyte’s membrane
receptors.
 Once the sperm has entered, the ovum sheds its remaining
membrane surface receptors for sperm, preventing other sperm
from gaining entry.
 The oocyte then undergoes its second meiotic division
 Fertilization occurs at the moment the genetic material of a sperm
combines with that of an ovum to form a fertilized egg, or zygote,
with a complete set of 46 chromosomes. The zygote represents
the first cell of the new individual.
Embryonic Development

Development of the Human Fetus

Childbirth
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