Reproduction is the process by which new

individuals are produced from parent organisms.

Asexual reproduction Sexual reproduction
⚫ No gametes are formed ⚫ Gametes are formed.
⚫ No mixing of genetic ⚫ Genetic mixing.
material. ⚫ Fewer offspring.
⚫ Normally more ⚫ Usually, two
offspring. parents(male and
⚫ Only one parent is female) are involved.
involved.
⚫ Ex:- Amoeba, Hydra
REPRODUCTION IN HUMANS
Primary reproductive Accessory reproductive part
part
⚫ Include all those
⚫ Include the ducts and glands
gonads(testes in which help in the
males and ovaries in transfer and meeting
females) of the two kinds of
⚫ Which produce the sex cells leading to
sex cells(or fertilization and in
gametes)- the sperms the growth and
and eggs. development of the
egg up to the birth of
the baby.
 Male Reproductive System
•Consists of the following
organs:
•A pair of Testes
•Sperm duct(Vas deferens)
• Accessory glands:
*Seminal vesicles
*Prostrate gland
*Bulbo-urethral
glands
•Penis
•Urethra
 Location of testes
•The two testes are oval organs which
are contained
•In a thin walled sac of skin called
scrotum.
•In the embryonic stage, the testes are
contained within the abdomen.
•They descend into the scrotum shortly
before birth.
•Sperms are produced in the testes at a
temperature 2 to 30C lower than that
of the body. This temperature is
regulated in a strange manner through
the movements of the scrotum wall.
 Structure of testis
•Each testis is encased in a capsule which is
internally partitioned into 15-20
lobules(segments).
•Each lobule contains:
1) Seminiferous tubules(semini- sperm,
ferous-bearing)
-Where the sperms are produced. The process is
called Spermatogenesis.
2)Interstitial cells(interstitial-filling in
between)
-Which are packing tissues between the coils of
the seminiferous tubules. The interstitial cells
also called:
•Leydig cells –produce the male hormone
testosterone.
Seminiferous tubules keep
multiplying and produce sperms.
The mature sperms pass into a small
network of 12-14 ducts(efferent ducts)
Which join a small tubular knot, the
Epididymis(epi-above,didymos-testic
le)
Location : fitting like a cap on the
upper pole of the testis.
Function: stores the sperms for some
days during which they mature and
become motile.
The epididymis is continued by the
side of the testis upto its back from
where a distinct tube sperm duct(vas
deferens) arises.
 Sperm duct
The sperm duct(vas deferens) from
testis travels upward into the
abdomen passing through an
Inguinal canal.
The inguinal canal originally is the
one which allows the descent of
testes along with their
ducts, blood vessels, nerves.
The two sperm ducts loop over the
ureters of their side, come together,
and join the median duct or urethra
at the back of the urinary bladder.
 Accessory Glands
Seminal vesicles
•Location:-A pair of lobulated glands located
between the posterior surface of the urinary
bladder and the rectum.
•Function:-
•Provides a medium for the transportation of the
sperms.
•The mixture of this fluid and the sperm produces a
milky fluid, the semen.
Prostrate gland
•Location:-A bilobed structure which surrounds the
urethra close to its origin from the bladder.
•Function:-It pours an alkaline secretion into the
semen- neutralizes the acid in vagina.
Bulbo-urethral glands
•Location :-These are two small ovoid glands which
open into the urethra just before it enters the penis.
•Function:-it serves as a lubricant.
Penis
Location:- lies in front of
the scrotum,
cylindrical in shape.

Function:- serves for the

passing out of both
semen and urine.
Female Reproductive System
 Reproductive Organs
⚫ A pair of ovaries
⚫ A pair of oviducts or fallopian tube
⚫ Uterus
⚫ Vagina
⚫ Vulva
 Ovaries
•Ovaries are small ovoid bodies
produce ova or the eggs.

•Normally , only one egg matures

in each ovary every alternative
month.

Ovries
•.
A maturing egg contained in a cellular sac is called follicle.
As the egg grows larger, the follicle also enlarges and gets filled with a
fluid called Graffian follicle.
When ripe, the follicle bulges over the surface of the ovary.
Oogenesis is the process in which the ova producing cells
give rise to the mature ovum.
Ovuation is the rupture of the follicle releasing the egg.
The released egg is picked up by fimbrae(cilia) of oviducal funnel of
the oviduct.
The remnant of the follicle persists for sometime to convert into a
yellow mass called
Corpus luteum. It secrets two hormones:
Oestrogen and Progesterone.
 Oviduct
•The two oviducts also called
Fallopian tubes Or Uterine tubes
are about 12cm long.
•Each oviduct has a funnel shaped
opening called the oviduccal
funnel.
•Cilia lining the funnel help to
pick up and push the released
ovum into the Oviduct.
•The wall of oviduct push the egg
down into the uterus.
 Uterus

The uterus is a hollow pear shaped(7cm x 5cm) muscular

organ situated in the pelvic cavity between the urinary
bladder and the rectum.
It has two regions, an upper wider portion which receives the
two oviducts and a small lower constricted part, the cervix
or neck.
 Vagina

The vagina is a muscular tube(10-15 cm long) starting from

the lower end of the uterus upto outside.
The vagina receives the male penis during copulation.
The great elasticity of its wall also allows the passage of the
baby during childbirth.
 Hymen
⚫ The opening of the vagina in young females is
partially closed by a thin membrane called
hymen or virgin knot.
⚫ The hymen is frequently ruptured in
childhood due to strenuous physical exercise
or disease.
 Vulva
⚫ The external female genitalia is called vulva.
⚫ The sides of the vulva have small fleshy folds, the
labia minora(lesser lips) which are hidden by
larger hairy folds, the labia majora(greater lips).
⚫ These folds are the equivalents of the male
scrotum.
⚫ In the uppermost angle of the vulva in front of the
urethral opening is located a small erectile
clitoris which is highly sensitive and is the
equivalent of male penis.
Role of hormones in reproduction
⚫ The ovaries of a young girl start functioning around
the age of 10 to 14 years.
⚫ It starts releasing the ova (ovulation) and this stage in
her life is known as puberty.
⚫ During puberty oestrogens in female plays important
role for ovulation process.
⚫ In boys, puberty takes place around the age of 11 to 15
years of age.
⚫ The testes starts producing testosterone, resulting in
the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
The recurring ovarian cycles of about 28 days in the
reproductive life of a female, accompanied by the release of
usually one mature egg are called Menstrual cycle.
In the females, the limits of reproductive life are very sharp. It
begins at the onset of puberty.
The first menstruation appears in a young female at about the
age of 13 years-Menarche
The permanent stoppage of menstruation at about the age of
45 years-Menopause.
Stages Of Menstrual Cycle
 Menstrual phase
⚫ It lasts for 3-5 days during which blood is
discharged.
⚫ The bleeding is caused due to the shedding of
the uterine lining rupturing the blood vessels.
⚫ Starting from the onset of the menstruation
flow, the ovary begins to form a new egg in a
follicle.
 Follicular phase
⚫ In this phase the anterior pituitary begins the
secretion of Follicle stimulating hormone that
stimulates the development of an ovarian follicle
in the ovary.
⚫ As the follicle grows, the amount of oestrogens
produced by the ovary increases.
⚫ This hormone then acts on the uterus and causes
its lining to become thicker and develop more
blood vessels.
⚫ This change is a kind of preparation of the uterus
to receive the fertilized egg and assist in the early
implantation of the future embryo.
 Ovulatory phase
⚫ On 13th or 14th day of menstrual cycle the follicle
ruptures (ovulation) and the released egg travels
down the oviduct.
⚫ The two hormones produced by the pituitary
gland, FSH and LH, promote the maturation and
release of the ovum.
 Luteal phase
⚫ This phase lasts from 15-28 days.
⚫ Uterus lining thickens further and after the release
of the ovum, the emptied follicle in the ovary turns
into a hormone producing tissue called Corpus
luteum.
⚫ It starts secreting a hormone progesterone that
makes the uterine lining thick and gets prepared
for reception and nourishment to the developing
embryo.
⚫ If there is no fertilization, the egg disintegrates
and endometrium restarts shedding on the 28th
day.
⚫ If the egg gets fertilized it gets implanted in the
uterus and there is no menstruation till the
pregnancy continues.
 Fertilization

The fusion or union of male gamete(sperm) and female

gamete(ovum) to form a zygote is called fertilization.
 Sperm
It consists of 3 parts-Head, middle piece and tail.
Head-The acrosome at the top of the head of the sperm secrets an
enzyme(hyaluronidase) which facilitates entry of the sperm into the egg
by dissolving the wall of the ovum.
Nucleus-Contains genetic material (22+X or 22+Y chromosomes)which,
during fertilization, combines with the nucleus of the egg (containing
22+x chromosomes)and thus restoring the normal chromosomal number
of 23 pairs.
Middle piece- The mitochondria contained in the middle piece, provide
energy(ATP) for the activity of the sperm to swim.
Tail- makes lashing movements for propulsion.
Process of fertilization
Stages in the fertilization of an egg
Amnion and Amniotic fluid

Amnion-a sac that grows

around the embryo.
Amniotic fluid- fluid that
fills the space between the
amnion and embryo.
Functions:
• Protects the embryo from
jerks and damage.
• Maintains even pressure
around the embryo.
• Allow restricted
movements by the foetus.
• Prevents the sticking of
foetus to the amnion.
 The Placenta

It is an organ that develops in the uterus

during pregnancy.
A disc like structure attached at the uterine
wall.
It provides oxygen and nutrients to the
growing baby .
Removes waste products from your baby's
blood.
The placenta attaches to the wall of the
uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord
arises from it.
Gestation-The full term of
development of the embryo in the
foetus . In humans it lasts for 280
days.

Parturition- The act of expelling out

the full term foetus from the
mother’s uterus at the end of
gestation period.