The Reproductive System

Rep
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syst
em
Introduction
Reproduction is maintained continuity
of species and produce new member of
same species.
Mode of reproduction is sexual.
Sex is the only characters that divides
the world into male and female.
Sexual characters
1. Primary sex characters
2. Secondary sex characters
Primary sex characters are responsible for
development of secondary sex characters.
Primary sex characters
Male Female
Testes Vagina
Scrotum Uterus
Vas deferens Fallopian tube
Seminal vesicles Ovaries
Prostate gland Mammary gland
Penis (Breasts)
Secondary sex characters
In male:
Appearance of hair on face and pubic region.
Skin becomes rough.
Voice changes.
In females:
Breasts develop
Appearance of hair on pubic region.
Accumulation of subcutaneous fat.
Widening of the pelvis.
Enlargement of sex hormones start with puberty.
Starting of menstrual cycle in female is the secondary
sex characters.
In male, sexual life starts between 15-17 years.
In female , sexual life starts between 13-15 years in
India.
Male reproductive system
1. Testes
2. Vas deferens
3. Seminal vesicles
4. Prostate gland
5. Penis
Male Reproductive System
 1. Testicles or Testes
The two testes are small organs that lie in the scrotum and
produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.
The testicles are the male sex gland.
The testicles are outside the body because the male sperm
that is manufactured in the testes need cooler-than-body
temperature for normal growth and development.
They are the counterpart to the female ovary.
Loss of one does not impair the function of the other.
Four to five billion sperm cells are produced each month.
Covered with a layer tunica albugenea.

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Functions
1. To produce spermatozoa.
2. To secrete the internal secretion called
testosterone, which consist of anabolic and
sex fractions.
enzymes used to
dissolve a path to
penetrate the egg

gene

produce ATP for

sperm motility.
 Sperm
The microscopic cells produced by the male's testicles
which can fertilize the female's ovum.
They are tiny, living cells 100 times smaller than a pencil
dot. (the smallest cell in a mans body)
Enough sperm would fit on the head of a pin to re-
populate the earth if each sperm fertilized an egg.
It is destroyed by warm body temperature, acidic
environment.
It can survive in a women’s body for 5-8 days.
Any sperm not ejaculated are passed in the urine.
They are alive for 1 to 2 months.

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2. Vas Deferens
Two long, thin tubes that serve as a
passageway for sperm and a place for sperm
storage.
The contraction of the vas deferens along
with the action of the cilia help transport the
sperm through the vas deferens.

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3. Seminal Vesicles
It is Secretary gland.
two small glands that secrete a fluid that
nourishes and enables the sperm to move.
Secretion contains fructose, prostaglandins
and clotting protein.

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4. Prostate Gland
Surround the urethra beneath the bladder. The
gland secretes an alkaline fluid that neutralizes the
acid found in the male urethra and the female
reproductive tract.
Without the action of the secretions of the prostate
gland, many sperm would die and fertilization of
an ovum would be impossible.
The milky acidic fluid secreted from prostate
gland contains citric acid used by spermatozoa for
ATP production.

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5. Bulbourethral and Coeper’s glands
These are about size of pea and lie inferior
to prostate glands.
Their ducts open into spongy urethra.
During sexual arousal, the bulbourethral
glands give the way for arrival of sperms.
Its secretion neutralizes acid in urethra.
 6. Penis
The male organ for sexual intercourse, reproduction, and
urination.
The reproductive purpose of the penis is to deposit semen in
the vagina during sexual intercourse.
The head of the penis contains many nerve endings. At birth
the glands is covered by a loosely fitting skin called the
foreskin.
When the penis is erect it is 5-7 inches long An erection
occurs when the sponge-like chambers in the penis fill with
blood.

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SEMEN
A combination of fluid that is produced in the
seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper's
gland. This fluid nourishes and helps sperm
move through the urethra.
Fertility of man depends on the quality of semen
for which 2 factors are imp., number and
mobility of spermatozoa.
A count of spermatozoa less than 20 million per
ml of semen is considered as infertile or less
fertile.
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EJACULATION
The passage of sperm from the penis, a result of a
series of muscular contractions.

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Testosterone
The male reproductive hormone made by
the testicles which causes the changes of
puberty.
This hormone causes secondary sex
characteristics, production of sperm and
sexual mode.
It is produced in the testicles and enters the
bloodstream at a fairly constant rate.

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Functions of testosterone
Growth of sex hormone in male.
Life and fertility and spermatozoa is maintained.
Development of secondary sex characters.
Muscular development is more in male than female
because anabolic fraction of testosterone.
Metabolism is stimulated by anabolic fraction of
testosterone.
Blood volume and RBCs are more in male than female
because anabolic fraction of testosterone.
Water % is more because anabolic fraction of testosterone.
Libido is inspired because of testosterone.
Control of Testicular Function:

High temp. inhibits the testicular activity.

GH, anterior pituitary hormone, TH, adrenal cortex
etc. regulate the activity of testosterone.
Female Reproductive System
Front View

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Female Reproductive System
1. Vagina
2. Uterus
3. Fallopian tube
4. Ovaries
5. Mammary glands (Breasts)
 1.Vagina
Female organ used for intercourse, it is an empty
passageway leading from the vaginal opening to the
uterus.
It is only 3-4 inches long, but will lengthen during
arousal.
The vaginal walls are made of many small folds of
membrane that stretch greatly to accommodate a baby
during birth.
The vaginal wall also secrete a fluid that helps to
make intercourse easier.

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 2. Uterus
A hollow, muscular organ (shaped somewhat like an upside-
down pear, about the size of a fist).
The uterus is lined with endometrium (a blood lining.)
The uterus has one main function—to protect and nourish a
fetus
The walls of the uterus have the ability to stretch to the size
of a small watermelon.
After childbirth the uterus shrinks back to the original shape
in 6-8 weeks, but it can take up to nine months for the uterus
to fully recover.

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Cervix
The neck or opening of the uterus.
A normal healthy cervix is the strongest
muscle in the body.
It dips down about half an inch into the
vagina.
It is normally plugged by mucus. It stays
tightly closed during pregnancy, but thins
and opens for the delivery of the baby.

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 3. FALLOPIAN TUBES (oviducts)
Two tubes attached on either side of the uterus.

They are about four inches long and 3/16 inch in diameter
(the size of a cooked spaghetti noodle).

The oviducts carry egg cells toward the uterus and sperm
cells toward the egg cell.

Fertilization takes place in the upper third of the oviduct.

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 4. Ovary (Ovaries)
Two solid egg-shaped structures
They are attached to the uterus by ligaments. They are
the counterpart of the male testicles.
Ovaries have two main functions:

1. Store and release the ova or female egg cell. Some of

the ova disappear; others are dormant until each is
ripened and released after puberty.
2. Produce female sex hormones ESTROGEN and
PROGESTERONE
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Ovarian hormones produced during
different phases of menstruation are:
 Oestrogen secreted by the Graffin follicles
 Progesterone is secreted by corpora - lutea which
develops from the wall of Graffin follicle after its
rupture and liberation of ovum
 Relaxin
 Androgen
Function of ovarian hormones
1. Development of sex organs.
2. Menstrual cycle changes
3. Puberty changes or secondary sex characters changes;
growth of breasts, feminine hair, gait & emotions
4. Pregnancy with its impregnation of placenta and
foetus
5. Development of breasts.

Birth of baby is controlled partly by oxytocin of

posterior pituitary gland and relaxin hormone of the
ovary
 Ova
The female reproductive cell.
They are the largest cells in the female body. (about the
size of a grain of sand.)
The female baby is born with all the ova she will ever
have (about 200,000 in each ovary).
About 400-500 ova mature and are released over a
lifetime

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Estrogen
 Estrogen is responsible for the secondary sex
characteristics and the sex drive in females. It
spurs the onset of puberty and is responsible for
OVULATION.

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 Functions
Development of secondary sex characters.
Menstrual cycle depends up on secretion of estrogen.
Growth of uterus during pregnancy.
It has synergistic action with progesterone.
Its action interrelated with pituitary and thymus gland.
Stimulation of protein metabolism.
Stimulation of fat metabolism.
Stimulation of skeletal growth.
Water balance is favoured with deposition of water.
Libido is inspired.
Progesterone
 Progesterone builds up the lining of the uterus
called the endometrium in preparation for the
fertilized ovum.

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Functions
Preparation of endometrium for menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy is sustained by progesterone secretion.
It neutralises oxytocin of pituitary and protects
pregnancy by preventing uterine contraction.
Menstruation is inhibited during pregnancy by
progesterone.
Development of breasts.
Birth passage is relaxed by progesterone & so it
widens to facilitate birth.
5. Mammary glands (Breasts)
The breasts are mammary glands,varying in size
according to age, heredity, and the amount of fatty
tissue present.
Each breast has 15-20 glandular lobes separated by
connective tissue.
After childbirth, the pituitary gland stimulates
these lobules with the hormone prolactin and they
produce milk.
The dark-colored circle at the tip of the breast is
called the areola.
 It contains sebaceous glands to keep the skin
conditioned.
In the center is the nipple, where ducts from the
lobules open.
The first secretion from the breast is not a true milk,
but a thin yellowish substance called colostrum.
Colostrum contains nutrients and the mother’s
immunities that can protect baby.
 Functions of Mammary Glands
Mainly it’s synthesis, secretion and ejection of milk.
These functions, called lactation, are associated with
pregnancy and childbirth.
Milk productions is stimulated largely by the hormone
prolactin from anterior pituitary, with contribution
from progesterone and estrogens.
The ejection of milk is stimulated by oxytocin, which
is released from the posterior pituitary in response to
the sucking of an infant on the mother’s nipple.
Menstrual cycle
 Physiology of menstruation
Definition: A cyclic phase of the flow of blood, with sheds of
endometrium from the uterus of a woman at monthly
intervals is called menstruation.
 It occurs on an average of 28 days interval and lasts for
about 4 days.
 It starts from the age of puberty and the cycle continues till
menopause.
 It is so, absent up to 12-14 years of age and again stops
after 45-50 years of life in old age.
 Menstrual cycle also stops during pregnancy and for a few
months following childbirth.
Composition: Menstrual flow consists of blood, mucus,
endometrial strips, WBC and unfertilized ovum. It clots
soon after discharge.
 Phase of Menstrual (Uterine) Cycle:

1) Menstrual phase
2) Proliferative phase
3) Ovulation
4) Secretive phase

1) Menstruation (Day 1-5)

The superficial layer stratum functionalis of the uterus
detaches from the uterine wall, accompanied by bleeding
for 3-5 days.
Sex hormones are at their lowest normal levels at Day 1
Menstrual fluid contains fibrolysin, therefore it normally
does not clot.
2) Proliferative Phase (Day 6-14)

•Estrogen stimulates mitosis, the prolific growth of blood

vessels, and the formation of a new stratum functionalis.

•Estrogen levels are on rise during this phase and reaches

the highest at the end of this phase.

•It is also known as estrous phase and it is the estrogen

responsible for the proliferation.

•Estrogen also stimulates the endometrium to develop

progesterone receptors.
• FSH and LH levels are also increased during
this period.

• Under the influence of these hormones the

development and maturation of Graffin follicles
start. Hence, this phase is also known as follicular
phase.

• This phase lasts for about 10-14 days i.e. from 5 th

to 15th or 20th day.
 3) Ovulation:

• Before 14 days of the start of the menstruation there

is sudden rise in FSH and LH levels.

• The Graffin follicle of one overy ruptures to liberate

an ovum, this is called ovulation.

• The body temperature rises by 10F on the day of

ovulation.
• As ovulation approaches, the uterine tune becomes
edematous, its fimbriae develop and caress the ovary,
and its cilia create a gentle current in the nearby
peritoneal fluid.

• The ovulated egg is usually caught up in this current

and swept into the tube.

• An oocyte has only 24 hours to be fertilized. The

chance of fertilization is enhanced by changes in the
cervical mucus at the time of ovulation. It becomes
thinner and more stringy.
4) Secretory Phase (Day 15-28)
• In response to rising level of progesterone, the
endometrium of the uterus proliferates further
in preparation for possible pregnancy.

• Spiral arteries elaborate and coil more tightly

Uterine glands enlarge, coil, and begin secreting
nutrition's into the uterine cavity to sustain the
embryo until implantation.

•The cervical mucus becomes viscous, forming

the cervical plug, which prevents sperm entry.
• If pregnancy does not occur towards the end of
the secretory phase, LH level drops due to
negative feedback of high level of progesterone.
Progesterone level decline following the drop of
LH. Without the support of progesterone, the
endometrium undergoes degeneration in the
following sequence.
•The spiral arteries close due to continuous and
intensive constriction (spasm).
•The superficial layer stratum functionalis of the
uterus is deprived of blood supply.
The endometrial cells die of ischemia.
•The spiral arteries suddenly relax and open
wide.
•Blood gushes into the weakened capillary beds,
causing the capillaries to fragment and the
stratum functionalis to slough off.
•The menstrual cycle starts over again on this
first day of vaginal discharge