Reproductive

System

BIOLOGY

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Reproductive System
One of the examples of sexual reproduction, two main parts are there in the human
reproduction system. We will discuss the major points of male and female reproductive
system separately in this note

Male Reproductive System

• The primary male sex organ is testis, located in the pelvis region along with
glands, accessory ducts and the external genitalia.

• Scrotum, a pouch, in which testes are situated and is located outside the abdominal
cavity.

• Almost 250 compartments of testicular lobules are there in each testis.

• One to three highly coiled tubules are seen in each lobule, known as seminiferous
tubules. These tubules are responsible for the sperm production.

• Two type of cells are lined inside the seminiferous tubule which are known as male
germ cells (Spermatogonia) and Sertoli cells.

• The spermatogonia cells are the main production house of sperms as they go
through meiotic cell division. The process of sperm generation is called
spermatogenesis.

• The Sertoli cells are responsible for providing nutrition to the newly formed sperm
cells.

• Leydig cells are present outside the seminiferous tubules, between the interstitial
spaces, that’s why it is also known as interstitial cells.

• These cells secrete testicular hormones called androgen, more specifically

testosterone.

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• The male external genital is known as penis, made of special tissue. Glans penis
is the enlarged end of penis covered by a loose fold of skin known as foreskin.

• The three accessory glands are also the part of male reproductive system namely

1. a paired of seminal vesicles,

2. a paired of bulbourethral glands

3. a prostate gland.

Male Reproductive System

Female Reproductive System

• The primary female sex organ is ovary located in the pelvic region along with
uterus, cervix, vagina, a pair of oviducts and the external genitalia.

• Mammary glands are also integrated in this system functionally and structurally
for supporting the process of ovulation, fertilization, pregnancy, birth and childcare.

• Mammary glands are paired structures that contain glandular tissues and variable
fats. Each glandular tissue contains 15-20 mammary lobes containing alveoli that
secrete milk. Mammary ducts join to form mammary ampulla.

• Ovum or female gametes are produces by ovaries and it also secretes several
steroid hormones also known as the ovarian hormones. Example: estrogen and
progesterone.

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• On each side of lower abdomen, the ovaries are located having 2 to 4 cm in length
and it is connected the uterus and the pelvic wall by ligaments.

• About 10-12 cm long oviducts also known as fallopian tubes located in each side
and extends from the periphery of each ovary to the uterus.

• The funnel shaped part of the fallopian tube near the ovary is called infundibulum.
Fimbriae, the finger like projections are present at the edges of the infundibulum.
This structure helps in the collection of the ovum after ovulation.

• Ampulla is the wider part of the oviduct, where the fertilization takes place in a
female individual.

• The last part of oviduct is called isthmus has a narrow lumen that joins the uterus.

• The uterus is also called womb, and in this structure the fertilized ovum or zygote
get implanted and grows.

• Three layers are found the uterus they are

 perimetrium,

 myometrium

 endometrium

• The birth canal consist of the cervical canal (the cavity of cervix) and the vagina.

• The part of the female external genitalia are mons pubis, labia majora, labia
minora, hymen and clitoris.

• A cushion of fatty tissue covered by skin and pubic hair is known as Mons pubis.

• Two fleshy folds of tissue extended down from the mons pubis and surround the
vaginal opening is called labia majora.

• The paired fold of tissue under the labia majora is known as the labia minora.

• Hymen, a membranous structure present in the opening of the vagina.

• A tiny finger-like structure which lies at the upper junction of the two labia minora
above the urethral opening is known as clitoris.

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Female Reproductive System

Gametogenesis
The process of formation of male and female gametes in testes and ovary respectively
is known as gametogenesis. It is of two types:

1. Spermatogenesis in males

2. Oogenesis in females

Points to Remember
• Parturition is the process of delivery of fully developed fetus.

• Signals for parturition originate from the fully developed fetus and placenta inducing
mild uterine contractions called Foetal ejection reflex

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Spermatogenesis

In testes immature, male germ cells (spermatogonia) produce sperm by

spermatogenesis that begins at puberty

The spermatogonia present at the inner side of seminiferous tubules multi-

ply by mitotic division and increase in number. Each spermatogonium con-
tains 46 chromosomes.

Spermatogonia forms spermatocyte that undergoes meiotic division to

reproduce secondary spermatocytes having 23 chromosomes

The spermatids are transformed into spermatozoa by the process termed

as spermiogenesis. The sperm heads remain embedded in Sertoli cells
and are released from seminiferous tubules by the process of spermiation.

Spermatogenesis

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Structure of sperm
• Sperm is a microscopic structure made up of
a head, neck, a middle piece, and a tail.

• The sperm head contains an elongated

haploid nucleus, anterior portion of which is
protected by cap-like structure acrosome.

• Human male ejaculates about 200-300

million sperms during coitus. The seminal
plasma along with the sperms constitute the
semen.

• The function of male sex secondary ducts

and glands are controlled by androgen
hormones. Sperm Structure

Oogenesis
• The phenomenon of formation of mature female gametes is called oogenesis. It
started during embryonic development stage when millions of oogonia (gamete
mother cells) are formed in each fetal ovary.

• The gamete's mother cells start division and enter into prophase-I of meiotic
division and get temporally arrested at that stage called primary oocytes.

• Each primary oocyte gets surrounded by a layer of granulosa cell than it is called
the primary follicle.

• At puberty, about 60,000- 80,000 primary follicles are left in each ovary.

• Primary follicle gets protected by more layers of granulosa cells called secondary
follicle that transform into tertiary follicle that contains a fluid-filled cavity known as
the antrum.

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• The tertiary follicles further change into the mature follicle termed as Graafian
follicle, which rapture to release secondary oocytes (ovum) from the ovary by the
process of ovulation.

Oogenesis

Points to Remember
• Lactation is the process in which mammary glands of female, start producing milk,
to the end of pregnancy.

• The milk produced during the initial few days of lactation is called colostrum, which
contain several antibodies.

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Menstrual Cycle

Diagrammatic presentation of events in Menstrual Cycle

The reproductive cycles in female primates is called menstrual cycle. It start at puberty
and is called menarche.

The menstrual cycle consists of following four phases:

1) Menstrual Phase:

• In 28 days of menstrual cycle, the menses takes place on cycle days 3-5.

• The production of LH from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is reduced.

• The withdrawal of this hormone causes degeneration of the corpus luteum and,
therefore progesterone production is reduced.

• Production of estrogen is also reduced in this phase. of cycle.

• The endometrium of the uterus breaks down & menstruation begins.

• The cells of endometrium secretions, blood & unfertilised ovum constitute the
menstrual flow.

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2) Follicular Phase:

• This phase usually includes cycle days 6-13 or 14 in a 28 days cycle.

• The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary
gland stimulates the ovarian follicle to secrete estrogens.

• Estrogen stimulates the proliferation of the endometrium of the uterine wall.

• The endometrium becomes thicker by rapid cell multiplication and this is

accompanied by an increase in uterine glands & blood vessels.

3) Ovulatory Phase:

• Both LH & FSH attain a peak level in the middle of the cycle (about 14th day).

• Oestrogen concentration in blood increases.

• Rapid secretion of LH induces rupturing of graffian follicle and thereby the release
of the ovum.

• In fact, LH causes ovulation.

4) Luteal Phase:

• It Includes cycle days 15 to 28.

• Corpus luteum secretes progestrone.

• Endometrium thickens.

• Uterine glands become secretory.

Hormonal Control of MC

• FSH stimulates the ovarian follicles to produce estrogens.

• LH stimulates corpus luteum to secrete progesterone.

• LH causes ovulation

• The proliferative phase is caused by the increased production of oestrogens.

• The secretory phase is caused by the increased production of progesterone.

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Fertilisation and Implantation

Fertilisation and Implantation

• The process of fusion of sperm with an ovum is called fertilisation.

• During coitus (copulation) semen is released into the vagina. The motile sperms
swim rapidly to reach the junction of isthmus and ampulla of the fallopian tube. The
ovum also reaches there and fusion of gametes takes place in at ampullary-isthmic
junction.

• In this acrosome of sperm undergoes acrosomal reaction and releases certain

sperm lysins which dissolve the egg envelopes locally and make the path for the
penetration of sperm.

• These sperm lysins contain a lysing enzyme hyaluronidase which dissolves the
hyaluronic acid polymers in the intercellular spaces which hold the granulosa cells
of corona radiata together; corona penetrating enzyme (that dissolves the corona
radiata) and acrosin (which dissolves the zona pellucida). Then it dissolves the
zona pellucida.

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Pregnancy and Embryonic Development

• The finger-like projections on trophoblast after implantation is known as chronic villi
that along with the uterine wall forms a functional unit between developing embryo
and maternal body called the placenta.

• The placenta is attached with a fetus with an umbilical cord for transportation of
food and oxygen to the embryo.

• Hormones hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), hPL (human placental lactogen),

and relaxin are produced in a woman only during pregnancy by the placenta.

• After implantation, the inner cell mass (embryo) differentiates into an outer layer
known as ectoderm and an inner layer called endoderm. A mesoderm soon
appears between the ectoderm and the endoderm. These three layers give rise to
all tissues (organs) in adults.

• In humans, after one month of pregnancy, the embryo’s heart is formed.

• By the end of 2nd-month limbs and digits are formed. By the end of 12 months,
major organs and external genital organs are well developed. The first movement of
the fetus is observed in 5 months.

• By the end of 24 weeks, the body is covered with fine hair, eyelids, and eyeless is
formed. At the end of 9 months fetus is fully developed.

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