REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN, CELL,

CYCLE and MAMMARY GLAND

• It is the male reproductive gland in animals including
humans.

• Its function is to produce sperm, androgen, primary

testosterone.

• They can do their function best at 35 degree temperature

• Male have two testes of similar size which gets descend

down fro the abdominal wall into scrotum after the 7
month of gestation period.
• Each testes is made of following parts:

• Tunica vaginalis
• Tunica Albugenia
• Septa
• Lobules
• Seminiferous tubules
• Rete testis
• Efferent ductules
• Epididymis
• Vas-defrense
• Each testes is covered by tough fibrous capsule called tunica
albugenia (white colored capsule).
• It is used to find gender of fetus.

• Tough capsule sends of septa into the testes and dividing

testes into 250 lobules.

• Each lobule has fine coiled 4 seminiferous tubule and

connective tissue

• In lining seminiferous tubule the germ cells develop into

Spermetogonia--Spermetocytes---Spermatids----
Spermetium through the process of spermetogenesis.

• At last immature spermatium is produced but is immobile

• Seminiferous tubule cells and their function

• Sertoli cells inside acts as a nurse cell in production of

spermatozoa.

• Leydigs cells is responsible for the production of testosterone.

• Seminiferous tubule join to form 20-30 short ducts tubuli

recti or straight tubes

• The immature sperm is then transferred to rete-testes which

is present in mediastinum testes
• Rete-testis is connected to epidydimis by small tubules
called efferent ductules.

• Epididymis is divided into three region:

• Broad head region
• Middle slender region
• Tail region
• It is called the storage house of spermetozoa
• A spermetozoa is immature when produced inside the
seminiferous tubule. They are immobile
• But as they reach epididymis the cells of the epididymis
makes them mature and motile
• Epididymis joins vas-deferense which is long muscular tube
• Its function is transfer sperm from epididymis upto the
urethera.

• Tunica vaginalis is present above the tunica albugenia.

• It is divided into three region:
• Visceral layer
• Cavity
• Parietal layer.
• Within the cavity fluid is present helping to move freely

• The parietal layer extends into the spermatic cords and this
extension is called processus vaginalis
 • Structure of Sperm

• Sperm is a male reproductive cell.

• It is 60 micron in length

• A uniflagellar sperm cell that is motile is called spermatozoon,

whereas non-motile sperm cell is called spermatium.

• Sperms cannot divide itself, have a small life span and are
haploid in nature.

• They are produced by germ cells in seminiferous tubule and

are stored in epididyms.
 • The sperm is divided into 4 regions:

• Head
• Neck or connecting piece
• Middle piece
• Tail or flagella

• Whole sperm is covered by plasma membrane

• Head:
• The sperm head is oval in shape that allows it to enter the
ovum.

• It contain large flat oval shape nucleus that contains genetic

material (23 chromosome) that is necessary to reproduce
when fused with ovum.

• Head also contains a region filled with enzyme which is

called the acrosomal region and covers 2/3 part of the head
region.

• It contains enzyme hyluorinase and protease that is

responsible for the entry of the sperm
• The acrosome is formed from golgi apparatus, and is
formed of inner acrosomal membrane that faces the
acrosome and an outer acrosomal membrane that faces
the plasma membrane.

• The enzymes present inside the acrosome dissolves the

wall of the ovum and helps in the penetration of the sperm
into the ovum.

• Also there is enzyme called antifertilizin that is attracted by

the fertilizin enzyme present on the ovum
• Neck:

• It is also called connecting piece

• It contains proximal centriole and that initiates the division

of zygote and a distal centriole which gives rise to tail
• Middle piece

• Behind the neck region is middle region which is formed

when the mitochondria of the sperm cell align as helix
around the first part of the tail.

• It is called as the powerhouse as it supplies energy to

sperm for the movement.

• The middle piece is surrounded by a thin cytoplasmic

sheath called Manchette.

• The spiral arrangement of mitochondria is called

nebenkerm
• Tail:

• The tail is long and slender and consist of the axial filament
called flagella.

• The flagella is composed of microtubule which is composed

in specific manner.
• Two central filament surrounded by 9 outer filaments.

• The flagellating tail enables sperm to move and reach the

ovum to fertilize it
Ovary
• They are primary female sex organ for production of
hormone and ova.

• Ovaries are a pair of almond shape, solid, grayish pink

gonads of the female.

• Each ovary is about 2-4cm in length, 1.5cm in width and 1

cm in thickness.

• It is suspended from the dorsal body wall by a fold of

peritoneum called mesovarium.

• It is held in a position by ligaments which attaches it to

both pelvic wall and uterus
• The ovary is divided into 4 region:

• Germinal epithelium:
• It is the outermost layer of the ovary and is made of
squamous and cuboidal cells.

• Tunica albugenia:
• It is poorly differentiated layer made of connective tissue
that lies below the germinal epithelium layer.

• Cortex:
• It is a wide layer of connective tissue having fat,
neuroendocrine cells, ovarian follicle (oogonia), spindle
shape and reticular fibers
• Medulla;
• It is the central part of the ovary made of less dense
connective tissue, richly supplied with blood vessels.
• It also consist of elastic fiber, smooth muscle and nerves.

• The number of the follicle in ovary of young adult female is

120000-160000.
• No more oogonia are formed or added after the birth of the
female.

• Only one oogonia in any one of the ovary is matured in an

adult female and gets released every 28 days.
• So in life span only 450-600 oogonia are matured rest of them
get degenerated at different time called follicular atresia
• One of the primoridial follicle is formed into primary occyte
which then gets surrounded by a layer of granulosa cells to
form primary follicle

• The primary follicle gets surrounded by more layers of

granulosa cells and called secondary follicle

• The secondary follicle soon changes into tertiary follicle

characterize by a fluid filled cavity called follicular antrum.

• The tertiary follicle is further converted into mature follicle

or graffian follicle
• A follicle consist of an oocyte covered by a homogenous
membrane zona pellucida.

• When a single layer of cells are formed they are called

follicular cells. Later in development when they form
several layer they are called granulosa cells.

• They start to secrete oestrogen as follicle grows larger.

• Spindle cells of cortex add another covering called theca

over follicle.
• Outer fibrous theca
• Inner cellular theca
• The granulosa cells also secrete liquid called liquor folliculi
which creates a large cavity called antrum or follicular
cavity. It shifts oocyte to one side.

• A stalk is developed between oocyte and granulosa layer

which is called cumulus ovaricus.

• The granulosa cells lying close to zona pellucida becomes

elongated to form corona radiata.

• Oocyte or the young ovum present inside the follicle is in

metaphase state of meiosis 2.
• The second division only occurs after the fertilization
• The mature graffian follicle develops under the influence of
FSH.

• Its follicular cells secrete oestrogen. It is the female sex

hormone that is responsible for female secondary sexual
character and also prepares the lining of the uterus.

• The rising level of oestrogen activates the anterior pituitary

to release Lh hormone.

• With the rise inlevel of Lh hormone the graffian follicle rises

to the ovary and release the ovum, which is called as
ovulation
• The empty graffian follicle than contain a blood clot which
is called corpous haemorragic.

• Its granulosa cells continue to proliferate, developm yelow

color pigment or lueitin and gets converted into luetin cells

• This convert the ruptured follicle into yellow body called

corpus luteum.

• It becomes temporary endocrine gland secreting

progesterone
Ovum
• The ovum is the female reproductive cell.

• It is 0.2mm in diameter.

• They found enclosed in the follicle of the ovary.

• A single ovum is present in a follicle.

• Following regions or parts are present in the ovum.

• Germinal Spot
• Germinal Vesicle
• Ooplasm
• Zona Striata
• Corona Radiata
• Yolk or ooplasm or cytoplasm:

• The cytoplasm is diffrentiated into outer transperent

exoplasm also called egg cortex, and an inner opaque
endopalsm or ooplasm

• Endoplasm consist of formative yolk and nutritive yolk

• The nutritive yolk contain rounded granule contain fatty and

protein substance.
• Human have very little of the embryo which nourishes the
embryo very early in its development.
• As the amount of yolk is much less the human egg cell is kept
in microlecithial eggs
• Germinal vesicle or nucleus

• It is large and spherical and is present in center.

• But as the time goes it goes towards animal pole and is

surrounded by membrane called nuclear membrane.

• Within the nucleus there is a well defined nucleolus or the

germinal spot.
• Zona pellucida
• It is the layer of the gylcoprotein surrounding the ovum.

• It helps in binding of spermetazoa and is required to initiate

the acrosome reaction .

• Corona radiata:
• It is the outer most layer of the ovum.

• Its main purpose is to supply vital protein to the developing

cell at early stage.

• It is formed from the granulosa cells that is present at

primoridal stage of follicle development, when these
granulosa cell become elongated and cuboidal shape it forms
corona radiata
• Menstrual cycle
• It is a regular recurring physiological changes found in human
female at average of 28 days throughout their reproductive
life except during pregnancy.

• The first menstrual period is called menarch which occurs

between age of 12-15.
• The stopage of menstrual cycle is called menopause which
occurs between 45-55/

• The menstrual cycle occurs only in primates and permits

copulation at any-time of menstrual cycle.

• The cycle is controlled by gonadotropin hormone released by

anterior pitutary and hormone released by ovary
• Menstrual phase:

• This phase lass for 4 days

• If fertilization does not occur, the ovum undergoes autolysis

and progesterone inhibits the release of LH from the
pituitary gland.

• Reduction of LH causes regression of corpus luteum and

thus the level of progesterone will also fall.

• The utrine lining developed for implantation of the embryo

dies due to lack of progesterone.
• The cast off utrine tissue, blood that comes from the ruptured
blood vessels and fluid passes out through the vaginal
opening. This process is called menstruation.

• Menstruation is often called funeral of unfertilized egg.

• Some basal part of endometrium lining remain intact during

menstruation and is source of new utrine lining.

• Low level of progesterone causes release of FSH from the

pituitary gland to initiate new cycle
• Follicular or proliferative phase

• The reduced concentration of ovarian hormone tends the

hypothalamus to produce GnRH.

• It activates the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins.

• In presence of FSH 6-12 ovarian follicle begin enlargement

through proliferation of their granulosa cells, additional
covering on outside forming graffian follicle.

• The FSH stimulate the ovarian follicle to secrete estrogen

which stimulate the development of endometrium of utrine
wall
• About a week after only one ovarian follicle continue to
grow while rest begin to degenerate.

• In the uterine wall new blood capillaries develop, uterine

glands get coiled and developed.
• Epithelial lining or outer lining of oviduct develops more
cilia.
• Muscles of the genital tract becomes active.
• Cervix develops mucous strings that forms channels for
guiding the movement of the sperm.

• Towards the end of the proliferative phase the

endometrium becomes 3mm thick
• Ovulatory phase:

• Due to high level of LH in the blood released by pituitary

gland the ovum gets out of the follicle. This process is
called as ovulation

• The ovulation occurs at 14 day of the cycle

• Luteal or secretory phase:

• Under the influence of LH the empty graffian follicle

continue to grow.

• The follicular or granulosa cells are converted into lutein

cells by deposition of yellow lipid substance. The process si
called as luteinisation.
• The ruptured graffian follicle is called corpous luteum.

• It produces progesterone hormone and some amount of

estrogen hormone.
• Both LH and progesterone hormone help in further growth
and thickening of the endometrium. The thickness
becomes 5-6mm

• Now the utrine wall or endometrium is ready for nourishing

and anchoraging the blastocyst id fertilization takes place.

• Progesterone inhibits utrerine movements as well as

proliferation of new ovarian follicle. This last for 10 days.
 • Estrus Cycle

• Sexual cycle is a phenomenon among animals.

• The sexual cycle seen in other animals except primates is

called estrus cycle.

• In animals there is a brief period of sexual urge.

• A brief period of sexual activity in male is called rutting
season and that in female is called period of heat.
• Both the period will correspond with each other. The
female will accept the male only during the copulation
period
• The cycle is not marked by change in intensity of sex urge,
but also changes in lining of vagina and utereus which
prepares latter to receive a fertilized egg.

• The uterine lining becomes soft and thicker and blood

vessels increase in size and number.
• These processes reach their height a short time after
ovulation and if the fertilization does not occur the lining
gradually everts.

• The female repeats the cycle at regular interval that vary

species to speices.
• Most of the wild animals have one estrus cycle in year and
the condition is called monoestrus.
• Animals that experience 2 estrus cycle in a year are called
diestrus
• Animal that experince more than two cycle in a year is
called polyestrus animals.

• Non-primate cycle or estrus cycle has following phase:

• Proestrus:
• The first phase of the cycle is called the proliferative phase
or building phase.
• Non-primate cycle or estrus cycle has following phase:

• Proestrus:
• The first phase of the cycle is called the proliferative phase
or building phase.

• During this phase the ovarian follicle with its enclosed

ovum increase in size primarily by increasing the follicular
fluid which contains estrogen hormone.

• Estrogen absorbed from follicle into the blood stream

stimulate increased vascularity and cell growth of the
uterus and vagina
• Uterus and vagina become congested and secrete clear
sanguinivore fluid.

• The process of copulation is not permitted during this

phase.

• Estrus or Heat period:

• This is the period of heat and copulation is allowed only at

this phase.

• During this period the vaginal epithelium thickens and

superficial layer are fully keratinized
• Examination of the ovary shows that the graffian follicles fully
matured at middle of this period.

• As ovulation occurs the ovum is released from the graffian

follicle to enter the upper part of the fallopian tube,

• Follicular rupture occurs spontaneously in most of the species

but in some animals such as rats, rabbits, cat rupture or
release of the ovum occurs only after the process of
copulation.
• If copulation do not occur in such animals the follicle with
enclosed ovum regresses.

• The duration of this period varies from animal to animal

• Metestrus:
• It is the period of functional development of corpus luteum.
This occurs shortly after the ovulation and is also called post-
ovulatory phase.

• The lining of the ruptured follicle begin to grow inward as the

blood vascular supply increase within the cavity.
• The cells lining the cavity increase in in size , multiply and
become laden with yellow color fat droplet.
• The newly recognized structure is called corpus luteum.

• In the absence of pregnancy the corpus luteum degenerate

and due to which progesterone level also falls which changes
the lining of the uterus and vagina
• Diestrus and Anestrus:

• Diestrus is relatively short period of quiesence between

estrus cycle in polyestrus animal.

• It shows preparatory changes for the initiation of second

estrus.
• There is functional regression of corpus luteum

• Anestus is the resting asexual period. In monoestrus and

diestrus animal this phase lasts upto next mating season.

• When another breeding season starts the ovary is again

activated and new cycle starts
 • Mammary gland

• A mammary gland is a exocrine gland in mammals that

produces milk to feed young ones,

• Mammary glands are arranged in organs such as breast in

primate, udder in ruminants and dugs in dogs and cats.

• They are modified sweat glands that lies over the pectoral
muscle .
• They are also present in male but in rudimentary or simple
form
• Each breast has a multiporus tip called nipple for the
release of the milk.

• Below the nipple a circular pigmented area is present which

called aerola.

• Each breast contains 15-20 glandular lobes seperated from

one-another by dense-connective tissue and adipose
tissue.
• Adipose tissue also occur richly below the breast of the
female

• Each lobe is further divided into lobules having glandular or

secretory alveoli
• The alveoli produces milk and stored in the cavities or
lumens of alveoli.

• Alveoli open into mammary tubules and then into

mammary ducts.

• Mammary ducts opens into mammary ampulla from which

a lactiferous duct develops.

• Each lobe produces a separate lactiferous duct.

• All the lactiferous ducts opens outside through nipple by

separate pores.
• In non-pregnant women, the glandular tissue is scanty.

• During pregnancy under the influence of progesterone and

estrogen hormone it grows.

• On the infants birth the hormone prolactin is released that

stimulate the production of milk.

• Hormone oxyotocin causes release of the milk as the infant

suck the breast of the female.
• After menopause the gland atrophies.

• The secretion of the milk is under the control of prolactin

released by anterior pituitary and the release is under the
control of oxytocin that is released by posterior pitutiary