CHAPTER 16

The Reproductive
System
Alihuddin • Castillo • Haron • Perez • Topacio
The reproductive system
ensures continuation of the
species by producing offspring
• Gonads – primary sex organs
•Testes in males
•Ovaries in females

• Gonads produce gametes (sex cells) and secrete hormones

•Sperm – male gametes
•Ova (eggs) – female gametes
Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System
and
Male Reproductive Functions
TESTES
•each plum-sized testis is approximately 4 cm
(1½ inches) long and 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide

TUNICA ALBUGINEA
•a fibrous connective tissue capsule, that
surrounds each testis

SEPTUM
•interval/midline

LOBULES
•wedge-shaped ; made up of coiled tubes
SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES
•the actual “sperm-forming factories”

RETE TESTIS
•sperm travel to enter the first part of the duct
system

EPIDIDYMIS
•hugs the external surface of the testis

INTERSTITIAL CELLS
•functionally distinct cells that produce
androgens—the most important of which is
testosterone
1.EPIDIDYMIS

Duct System
•cup-shaped that is a highly coiled tube about
6 m (20 feet) long that hugs the posterior side
of the testis
•first part of the male duct system and
provides temporary storage site
•immature sperm takes about 20 days to
mature
2.DUCTUS DEFERENS

Duct System
•vas deferens
•runs upward from the epididymis through
the inguinal canal into the pelvic cavity and
arches over the superior aspect of the urinary
bladder

3.URETHRA
 SPERMATIC CHORD
•a connective tissue sheath which travels
upward through the inguinal canal

AMPULLA
•the expanded portion of the ductus
deferens
EJACULATORY DUCT
•passes through the prostate gland to
Male reproductive organs. (a) Sagittal view
merge with the urethra
 during EJACULATION
•the thick layers of smooth muscle in its
walls create peristaltic waves that
rapidly squeeze the sperm forward

SCROTUM
•a skin sac that hangs outside the body
cavity and holds the testes

VASECTOMY
•cutting the vas deferens
Male reproductive organs. (a) Sagittal view
•sperm are still produced, but they can
no longer reach the body exterior
URETHRA
•base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the
penis, is the terminal part of the male duct system
1. prostatic urethra - surrounded by the
prostate gland
2. intermediate part (or membranous urethra) -
prostatic urethra to the penis
3. spongy (penile) urethra - length of the penis
and opening to the body exterior

•male urethra carries both urine and sperm to the

body exterior; thus, it serves two masters, the
urinary and reproductive systems
ACCESSORY GLANDS
•paired seminal vesicles
•single prostate
•bulbo-urethral glands
- produce the bulk of semen

SEMINAL GLANDS/VESICLES
•located at the base of the bladder
•these large hollow glands, each 6 to 7 cm
produce about 60 percent of seminal fluid
•the fluid volume of semen
•thick, yellowish secretion is rich in
sugar (fructose), vitamin C, prostaglandins
PROSTATE
•a single doughnut-shaped gland about the size of a
peach pit
•prostate gland secretion is a milky fluid that plays a
role in activating sperm
HYPERTROPHY
•an increase in its size independent of the body’s
growth, strangles the urethra which enhances the risk
of bladder infections (cystitis) and kidney damage
PROSTATITIS
•inflammation of the prostate
PROSTATIC CANCER
•is a slow-growing, hidden condition and third most
prevalent cancer in men
BULBO-URETHRAL GLANDS
•are tiny, pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate
gland
•they produce a thick, clear mucus that drains into the
penile urethra

SEMEN
•sticky mixture of sperm and accessory gland
secretions.
•the liquid portion acts as a transport medium for
nutrients and chemicals that protect the sperm and aid
their movement
•amount of semen during ejaculation - 2 to 5 ml
•between 50 and 150 million sperm in each milliliter
External Genitalia
SCROTUM
•is a divided sac of skin with sparse hairs
that hangs outside the abdominal cavity
PENIS
•is designed to deliver sperm into the
female reproductive tract
•shaft
•glans penis - enlarged tip
•prepuce or foreskin - folded cuff of skin
•circumcision - surgical removal of foreskin
•erection - an enlarged and rigid state of
the penis
SPERMATOGENESIS
•sperm production
•begins during puberty and continues throughout life
•formed in the seminiferous tubules of the testis

SPERMATOGONIA
•go through rapid mitotic divisions to build up the stem cell line

MEIOSIS
•a special type of nuclear division that occurs for the most
part only in the gonads

SPERMIOGENESIS
•last stage of sperm development
Mature Sperm
An abnormal, multi-
tailed, human sperm
from a 66-year-old
man
TESTOSTERONE
•most important hormonal product of the testes
•stimulates the adolescent growth spurt, prompts his reproductive organs to
develop to their adult size

MALE SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS

•deepening of the voice as the larynx enlarges
•increased hair growth all over the body
•enlargement of skeletal muscles
•increased heaviness of the skeleton due to bone growth
Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System
and
Female Reproductive Functions and Cycle
THE OVARY
•an internal view of an ovary reveals many tiny saclike
structures called ovarian follicles.
•the ovaries are full of follicles.
•each follicles has one oocyte that is able to mature into
a mature ovum (egg).
•the ovaries play two central roles in the female
reproductive system:

1. the ovaries act as glands by secreting important sex

hormones including estrogen and progesterone.
2. the ovaries act as gonads by housing the follicles
that develop into mature ova (egg).
FERTILITY WINDOW
•from puberty to menopause, women are only
able to conceive during a 6 day window of time
out of their monthly cycle.
•women can only get pregnant on the day of
ovulation, or the five days immediately prior.
•ovulation usually starts about 14 days after the
onset of the woman’s last menstruation.
•having intercourse from about day 10 to about
day 14 of the cycle, increases the chances of
pregnancy.
THE FOLLICULAR PHASE OF THE OVARIAN CYCLE
UTERINE (FALLOPIAN) TUBES
•the fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the
uterus.
•ova (egg cells) are carried to the uterus through
the fallopian tubes following ovulation.
•fertilization of the egg occurs in the fallopian tube.
•the tubes is about 10 cm ( 4 inches) long and
extends medially from an ovary to empty into the
superior region of the uterus
•the distal end of each uterine tube expands as the
funnel-shaped, which has fingerlike projections
called fimbriae
THE UTERUS
•the uterus is located in the pelvis between
the urinary bladder and rectum.
•if a woman becomes pregnant, this is
where the fetus will grow and develop.

THE CERVIX
•the cervix is the opening from the uterus
to the vagina.
•when a woman is ready to give birth, a
doctor will check to see if the cervix has
dilated
 THE VAGINA
•the vagina is a thin-walled tube 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) long.
•sometimes called birth canal
•the vagina is the birth canal for the baby
•it is also the receptacle for spermatozoa during sexual intercourse.
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
AND FEMALE PERINEUM
The female reproductive structures that
are located external to vagina are the
external genitalia, also called vulva.

The vulva includes

•Mons pubis
•The labia (majora and minora)
•The clitoris
•The urethra
•The vaginal opening
Uterine Menstrual Cycle
and
Mammary Glands
MENSTRUAL (UTERINE) CYCLE

∙~28 days in length

∙Cyclic changes of the endometrium mucosa of the uterus in response to
hormone changes
∙Regulated by cyclic production of estrogens and progesterone which are
regulated by the anterior pituitary hormones =FSH and LH
∙Stages of the menstrual cycle
∙Menses – functional layer of the endometrium is sloughed days 1-5
∙Proliferative stage – regeneration of functional layer days 6-14
∙Secretory stage – endometrium increases in size and readies for
implantation days 15-28
∙Ovulation typically occurs on day 14
HORMONAL CONTROL OF THE OVARIAN
AND UTERINE CYCLES

•Menstrual phase
•Superficial layer of endometrium sloughs off
•Day 0, hypothalamus secretes releasing
hormone
•anterior pituitary gland secretes FSH
•FSH secreted days 1-14
•FSH targets primordial follicle (follicle
matures)
•Mature follicle releases estrogen
•Proliferate phase:
–rising estrogen levels causes the regeneration of the
functional layer.
–Day 14
•Anterior pituitary gland secretes LH
•Targets mature secondary follicle
•Follicle bursts causing Ovulation to occur
•Secretory phase:
–Days 14-24
–The corpus luteum secretes progesterone
–Progesterone targets endometrium
•Endometrium becomes thick, glandular and vascular.
•Endometrial glands secrete nutrients into uterus.
•Secretory phase: continued
•If no implantation
•By day 24 corpus luteum degenerates
•Estrogen and progesterone levels decline
•The decrease in androgens is detected by
hypothalamus
•Hypothalamus secretes releasing hormone to
stimulate pituitary gland to secrete FSH
•Cycle begins again If Implantation occurs
•Corpus luteum to continues hormone production
(progesterone).
∙Present in both sexes, but only function in females
∙Modified sweat glands (apocrine)
∙Function is to produce milk
∙Stimulated by sex hormones (mostly estrogens) to
increase in size
∙Anatomy of mammary glands
∙Areola – central pigmented area
∙Nipple – protruding central area of areola
∙Lobes – internal structures that radiate around nipple
∙Composed of CT and alveoli
∙Alveolar glands – clusters of milk producing glands
within lobules
∙Lactiferous ducts – connect alveolar glands to nipple
 Pregnancy
and
Embryonic Development
FERTILIZATION
- is the union of a human egg and sperm, and
the result of this union is called the ZYGOTE
while pregnancy refers to the events that
occur from the time of fertilization
(conception) until infant is born.

•Gestation Period extends by convention

from the last mestrual period for
approximately 280 days.
•Conceptus (that which is conceived) or
developing offspring

•2 weeks pregnant from fertilization through

week 8, the embryonic period, the conceptus is
called and embryo and from week 9 through
birth. The fetal period, the conceptus is called a
fetus and called infant after birth
 DIAGRAM OF THE APPROXIMATE SIZE OF A HUMAN
CONCEPTUS FROM FERTILIZATION TO THE EARLY FETAL
STAGE
ACCOMPLISHING FERTILIZATION
•The oocyte is viable For 12 to 24 hours after it is cast out of
the ovary.

•Sperm generally retain their fertilizing power within the

female reproductive tract for 24 hours to 28 hours after
ejaculation.

•For fertilization to occur, sexual intercourse must be no

more than 2 days before ovulation and no later than 24
hours after where the oocyte is approximately one third of
the way down the length of the uterine tube.
•If sperm are deposited in a females vagina at the
approximate time of ovulation, They are attracted to
the oocyte by chemicals that act as homing devices
to locate the oocyte.

•It takes 1 to 2 hrs for sperm to complete the journey up

the female duct system into the uterine tubes even through
they are only 12cm (5inches) away.

•There are millions of sperm cells however more of them

are being destroyed by the vaginas acidic environment only
a few hundred to a few thousand sperm finally made it to
the eggs vicinity.
ANATOMICAL CHANGES
 Childbirth,
Contaception: Preventing Pregnancy
CHILD BIRTH
•also called as parturition “bringing forth
young” is the culmination of Pregnancy.

•usually occurs within 15 days of the calculated

due date

LABOR
–The series of events that expel the infant
from the uterus.
INITIATION OF LABOR
•Onset of labor is defined as regular, painful uterine contractions resulting
in progressive cervical effacement and dilatation

•Braxton Hicks contractions. This occur irregularly and are thought to be a

form of “practice contraction”, but they are not regarded as a part of
labour.

•Oxytocin induces uterine contractions in two ways. Oxytocin stimulates

the release of PGE2 and prostaglandin F2α in fetal membranes by activation
of phospholipase C. The prostaglandins stimulate uterine contractility
 FALSE LABOR REAL LABOR

•Also know as Braxton •You have a bloody

hicks contactions (brownish or reddish)
mucus discharge.
•Contractions are irregular
•Your water breaks.
STAGES OF CHILDBIRTH
THE STAGES OF LABOR
•Dilation Stage
–Contractions cause the cervix to dilate
•Expulsion Stage
–The baby is born
•Placental Stage
–The placenta is expelled from the mother’s body
FIRST STAGE
•is the time from the appearance of true
contractions until the cervix is fully dilated by
the baby’s head.

•the cervix opens (dilates) and thins out

(effaces) to allow the baby to move into the
birth canal.

•Contractions become stronger & more

frequent
SECOND STAGE
•The period from full dilation (10cm)to deliver the
infant.

•The infant passes through the cervix and vagina to

the outside of the body.

•Episiotomy – surgical cut at the vaginal opening,

helping the baby’s head pass through vaginal
opening
Vertex Position - Head first
Breech Position - Buttocks first

Dystocia - (difficult or obstructed labor)

encompasses a variety of concepts, ranging from
"abnormally" slow dilation of the cervix
THIRD STAGE
•The part of labor that lasts from the birth of the
baby until the placenta and fetal membranes are
delivered.

•placenta is separating from the uterine wall and is

ready to be delivered. Pressure may be applied by
massaging the uterus and the umbilical cord may be
gently pulled.
 CONTRACEPTION

•intentional prevention of conception

through the use of various devices, sexual
practices, chemicals, drugs, or surgical
procedures.

•any device or act whose purpose is to

prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.
 HORMONAL METHODS

Oestrogen- it inhibits the production of FSH

Progesterone- it stimulates the production of thick mucus In cervix

Combination- combined oral contraceptive pill

 NON-HORMONAL METHODS
•Outercourse.
•Barrier methods.
•Fertility Awareness Methods / natural family planning.
•Withdrawal.
•Copper IUDs (intrauterine devices)
•Sterilization.
end