Anatomy and Physiology Of

Human Reproduction
 Content

 Introduction about Human Sexual Reproductive organs

 Definition of anatomy and physiology
 Anatomy and physiology of Male reproductive organ
 Anatomy and physiology of female reproductive organ
 Menstrual cycles
Definition of anatomy and
physiology
• Anatomy
Study the structure and location of
the body

• Physiology
Study about the function of the body
 Introduction
• The major function of the Reproductive system is to
ensure survival of the species.
• Other systems in the body, such as the endocrine
and urinary systems, work continuously to maintain
homeostasis for survival of the individual.
• An individual may live a long, healthy, and happy life
without producing offspring, but if the species is to
continue, at least some individuals must produce
offspring.
 Introduction cont’d
• Within the context of producing offspring, the
reproductive system has four functions:
– Produce egg and sperm cells
– Transport and sustain these cells
– Nurture the developing offspring
– Produce hormones
 Introduction cont’d
• These functions are divided between the
primary and secondary, or accessory,
reproductive organs.
• The primary reproductive organs, or gonads,
consist of the ovaries and testes.
• These organs are responsible for producing
the egg and sperm cells, (gametes), and for
producing hormones estrogen, progesterone
and testosterone respectively
 Introduction cont’d
• The development of secondary sexual characteristics, and
have important roles in regulating the normal physiology of
the reproductive system.
• Secondary sexual characteristics manifest by
• Enlargement of breast, ministration, hair growth in the
armpit and pelvic areas, change voice in the female
• Strong muscles, voice change, sperm productions hair
growth, in the face, armpits and pelvic areas
• All other organs, ducts, and glands in the reproductive system
are considered accessory, reproductive organs.
• These structures transport and sustain the gametes and
nurture the developing offspring
 Anatomy Male
Reproductive system

 Internal
 External
 Urethra
 Penis
 Vas deference
 glans  Epiddymis
 Scrotum  Testes

 Gland
 Prostate gland
 Seminal vesicles
 Cowper gland
External Male Genitals
Internal Male Genitals
 Anatomy Of Female External
Genitalia
• Vaginal • Labia minor
opening • Labia major
• Hymen • Clitoris
• Urethral • Mons pubis
opening • Perineum
• Vestibule
• Glands
 Anatomy of Female
internal Reproductive
System

• Vaginal wall
• Cervix
• Uterus
• Fallopian tube
• Ovary
Female External Genitals
Female Internal Genitals
 Physiology of Male RS
 Penis
 Sexual stimulation
 For urination
 To perform Sexual intercourse
 Scrotum
Cover and carry tastes
Sexual stimulation
maintain temperature 1-2 degree
centigrade below body temperature
 Physiology of Male RS
 Prostate
Prevent mixing of urine and sperm
during ejaculation
Secretion which helps to stay more than
72 hours by using as food
 Seminal gland
 secrete fluid which helps for sperm
movement in the vagina and uterus
 Cowper gland
Neutralize the acidity of urethra and
vaginal wall
 Physiology of Male RS
 Testes
Production of testosterone
for the production of sperm

 Urethra
Passage of sperm and urine

 Vas deference
It Carry/transport sperms from tastes
to urethra
 External female R.A
• The external genitalia are the accessory
structures of the female reproductive system
that are external to the vagina.
• They are also referred to as the vulva or
pudendum.
• The external genitalia include the labia majora,
mons pubis, labia minora, clitoris, and glands
within the vestibule.
• The clitoris is an erectile organ, similar to the
male penis, that responds to sexual stimulation.
Posterior to the clitoris, the urethra, vagina,
paraurethral glands and greater vestibular glands
open into the vestibule.
 Organs of female genitalia cont’d

• The organs of the female reproductive system

produce and sustain the female sex cells (egg cells or
ova), transport these cells to a site where they may
be fertilized by sperm, provide a favorable
environment for the developing fetus, move the
fetus to the outside at the end of the development
period, and produce the female sex hormones.
• The female reproductive system includes the ovaries,
Fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, accessory glands, and
external genital organs.
 Uterus
• The uterus is a muscular organ that receives
the fertilized oocyte and provides an
appropriate environment for the developing
fetus.
• Before the first pregnancy, the uterus is about
the size and shape of a pear, with the narrow
portion directed inferiorly.
• After childbirth, the uterus is usually larger,
then regresses after menopause
 Ovaries
• Female sex cells, or gametes, develop in the ovaries
by a form of meiosis called oogenesis.
• The sequence of events in oogenesis is similar to the
sequence in spermatogenesis, but the timing and
final result are different.
• Early in fetal development, primitive germ cells in the
ovaries differentiate into oogonia.
 Ovaries
• Female sex cells, or gametes, develop in the ovaries by a form
of meiosis These divide rapidly to form thousands of cells, still
called oogonia, which have a full complement of 46 (23 pairs)
chromosomes.

• Oogonia then enter a growth phase, enlarge, and become

primary oocytes.
• Many of the primary oocytes degenerate before birth, but
even with this decline, the two ovaries together contain
approximately 700,000 oocytes at birth. This is the lifetime
supply, and no more will develop
 Physiology
• The female sexual response includes arousal and orgasm, but
there is no ejaculation. A woman may become pregnant
without having an orgasm.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen,
and progesterone have major roles in regulating the functions
of the female reproductive system.
• At puberty, when the ovaries and uterus are mature enough
to respond to hormonal stimulation, certain stimuli cause the
hypothalamus to start secreting gonadotropin-releasing
hormone.
 Physiology Reproductive system
• hormone enters the blood and goes to the
anterior pituitary gland where it stimulates
the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone
and luteinizing hormone.
• These hormones, in turn, affect the ovaries
and uterus and the monthly cycles begin.
• A woman's reproductive cycles last from
menarche to menopause.
 Physiology
• The monthly ovarian cycle begins with the follicle
development during the follicular phase, continues with
ovulation during the ovulatory phase, and concludes with the
development and regression of the corpus luteum during the
luteal phase.
• The uterine cycle takes place simultaneously with the ovarian
cycle. The uterine cycle begins with menstruation during the
menstrual phase, continues with repair of the endometrium
during the proliferative phase, and ends with the growth of
glands and blood vessels during the secretory phase.
 Physiology
• Menopause occurs when a woman's
reproductive cycles stop.
• This period is marked by decreased levels of
ovarian hormones and increased levels of
pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone and
luteinizing hormone.
• The changing hormone levels are responsible
for the symptoms associated with menopause
 Physiological Stages
• Neonatal period: birth---4 weeks
• Childhood: 4 weeks----12 years
• Puberty: 12 years---18 years
• Sexual maturation: 18 year---50 year
• Perimenopause: decline of ovarian function
(40 years)----1 year post menopause
• Postmenopause
 Menstruation
• Menstruation
cyclic endometrium sheds and bleeds due to cyclic ovulation
• Mense
1. Endometrium is sloughed (progesterone withdrawal)
2. Nonclotting menstrual blood mainly comes from artery
(75%)
3. Interval: 24-35 days (28 days). duration: 2-6 days. the first
day of menstrual bleeding is consideredy by day 1
4. Shedding: 30-50 ml
 Central reproductive hormones
• Neuroendocrine regulation
1. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone,GnRH
1) chemical structure
(pro)Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2
2) Synthesize and transport
 Central reproductive hormones
3) Regulation of GnRH
Hypothalamus-----Gonadotrophin hormone----
Pituitary (FSH, LH)------Ovary (Estrogen and
progesterone)
 Central reproductive hormones
2. Gonadotropins
1) Composition (glycoprotein)
Follicle stimulating hormone,FSH
Luteinizing hormone,LH
2) Synthesize and transport
Gonadotrophin----Blood circulation----Ovary
Gonadotroph
(pulse)
 The Ovarian cycle
• Function of ovary
1.Reproduction
development and maturation of follicle;
ovulation
2.Endocrine
estrogens, progesterone, testosterone
 The Ovarian cycle
• Cyclic changes of ovary
1. The development and maturation of follicle
1) Primordial follicle: before meiosis
2) Preantral follicle: zona pellucida, granulosa cells (FSH
receptor)
3) Antral follicle: granulosa cells (LH receptor), E↑
4) Mature follicle: E↑,P↑
Theca externa, theca interna, granulosa, follicular antrum,
mound, radiate coronal
5) Follicular phase: day 1 to follicle mature (14 days)
 The Ovarian cycle
2. Ovulation
1) First meiosis completed → collagen decomposed
→ oocyte ovulated
2) Regulation
a) LH/FSH peak
E2↑(mature follicle) → GnRH ↑ (hypothalamus)
→ LH/FSH peak (positive feedback)
b) P cooperation
LH ↑ → P ↑(follicle luteinized before ovulation)
→positive feedback
 The Ovarian cycle
3. Corpus luteum
1) follicle luteinized after ovulation: luteal cells
2) LH → VEGF → corpus hemorrhagicum
3) Regression
non fertilized → corpus albicans
4) Luteal phase
Ovulation to day 1
 The Ovarian cycle
• sex hormones secreted by ovary
1. Composition
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
2. Chemical structure
Steroid hormone
3. Synthesis
Cholesterol→pregnenolone→androstenedione→
testosterone→estradiol
 The Ovarian cycle
4. Metabolism: liver
5. Cyclic change of E and P in ovary
1) Estrogen
a) E↑(day 7) → E peak (pre-ovulate) → E↓ →
E↑ (1 day after ovulate) →E peak (day 7-8)
→ E↓
b) theca interna cells (LH receptor) →
testosterone
c) Granulosa (FSH receptor) → estrogen
 The Ovarian cycle
2) Progesterone
P↑ (after ovulation) → P peak (day 7-8) → P↓
 The endometral cycle
• Proliferative phase
1.E↑(mitogen)→ stroma thickens and glands
become elongated → proliferative
endometrium
2.Duration: 2 weeks
3.Thickness: 0.5mm → 5mm
 The endometrial cycle
• Secretory phase
1. P↑(differentiation) → secretory endometrium
2. Features
stroma becomes loose and edematous
blood vessels entering the endometrium become
thickened and twisted
glands become tortuous and contain secretory
material within the lumina
3. Duration: 2 weeks
4. Thickness: 5-6mm
 Change of Other genital organs
• Cervix
endocervical glands (E↑)→ mucus(thin,clear, watery)
→ maximal (ovulation)
endocervical glands (P↑)→ mucus(thick, opaque,
tenacious)
• Vagina
Vaginal mucosa (E↑)→ thickening and secretory
changes
Vaginal mucosa (P↑) → secrete↓
 The menstrual cycle
phase
Name of phase Days

1. Menstrual -low level of EP 1-4

2. Follicular phase (also known as 5-13

proliferative phase)- High level of FSH,
E
Ovulation (not a phase, but an event 14
dividing phases)- high level FSH, E,LH

3. Luteal phase (also known as secretory 15-26

phase)-high level of P , mild level E

4. Ischemic phase (some sources group 27-28

this with secretory phase)
 Summery

• Form group and draw female and

male reproductive organ

• Summarize of reproductive organ

and function

• Discussion on Menstrual cycle and

FP