Reproductive System

Reproductive System
• Sexual reproduction is the creation
of an offspring by fusion of haploid
gametes, male sperm and female
eggs, to form a diploid zygote
• Asexual reproduction is creation of
offspring without the fusion of egg
and sperm
Reproductive System
Asexual reproduction: Examples
• Budding – new individuals arise from
outgrowths of existing ones
• found only among invertebrates
• Fragmentation – breaking of the body
into pieces, some or all of which
develop into adults
• accompanied by regeneration, regrowth
of lost body parts
Reproductive System
Asexual reproduction: Examples
• Parthenogenesis – development of a new
individual from an unfertilized egg
• found mainly among invertebrates
Sexual reproduction: Variation
• Hermaphroditism – individuals have both
male and female reproductive systems
• Any two individuals can mate under this
system, and in some, can self-fertilize
Reproductive handicap of sexual reproduction

• Sexual reproduction may enhance reproductive success of parents

when environmental factors change relatively rapidly
• This is due to their production of genetically varied offspring
• Asexual reproduction is expected to be most advantageous in stable, favorable
environments
Reproductive Cycles
• Most animals exhibit reproductive cycles
related to changing seasons
• Ovulation is the release of mature eggs at
the midpoint of a female cycle
• Fertilization is the union of sperm and egg
• External fertilization – individuals release
their gametes unto the (wet) environment
• Internal fertilization – an adaptation that
enables the sperm to reach the egg even when
the environment is dry
Reproductive Cycles
• To reproduce sexually, animals must
produce gametes from precursor cells
• In most species, individuals have
gonads, organs that produce gametes
• In many insects, the female has a
spermatheca in which sperm is stored
during copulation
Reproductive
System
Reproductive System: Male
• The reproductive organ of the males
consists of a pair of testes accompanied
by a set a excretory ducts as well as
other accessory glands
• Its main purpose is to produce sperm
• Additionally, it secretes the male sex
hormone, testosterone
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Testes (Singular: Testis): Parts
• Or testicles, are a pair of ovoid glandular
organs that is responsible for the
production of sperms cells
• Sperm cells – or spermatozoa is a motile
flagellated haploid gamete
• Cite for spermatogenesis
• Must have the necessary conditions for
spermatogenesis (1-8oC lower than the body
temperature)
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Testes (Singular: Testis): Parts
• Seminiferous tubules – where the sperm
cells mature to spermatids
• This is the most important part of the male
reproductive system
• Epididymis
• A mass of tightly coiled thin tubes that
carries the spermatids into the vas
deferens while it mature to a flagellated
spermatozoa
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Vas deferens
• Also called as the ductus deferens, carries
the sperm into the ejaculatory ducts
• Ejaculatory ducts – where the vas deferens and
the seminal vesicles meet
• Seminal Vesicles
• Small sacs where the semen is produced
(partly) and stored
• Semen (seminal fluid) – is a fluid containing
the sperms and other liquid or seminal plasma
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Accessory Glands: Prostate Gland
• A walnut-sized organ found below the
bladder that secretes the largest portion of
the semen
• These secretion are mainly a mixture of
fructose and glucose, as well as other
enzymes and alkaline chemicals
• These alkaline chemicals neutralizes the acidic
condition in the vagina
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Accessory Glands: Cowper’s gland
• Also called as the bulbourethral, is a pea-
sized gland inferior of the prostate
• It protects the sperm prior to ejaculation
• When sexually stimulated, the gland
produces an alkaline mucous secretion
called the pre-ejaculate; neutralizing the
acidic condition in the urethra while
lubricating it at the same time.
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Penis
• An external male organ whose function is
to deliver the sperm during copulation
• Erectile tissue in the penis allows the
penis to increase in size and becomes rigid
during sexual stimulation
• The sperm-containing semen passes
through the urethra during ejaculation
Reproductive System: Male
Parts of the Male Reproductive System
• Penis: Parts
• Glans (head)
• sensitive tissue at the distal end of the penis
• Corpus cavernosum
• Two columns of tissue that runs along side the
penis. Filled with blood during sexual stimulation
• Corpus Spongiosum
• A column of tissue that is filled with blood during
sexual stimulation. It prevents the urethra from
closing
Reproductive System: Female
• The reproductive organs of female
whose purpose is to produce and
transport the egg cells
• It also facilitates the fertilization of the
egg and sperm cells as well as
supporting the development of the
offspring during pregnancy
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• Ovaries
• Female germ cells do not divide after birth
• When a female is born with two million
primary oocyte (immature eggs suspended
in prophase I of meiosis) in the ovaries
• Fallopian Tubes
• Also called as the oviduct, is a long
narrow tube connecting the ovaries to the
uterus
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• Oviduct/Fallopian Tubes
• The egg from the ovary is released
forcefully into the fallopian tube and is
caught by tiny projection called fimbriae
• Usual cite for fertilization to occur
• Upon the contact of sperm and egg, the
secondary oocyte undergoes meiosis II,
creating a mature female gamete called the
ovum
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• Uterus
• Commonly called as the womb
• A hallow muscular organ located at the pelvic
region, between the bladder and the rectum
• It consists of smooth muscles, called the
myometrium, and is covered (internally) with
an epithelial lining called the endometrium
• Cite for zygote implantation
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• Cervix
• The tapered inferior part of the uterus
• Separates the uterus from the vagina
• Sperm passes through the cervical canal
upon the introduction of the semen
• However, upon fertilization, the cervix
will produce a cervical mucus plug,
preventing the entry of sperms in
subsequent ejaculation
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• Vaginal canal
• an elastic, muscular tube connecting the
cervix of the uterus to the vulva and
exterior of the body.
• Located at the posterior of the bladder
• Vaginal opening – serves as the entry
point for the penis upon copulation
• It is initially covered by a thin membrane
called the hymen
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• External parts: Vulva
• Mons Pubis
• A rounded mass of body tissue above the
pubic
• During puberty, pubic hair starts to grow in
this area
• Clitoris
• The female homologue of the penis, is the
females most sensitive erogenous zone
• In humans, it lacks any function
Reproductive System: Female
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
• External parts: Vulva
• Urethral Opening
• Opening above the vagina used for urination
• Labia majora
• A relatively large fleshy outer covering of the
vagina that protects the vagina
• Labia Minora
• A fleshy covering inside the labia majora. It is
engorged with blood during sexual
stimulation, causing it to swell and be more
sensitive
Gametogenesis
• Production of gametes
• Spermatogenesis, the formation of sperm, is
continuous and prolific
• Hundreds of millions of sperm are produced per
day; each sperm takes about 7 weeks to develop
• Oogenesis, the development of a mature
egg, is a prolonged process
• Immature eggs form in the female embryo but
do not complete their development until years
or decades later
Gametogenesis
Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual Cycle
• A recurring cycle of physiological changes that
happens in the female reproductive cycle to
prepare it for pregnancy
• Ovulation – release of an egg cell during the menstrual cycle
• Hormones Involved
• Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH)
• Released by the hypothalamus, the GnRH
causes the pituitary gland to increase output of
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH)
Menstrual Cycle
Hormones Involved
• Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH)
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Released by the Pituitary gland, this hormone
controls that controls the menstrual cycle,
specifically the growth of the ovarian follicles
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Stimulates the ovary to produce estradiol (a
form of estrogen)
• At the ~14th day of the cycle, LH causes the
ovarian follicle to tear and release the oocyte
from the ovary, resulting to Ovulation
Menstrual Cycle
The Ovulation process
• Corpus Luteum – hormone-
secreting structure produced
after the egg has been
discharged from the ovary
• Produces Progesterone, a
hormone that prepares the
endometrium for possible
pregnancy
• Egg cells are only viable for
around 12-24 hours
Menstrual Cycle
• Menstruation is, typically, a 28-day cycle
• The endometrium thickens in anticipation to pregnancy. It is shed if
pregnancy doesn’t happen
Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual Cycle
Menopause
• After ~500 cycles, human females
undergo menopause, the cessation
of ovulation and menstruation
• Menopause is very unusual among
animals
• Menopause might have evolved to
allow a mother to provide better care
for her children and grandchildren
Menstrual vs Estrous Cycle
• Menstrual cycle – humans and some other
primates only
• The endometrium is shed from the uterus in a
bleeding
• Sexual receptivity is not limited to a time frame
• Estrous cycles are characteristic of most
mammals
• endometrium is reabsorbed by the uterus
• Estrous – sexual receptivity or “heat” period
• The length and frequency vary different species
Human Sexual Response
• Two reactions predominate in both sexes:
• Vasocongestion – filling of tissue with blood
• Myotonia – increased muscle tension
• The sexual response cycle has four phases
excitement • plateau • orgasm • resolution
• Excitement prepares the penis and vagina
for coitus (sexual intercourse)
Conception
• Conception, fertilization of an egg by a sperm, occurs in the oviduct
• The resulting zygote begins to divide by mitosis in a process called cleavage
• Division of cells gives rise to a blastocyst, a ball of cells with a central
cavity
Conception
• After blastocyst formation, the embryo
implants into the endometrium
• Pregnancy (Gestation) – the condition of
carrying one or more embryos in the uterus
• Duration of pregnancy correlates with body
size and maturity of the young at birth
• Approximately nine months of human gestation
are divided into three trimesters of equal length
Conception: First Trimester
• Splitting of the embryo during the first
month of development results in
genetically identical (monozygotic) twins
• Release and fertilization of two eggs
result in fraternal and genetically distinct
(dizygotic) twins
Conception: First Trimester
Changes occur in the mother:
• Mucus plug in the cervix to protect
against infection
• Growth of the placenta and uterus
• Cessation of ovulation and the
menstrual cycle
• Breast enlargement
• Nausea is also very common
Conception: Second and Third Trimester
Changes occur in the mother:
• The fetus grows and is very
active
• The mother may feel fetal
movements
• Hormone levels stabilize
• The placenta takes over the
production of progesterone, the
hormone that maintains the
pregnancy
Changes occur in the mother:
• The fetus grows and fills the space
within the embryonic membranes
• Childbirth begins with labor
• a series of strong, rhythmic uterine
contractions that push the fetus and
placenta out of the body
• It is regulated by prostaglandins and
hormones such as estradiol and
oxytocin
Contraception