Reproductive Physiology

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 Introduction
Function of the reproductive system
1. Reproduction (perpetuation of species)

2. Sexual pleasure (coitus, coupling)

What are gonads and gametes?

Gonads: Testis and Ovaries

Function: 1. Gametogenesis: haploid cell formation
2. Endocrine function: steroid hormone synthesis

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Physiology of Male Reproductive
System

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Functional structures of the male reproductive system
➢ The main difference b/n the male and female depends
primarily on the ± Y-chromosome and a pair of gonads (testis
and ovaries)
The male reproductive system consists of:
1. Gonads (the testis):-Functions are
-Spermatogenesis (formation of spermatozoa)
-Endocrine function (produces testosterone from Leydig
cells and inhibin, ↓↓estrogen and MIS from Sertoli cells).
2.Copulatory organ (penis)
3. Accessory sex organs:- Tubular structures & Accessory
glands
A) Tubular structures. Includes:
➢Epididymis:- area of storage and maturation of sperm.
➢Vas deferens:-transport of sperm 4
➢Ejaculatory duct: Connects vas deferens with the urethra
 …Cont’d
B) Accessory glands: provide
fluid medium for sperm
(seminal plasma)
➢ The seminal vesicle: secretes
fructose rich fluid containing
ascorbic acid and flavin.
✓ It produces 60% of the volume
of the seminal plasma
➢ The prostate: produces an
alkaline acid phosphate,
proteolytic enzymes.
✓ Prostate secretion makes up
30% of the seminal plasma
➢ The bulbourethral (Cowper's)
glands 5
 Testis
➢ It account for 80–90% of the
testicular mass.
➢ located within the scrotum, which
✓ Serves as a protective envelope and
✓ Maintain the testicular temp.(<2°C
normal)
➢ Functionally the testis is made up of
convoluted somniferous tubules.
➢ The seminiferous tubules contain:
➢ Spermatogonia-germinal cells that
give rise to spermatozoa.
➢ Leydig cells:-secrete testosterone
➢ Sertoli cells (non-germinal cells)
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 Function of Sertoli cells

1. Mechanical support and

nourishment of spermatozoa
2. Secret inhibin, estrogen and
MIS
3. Defense (phagocytosis), eat
old sperm cells
4. Act as blood testis barrier

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 Spermatogenesis
➢ Occurs in the seminiferous tubules during active sexual life.
➢ Seminiferous tubules contain large number of germinal
epithelial cells called spermatogonia.
➢ Spermatogonia are continuously proliferate and differentiate to
form sperm
➢ Spermatogenesis requires 64 days in man and transport of sperm
from epididymis to ejaculatory duct require additional 12-21 days

Seminiferous tubules
• Site of spermatogenesis

Interstitial cells of Leydig

• Secret testosterone
Blood vessels 8
 Mature sperm cell

➢ Mature sperm cells contain the head, neck and tail.

Head ➢ Acromosomes at the head contain enzymes,
hyaluronidase or proteases.
Neck ➢ Proteases are meant for effective penetration of egg
during fertilization.
➢ Maturation occurs in the epididymis and requires
testosterone
Tail

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 Seminal fluid
➢ Semen is the fluid ejaculated during the male sexual act.
➢ It is made up of spermatozoa and the seminal plasma which is the
combined secretion of the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles and
prostate.
➢ An average volume per ejaculation is 2-5 ml with 108 sperms/ml.

Function Secreted by
• Vehicle for sperm • Epididymis
• Diluent Seminal
• Seminal vesicles
• Motility plasma
• Prostate
• Buffering medium • Cowper’s gland
• Energy source

Its volume and composition 10

depends on testosterone
Hormonal regulation of male reproduction
- OC GnRH MB

-
Gonadotropes

PRL
LH ↑FSH

Spermatogenesis
Sertoli cells
Interstitial cells
of Leydig
MIS
Inhibin
Testosterone ABP
0.65µg/dl ↓Estradiol
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 Function of testosterone
1. Determines secondary sexual characteristics
➢ During puberty HT produces GnRH→stimulates APG to produce
LH and FSH→stimulate testis for spermatogenesis and testosterone
secretion.
➢ Testosterone is essential for the onset of male pubertal changes.
4. It stimulates the brain to develop the male sexual behavior and
set up.
5. Spermatogenesis: It stimulates spermatogenesis and required for
sperm maturation
6. General metabolic effect: It is a protein anabolic hormone,
increases muscle mass and bone matrix.

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13
 Male sexual act
Has 3 stages:
1.Erection: -It is definitely a cardiovascular phenomena.
-It is initiated by psychic, visual or tactile stimulations.
Mechanism:-Parasympathetic stimulation →Dilation of penile
arteries →Entry of large volume blood to the arteries
compresses the veins (outlets) →Venous occlusion →
Stiffening of erectile tissues (corpora cavernosa and corpus
spongiosum) →Erection
2. Orgasm:- Emission and Ejaculation. It is the ejection of
seminal plasma containing spermatozoa out of the male
ductile system. Sympathetic stimulation to the smooth
muscles of epididymis, vas deferens, prostate and seminal
vesicles result emission, whereas, contraction of urethral
sk/muscles results in ejaculation
3. Resoraction: reversion of erection, sympathetic stimulation
constricts arteries, blood leaves the erectile tissues, penis
become flaccid 14
 Physiological changes during male sexual act
➢ ↑HR ↑BF ↑MR
➢ ↑CO ↑ABP ↑Energy out put
➢ Stimulation of the CNS
➢ Hyperventilation
➢ Sympathetic stimulation Sexual flash
➢ Emotional excitement
➢ Sensation of pleasure
Problems associated with the male sexual act
➢ Premature ejaculation Spinal damage
➢ Absence of emission Diabetic neuropathy
➢ Impotence: failure of erection Hypotension
➢ Periapism: persistent erection Testicular failure

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Physiology of Female Reproductive
system

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 Female reproductive system

The female reproductive system

consists of:
1. Essential Structures (Gonads):-
two ovaries
Function: Oogenesis, endocrine
(Estrogen+ Progesterone) secretion
2. Accessory sex organs include:
oviducts, uterus, vagina, external
genitalia

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 Ovaries
➢ Two roles: Gametogenic and Endocrine function
➢ The gametogenic potential is established early in the fetus
➢ Endocrine role of the ovary is not realized until puberty

❖ Has 2 structural parts

1. Medullary part: the central part that contains BVs,
connective tissues (elastin and collagen)
2. Cortical part: the peripheral part that contains actively
proliferating ovarian follicles

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 Accessory structures
They include:
-- Oviduct -- Uterus
-- Vagina -- External genitalia
A) Oviduct/fallopian tube/uterine tube
• Function:- Site of normal fertilization
- Transport ovum, sperm
- Secretory function
B) Uterus: a hollow muscular organ in
non-pregnant woman
• Layers of the uterus wall
✓ Endometrium (with uterine glands)
✓ Myometrium
✓ Perimetrium
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 …Cont‘d
Function of Uterus :
➢ Site of pregnancy
➢ Growth and development of fetus
➢ Produces pressure during labor
➢ Site of menstruation
C) Vagina: Lined with non-keratinized
stratified epithelium.
Function
➢ Copulatory organ of female
➢ Birth canal
➢ Allows passage of menstruation
D) External genitalia: clitoris, labia minora
and labia majora 20
 The Female Sexual Cycle

➢ Also called menstrual cycle

➢ Appears at puberty and continues until menopause
➢ The first menstrual flow is called menarche
➢ Average of menarche is 12 yrs (9-16yrs)
➢ The female sexual cycle has two major phases:
✓ Ovarian cycle
➢Follicular phase (1st to 13th day)
➢ Ovulatory phase (14th to 15th day)
➢ Luteal phase (15th to 25th day)
✓ Endometrial cycle(Bleeding phase, Proliferative phase &
Secretory phase) 21
 …
– Uterine cycle
• Proliferative phase (estrogen phase)
• Secretary phase (progesterone phase)
• Menstruation
– Ovarian Cycle
• Follicular phase
• Ovulation
• Luteal phase
 Uterine Cycle
• Proliferative phase (estrogen phase)
• Secretary phase (progesterone phase)
• Menstruation
 Ovarian Cycle
• Follicular phase
• Ovulation
• Luteal phase
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 The female hormonal system

OC GnRH MB

Gonadotropes

FSH LH
•Follicular growth
•Maturation of graafian follicles •Stimulates estrogen
•Secretion of inhibin & prog. secretion
•Promotes ovulation
Ovary •Luteininzation

Ovarian hormones ↓Androgen

↑Progesterone ↓Inhibin
↑Estrogen
↑Estrogen 26
↑progesterone
Hormonal Regulation

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 Ovarian hormones
❖ Ovaries secrete four hormones
--Estrogen --Progesterone
--↓ Androgens --↓ Inhibin (the only peptide gonadal hormone)
➢ Estrogen
-Ovarian follicular cells
-Corpus luteum
Sources -Adrenal cortex
-Placenta
-Testes
Rate of secretion
✓ 36 µg/day in the follicular phase
✓ 380 µg/day just before ovulation
✓ 250 µg/day in the mid-luteal phase
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 Function of Estrogen
1. Development of the body during puberty
• Growth and enlargement of sex organs & Dev’t of 2o-sex characteristics
2. Growth of the uterus during pregnancy
3. Growth of the breast
4. General metabolic effects:-Enhances bone ossification, Protein anabolic…
5. Functional relations with other hormones
• Estrogen has a synergestic action with progesterone on the uterus
endometrium and breast acinar cells
• Estrogen sensitizes the uterus to the action of oxytocin during labor
• Estrogen regulates rate of secretion of LH and FSH from APG
• Estrogen stimulates secretion of ACTH that leads to hyperthrophy
of adrenal cortex
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 Progesterone

❖ Sources -Corpus luteum

-Follicular cells
-Adrenal cortex
-Placenta
-Testes
❖ Rate of secretion
✓ 1 mg/ day in the early follicular phase
✓ 4 mg/day just before ovulation
✓ 25 mg/day in the mid-luteal phase

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 Progesterone…Cont’d

Function of progesterone
1. On uterus
➢ Induces the progestational changes of endometrium
➢ Inhibits excitability of myometrium
➢ Stimulates secretion of thick, alkaline cervical mucous
2. On breast
➢ Stimulates development of secretory cells
➢ Stimulates differentiation of ductile system
3. On other hormones: inhibits secretion of LH and FSH
4. Has a thermogenic action

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 The Female Sexual Act
A. Stimulation of the Female Sexual Act
 As is true in the male sexual act, successful performance of the
female sexual act depends on both psychic stimulation and local
sexual stimulation.
 Thinking sexual thoughts can lead to female sexual desire, and
this aids greatly in the performance of the female sexual act.
 Local sexual stimulation in women occurs in more or less the
same manner as in men because massage and other types of
stimulation of the vulva, vagina, and other perineal regions can
create sexual sensations.
 The glans of the clitoris is especially sensitive for initiating
sexual sensations.
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 The Female Sexual Act ….cont’d
B. Female Erection and Lubrication
 Located around the introitus and extending into the clitoris is
erectile tissue almost identical to the erectile tissue of the penis.
 This erectile tissue, like that of the penis, is controlled by the
parasympathetic nerves that originates from the sacral plexus
pass to the external genitalia.
 The parasympathetic nerve dilates the arteries
 Blood flows into them and fills them leading to erection
 Parasympathetic signals also pass to the bilateral Bartholin’s
glands located beneath the labia minora and cause them to
secrete mucus immediately inside the introitus.
 This mucus is responsible for much of the lubrication during
sexual intercourse
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The Female Sexual Act ….cont’d
C. Female Orgasm
 When local sexual stimulation reaches maximum intensity, and
especially when the local sensations are supported by appropriate
psychic conditioning signals from the cerebrum, reflexes are
initiated that cause the female orgasm, also called the female
climax.
 The female orgasm is analogous to emission and ejaculation in the
male.
D. Remission.
 This is a state of becoming calm and peaceful

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35
 Fertilization
 Definition:
It is process in which a sperm cell unites with an ovum;
results in pregnancy
 During intercourse a male ejaculates ~ 300 million sperm into
vagina of the female
 During their passage through the female reproductive tract,
10% gain ability to fertilize an oocyte (capacitation)
 In order to become capacitated the sperm must be in the female
tract for at least 7 hours
Capacitated sperm are guided up to the uterine tube toward
the oocyte by chemotaxis and thermotaxis
 Normally occurs in the uterine tube
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Fertilization …cont’d
Only one sperm cell
penetrates the follicular cells
and the zona pellucida that
surround the ovum’s cell
membrane
After fertilization, ovum
releases enzymes that cause
the zona pellucida to become
impenetrable to other sperm
Zygote forms from union of
ovum and sperm
❑ Contains 46 chromosomes

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 Menopause
➢ The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is
no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Period of increasing
ovarian failure
• A natural decline in reproductive hormones when a woman
reaches her 40s or 50s.
• Menopause is signaled by 12 months since last menstruation.
• Common symptoms include hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
There may also be sleep disturbances. The combination of these
symptoms can cause anxiety or depression
➢ Cycles become increasingly infrequent and finally cease
completely
➢ Caused by the end of ovarian follicle supply
➢ Hormonal changes:
▪ ↓↓ Estrogens and progesterone
▪ ↑↑ FSH and LH 38