Human Reproductive

System
 Learning Competencies & Targets
Explain the role of hormones involved in the
female and male reproductive systems
•I can identify the parts of the reproductive system
•I can describe each part of the male and female
reproductive system
•I can describe how the different parts of the male
reproductive system contribute to the development
of a sperm
•I can describe the roles of male and female
reproductive hormones
•I can describe the changes in my body
Sex – determined by 2 sex chromosomes

Female: XX Male: XY
Sex of an individual
-depends on the presence of the Y
chromosome in the fertilized egg
-can be determined in terms of
chromosomal, gonadal, & anatomical
features

Hermaphrodites
- Individuals who can have both male &
female reproductive organs
primary sex organs
secondary sex organs
secondary sex characteristics
PRIMARY SEX ORGANS
Gonads – are those that produce
gametes (sperm and eggs)
Male: testes Female: ovaries
SECONDARY SEX ORGANS
- essential to reproduction,

Male: Female:
ducts, glands, uterine tubes, uterus,
penis vagina
SECONDARY SEX
CHARACTERISTICS

Features not essential

for reproduction but
attract the sexes to
each other.
 Parts & Functions
of the
Reproductive System
The Male Reproductive System

Can you name

some of the
parts of this
male
reproductive
system?
Testes – a pair of glands made up of
coiled tubules in which the sperm cells
are formed & sex hormones are
produced;
-developed near the kidneys, in the
male fetus
-descend through the abdominal wall
into a sac called scrotum, just before
birth
seminiferous tubule – secrete
testosterone by interstitial (Leydig) cells
 sperm

testosterone
Scrotum – a pouch
of skin that hangs
behind the penis,
houses the testes,
& protect the
sperm and
maintain the
temperature of the
testes 2o lower than
body temperature
for the sperm to
survive
Epididymis – the storage site of mature
sperm cells (can last up to 14 days after
being produced). It absorbs about 90% of
the fluid secreted by the testis.
- long, narrow coiled duct that attaches to
each testis
Vas deferens – a long, muscular tube that
receives and transports mature sperm from the
epididymis of each testicle to the urethra
- thick-walled, ciliated ducts
seminal vesicles
– sac-like
pouches attached
to the vas
deferens
- secrete a thick
viscous sugar-rich
fluid that
nourishes &
provides energy
to sperm cell’s
motility & viability
prostate gland
– walnut-sized
gland that
secretes thin,
milky colored &
alkaline fluid
that protects,
nourishes &
enhances the
motility of the
sperm
Cowper’s gland
– or bulbourethral
gland found
beneath the
prostate gland
- Flashes out
foreign matter &
protect sperm as it
passes through the
urethra
- Neutralizes the
acidic urine residue
in the urethra
Ejaculatory
ducts – the
tubes that are
lined with
muscles that
contract to
force the
semen out of
the body during
ejaculation
Urethra – the tube
that passes
through the penis
to the outside of
the body, which
carries urine &
sperm
Penis – a soft tubular organ that hangs
front of the male body; contains erectile
tissue making it larger & stiffer due to
increase flow of blood during ejaculation
- For sexual intercourse & functions to
transfer sperm
semen/ seminal
fluid – the fluid
expelled during
orgasm
- mixture of
secretion from the
testes and
epididymis, seminal
vesicles (60-70% of
the volume),
prostate gland
(20%), &
bulbourethral gland
(5%).
Major constituents of semen
• Sperm
• Fructose, phosphorous
• free amino acids, citric acid
• potassium, hormones
• Prostaglandins
• Spermine
* Semen released during ejaculation
may contain about 400M sperm cells.
Fructose – produced by the seminal
vesicles
-Provides a source of energy for the
sperm.

Clotting and anticoagulant factors

- produced by seminal vesicles and
prostate.
- Semen clots like blood.
- about 15-30 minutes later,
anticoagulant factors dissolve the clot.
Prostaglandins
- produced by the prostate and seminal
vesicles,
-stimulate peristaltic contractions of the
female reproductive tract that may help draw
semen into the uterus.

Spermine
- is a base that reduces acidity of the female
vagina, increasing the survival rate of sperm.
❖ Normal semen contains 40 - 300 M
sperm per mL
❖ 20 M sperm per mL may be adequate
for pregnancy if the sperm are
healthy
❖ normal volume during ejaculation is
1.5 to 5 mL (20-150 M/mL = 30 to 750
M)
❖ a low sperm count is considered to be
anything between 10 and 20 M per
mL = sterility/infertility
Male Sexual
Response
1) erection of the
penis, allowing
it to penetrate
the female
vagina

2) ejaculation,
expelling
semen into the
vagina
Ejaculation
Initiated by sympathetic nerve impulses
The ducts and accessory glands contract,
emptying their contents into the urethra.
The urethral sphincters constrict.
The bulbospongiosus muscles of the penis
contract rapidly and rhythmically,
propelling semen from the urethra.
Fate of sperm cells
✔ capacitated (in a test tube; 3-24
hours)
✔ can live about 45-70+ days in
the man’s reproductive organ
✔ can live up to 5 days inside
women’s body
✔ Only ~ 100 reach the
destination.
✔ Only one sperm fertilizes the
egg, sometimes 2
The Female Reproductive System

Can you name

some of the
parts of this
female
reproductive
system?
The Female Reproductive System
⮚adapted to produce eggs, receive
the penis & sperm, & incubate the
embryo during pregnancy
(fertilized egg)
Ovary
Ovaries
- Are small & almond-shaped organs
- Located inside the female, one on each side
of the body a few inches below the waist
- Secrete estrogen & progesterone to produce
mature egg cells (oocyte/ oogenesis)
- Primary oocytes > immature eggs; each is
enclosed in a nourishing cell called follicle
Ovaries
- Most primary oocytes undergo a process of
degeneration called atresia (begins at birth
and continues throughout the course of the
reproductive life).
- Only 1 to 2 million immature eggs or follicles
remain at the time of birth; by puberty, only
400,000 remain
- With each menstrual cycle, a thousand
follicles are lost and only one lucky little
follicle/oocyte will actually mature into an
ovum (egg)
Ovaries
- Each each 28-day cycle/month, about 20
primary oocytes become secondary
oocytes but usually only one oocyte
survives to be ovulated from Graffian
follicle
- of the one to two million follicles, only
about 400 will ever mature
- Relatively little or no follicles remain at
menopause, which usually begins
between 48 to 55 years of age.
Ovaries
- Also produce inhibin (protein hormones) &
small amount of androgen (mostly in men)

Ovulation - when a mature egg is released

from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian
tube, and is available to be fertilized
- Happens every 28 days
 Ovulation of a Human Follicle, viewed by Endoscopy

Oocyte

Uterine tube
Fimbriae
Fallopian tubes or
oviducts
-Are 2 very fine &
narrow 4-inch
tubes that extended
from each ovary
into the uterus
Fallopian tubes or
oviducts
-contain the egg or
secondary oocyte until
fertilization takes place (24
hours)
-provide a passageway
leading the sperm to the egg
& the fertilized egg to the
uterus
-Zygote reaches the uterus
about 7 days after ovulation
Uterus or Womb
-Hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ
that receives a successful fertilized ovum,
located between the 2 ovaries
-harbors the embryo
-provides nutrients
-expels the fetus at the end of its
development
Uterus or Womb
-3-inches long x 2-inches wide x 1-inch
thick
-Subdivided into fundus, body, & cervix
-Interiorly contains uterine cavity
accessed by cervical canal
Uterus or Womb
-Thickens every month in preparation for
pregnancy
-If the egg remains unfertilized, the uterus
sheds, then leave the body as menstrual
discharge
Cervix
-A narrow structure within an inch-long
canal connecting the lower end of the
uterus to the upper portion of the vagina
-Secretes mucus that helps the sperm to
enter the uterus & prevents bacterial
infection; changes in consistency to
prevent or promote pregnancy
-muscles expands during pregnancy to
accommodate & let the passage of fetus
during birth
Cervix
Vagina or Birth canal
- 4 inch thin-walled
fibromuscular tube or
organ that receives the
penis during sexual
intercourse
- Hollow tube from the
cervix to the outside of
the body
- Lies between urinary
bladder & rectum
Vagina or Birth canal
- Wall is elastic, which
allows it to expand
during childbirth &
sexual intercourse
- Its lining is bathed with
mucus
- Bacteria ferment
glycogen to lactic acid,
resulting in a low
vaginal pH.
Vulva
- The external genitalia that includes the
following parts:
1. Mons veneris – the hairy skin-covered
pad of fat over the pubic bone
2. Labia minora – are the small lips
covered with modified skin; shield the
genital & urinary openings
3. Labia majora – are the large lips
covered with pubic hair; provide extra
protection; the same tissue that forms the
scrotum in males
Vulva
- The external genitalia that includes the
following parts:
4. Vaginal orifice – the opening into the
vagina which is partially closed with
membrane (hymen)
5. Clitoris – the small almond-shaped erectile
tissue located below junction of 2 minora & is
the center of sexual stimulation
- Fills with blood & becomes firm during sexual
arousal
Vulva
Accessary glands
- opening into the vestibule or lower vagina.
- keep the vagina moist and provide most of the
lubrication for intercourse
Refractory Period

● A period following
ejaculation, right
after reaching
sexual climax
● the time between
an orgasm and
next sexual
arousal