ADAL MEDICLAL UNIVERSITY

Reproductive System

For HN, PH, MLT, & Nursing Students

 Male Reproductive system
The organs of the male reproductive system include:
• The testes (male gonads)
• A system of ducts
Epididymis
Ductus deferens
Ejaculatory ducts
Urethra
• Accessory sex glands
Seminal vesicles
Prostate
Bulbourethral glands
• Several supporting structures, including
Scrotum
Penis 2
H Ye. G 3
Scrotum = bag
 It is a cutaneous fibromuscular sac for the testes and
associated structures.
 It is situated posteroinferior to the penis and inferior to
the pubic symphysis.
 Internally, the scrotum is divided into two
compartments
 One for each testes, by a prolongation of the dartos
fascia.
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 Testes
• Each testes is approximately 4 cm long and
2.5 cm in diameter
• Each testis (testicle) is surrounded by two tunics
– Tunica vaginalis: outer; derived from the
peritoneum
– Tunica albuginea: deep; dense connective
tissue capsule

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• The testes develop retroperitoneally in the dorsal wall
of the embryonic abdominal cavity
• They are moved to scrotum during fetal development
• Because of the migration from the abdominal cavity,
each testis carries with it a serous sac, the tunica
vaginalis, derived from the peritoneum
– The tunic consists of an outer parietal layer lining
the scrotum and an inner visceral layer, covering
the tunica albuginea on the anterior and lateral sides
of the testis

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• The tunica albuginea is thickened on the posterior side of
the testis to form the mediastinum testis and divide it
into about 250 pyramidal compartments or testicular
lobules
• Each lobule is occupied by one to four seminiferous
tubules and endocrine interstitial cells (Leydig cells)
– Seminiferous tubules produce male reproductive cells, the
spermatozoa, whereas
– Interstitial cells secrete testicular androgens

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 Epididymis
• Elongated coma shaped structure
• Applied to superior and posterolateral surface of testis
• Efferent ductules of the testis transport newly
developed sperms to the epididymis from the rete testis
• Sperm are stored in the epididymis and undergo the
final maturation steps required for their ability to
fertilize an egg

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 Ductus deferens
Thick walled muscular tube, about 45cm
long
Continuation of ductus epididymis
Course
– Begins in tail of epididymis and
– Finally, joins duct of seminal vesicle to form
ejaculatory duct
Vasectomy: a method of sterilizing males in which part
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of ductus deferens is ligated or excised

Ejaculatory ducts
The ejaculatory ducts are formed by the union of the
duct from the ductus deferens and the seminal vesicles.
The ejaculatory ducts eject sperm in to the urethra
Urethra
The urethra is the terminal duct of the male
reproductive system
Passage for sperm and urine
The urethra has three parts: prostatic, membranous and
spongy (penile) urethra.
The opening of the urethra to the exterior is called the
external urethral orifice.

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 Accessory glands
Accessory sex glands secrete most of the liquid
portion of the semen
Seminal vesicles
• Lies between fundus of bladder and rectum
• The seminal vesicles secrete a fluid which
contributes to the semen.
– The secretion of the vesicles accounts for about
60% of the volume of the semen
• The ducts of the seminal vesicles join with the vas
deferens to form the ejaculatory ducts.
– Sperm and seminal fluid mix in the ejaculatory
duct to enter the prostatic urethra together during
ejaculation
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Seminal vesicles cont…
– They secrete an alkaline, viscous fluid
containing fructose, prostoglandins and
clotting proteins.
– The alkaline nature of the fluid helps to
neutralize the acidic environment of the
male urethra and the female reproductive
tract that otherwise would inactivate and
kill the sperm.
– Prostaglandins contribute to sperm motility
and viability and may also contribute for
the muscular contraction within the female
reproductive tract.
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 Prostate
• Surrounds prostatic urethra
• The gland located immediately below the bladder.
• Enveloped in fibrous capsule and prostatic sheath
Prostate has 15-20 ducts opening into posterior wall of
prostatic urethra
It has large amount of smooth muscle.
The gland is divided into 2 lateral lobes (site of
carcinoma - may be felt on palpation through the
rectum) and a middle lobe (the upper part is the site of
benign hypertrophy)

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• The prostate produces a thin, milky fluid containing
citric acid and acid phosphatase that is added to the
seminal fluid at the time of ejaculation.
• The prostatic secretion is alkaline and helps neutralize
the acidity in the vagina.
• Prostrate gland secretions enter the prostatic urethra
via several ducts when prostatic smooth muscle
contract during ejaculation

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 Bulbourethral glands
The paired bulbourethral glands are about the size of
peas.
They are located inferior to the prostate on either side
of the urethra.
During sexual arousal, the bulbourethral glands
secrete an alkaline substance in to the urethra that
protects the passing sperm by neutralizing acids from
the urine in the urethra.
They secrete mucus that lubricates the end of the penis
and lining of the urethra, thereby decreasing the
number of sperm damaged during ejaculation.

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 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
The female reproductive system consists of
Paired ovaries
Paired fallopian tubes
Single uterus
Vagina
The external genital structures

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 OVARIES
• The ovaries are a pair of oval structures about 1.5
inches (4 cm) long on either side of the uterus in the
pelvic cavity.
• Three ligaments help keep the ovaries in place.
1. Ovarian ligament anchors the ovaries to the uterus
2. Broad ligament part of the parietal peritoneum,
attaches to the ovaries by a double-layered fold of
peritoneum
3. Suspensory ligament: attaches them to the pelvic
wall.
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Each ovary contains a hilum, the point of entrance and
exit for blood vessels and nerves along which the
mesovarium is attached.
Covering of ovaries
The germinal epithelium (germen =sprout or bud) is a
layer of simple epithelium (low cuboidal or squamous)
that covers the surface of the ovary.
The tunica albuginea is a whitish capsule of dense
irregular connective tissue located immediately deep to
the germinal epithelium. 25
 Ovaries has 2 parts
The ovarian cortex is a region just deep to the tunica
albuginea. It consists of ovarian follicles surrounded by
dense irregular connective tissue that contains collagen
fibers and fibroblast.
The ovarian medulla is deep to the ovarian cortex. The
border between the cortex (outer part) and medulla (inner
part) is indistinct, but the medulla consists of more
loosely arranged connective tissue and contains blood
vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.
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H Ye. G 27
 Ovarian follicles
• Each follicle consists of an immature egg, called an
oocyte encased in one or more layers of very different
cells
Follicles at different stages of maturation are distinguished
by their structure
1. Primordial follicle
• Have one layer of squamous like follicle cells
surrounding the oocyte
2. Primary follicle
• Having two or more layers of cuboidal or columnar
type granulosa cells enclosing the oocyte

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3. Secondary follicle
• Have fluid filled spaces appearing between the
granulosa cells

4. Mature follicle
• Fluid filled spaces coalesce to form a fluid filled
cavity called an antrum
• When it is called a vesicular or Graafian follicle,
the follicle bulges from the surface of the ovary

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 A corpus luteum (yellow body) contains the remnants
(small remaining quantity) of a mature follicle after
ovulation.
 The corpus luteum produces progesterone and
estrogens, until it degenerates into fibrous scar tissue
called the corpus albicans ( white body).

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 Uterine tubes
Females have two uterine tubes, also called fallopian
tubes or oviducts, that extend laterally from the uterus.
The tubes, which measure about 10 cm (4 in.) long and lie
within the folds of the broad ligaments of the uterus,
Transport secondary oocytes and fertilized ova from the
ovaries to the uterus.
Nonciliated cells called peg cells, which have microvilli
and secrete a fluid provides nutrition for the ovum
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 The uterine tube has 4 parts
Infundibulum, the funnel-shaped portion of uterine tube
Fimbriae, a fringe of finger like projections attached to
the lateral end of the ovary.
The ampulla of the uterine tube is the widest, longest
portion, making up about the lateral two-thirds of its
length. It is the site of fertilization
The isthmus of the uterine tube is the more medial,
short, narrow, thick walled portion that joins the uterus.

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H Ye. G 33
Histologically, the uterine tubes are composed of three
layers:
The mucosa consists of epithelium and lamina propria
(areolar connective tissue).
The epithelium contains ciliated simple columnar cells,
which function as a cilia.
The muscularis, is composed of an inner, thick, circular
ring of smooth muscle.

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Peristaltic contractions of the muscularis and the
ciliary action of the mucosa help move the oocyte or
fertilized ovum toward the uterus.
The outer layer of the uterine tubes is a serous
membrane, the serosa.

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Uterus
The uterus (womb) serves as part of the pathway
for sperm deposited in the vagina to reach the uterine
tubes.
Situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum.
The uterus is about the size and shape of an inverted
pear.
In females who have never been pregnant, it is about
7-8cm long, 5-7cm wide, 3cm thick
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DR.S.PALANI,M.PHARM,Ph.D
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Anatomical subdivisions of the uterus include:
(1) a dome-shaped portion superior to the uterine tubes
called the fundus,
(2) a tapering central portion called the body, and
(3) an inferior narrow portion called the cervix that opens
into the vagina.
 The interior of the body of the uterus is called the
uterine cavity, and the interior of the narrow cervix is
called the cervical canal.
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The cervical canal opens into the uterine cavity at the
internal os and into the vagina at the external os.
Layer of uterus
The outer layer of the uterus is perimetrium
The middle layer of the uterus, the myometrium (myo-
muscle), consists of three layers of smooth muscle fibers
that are thickest in the fundus and thinnest in the cervix.
The inner layer of the uterus, the endometrium (endo -
within), is highly vascularized
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The endometrium is divided into two layers.
The stratum functionalis (functional layer) lines the
uterine cavity and sloughs off during menstruation as a
result of declining levels of progesterone from the
ovaries.
The deeper layer, the stratum basalis (basal layer), is
permanent and gives rise to a new stratum functionalis
after each menstruation.

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Vagina
The vagina is a tubular, fibromuscular canal
lined with mucous membrane that extends from
the exterior of the body to the uterine cervix.
It is about 10 cm (4 in.) long, and serves as the
receptacle for the penis during sexual
intercourse, the outlet for menstrual flow, and
the passageway for childbirth.
Situated posterior to the urinary bladder and
urethra and anterior to the rectum.

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DR.S.PALANI,M.PHARM,Ph.D
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Walls of the vagina
• The highly distensible walls of the vagina consists of
three tunics:
– Mucosa
– Muscularis
– Adventitia
 Mucosa
– Lined by stratified squamous epithelium which is resistant
to friction
– The vaginal mucosa has no glands; it is lubricated by the
cervical mucus glands
– During intercourse additional lubricating mucus is provided
by vestibular glands opening into the vestibule
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– Stimulated by estrogens, the epithelial cells
synthesize and accumulate glycogen
– Bacteria metabolize glycogen to lactic acid, causing
a relatively low pH within the vagina which helps
provide protection against pathogenic
microorganisms

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 Muscularis
– The muscular layer composed of smooth muscle that
can stretch to receive the penis during intercourse and
allow for child birth
– The smooth muscle is reinforced by the
bulbospongiosus, with pubovaginalis and urogenital
diaphragm, help form the sphincter of vagina
 Adventitia
– fibrous and elastic connective tissue

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 Vulva
The term vulva or pudendum, refers to the external
genitals of the female.
The following are the components of the vulva:
 Mons pubis
 Labia Majora
 Labia minora
 Clitoris
 Vestibule
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