REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Human Life Cycle

The reproductive cycle in males and females differs greatly. Sexual maturity in females occurs between the ages of 11-13 and in males from 14-16. DNA is distributed among 46 chromosomes within the nucleus. Mitosis (duplication division) occurs in cells other than reproductive cells. The reproductive system uses mitosis (reduction division). Each reproductive cell contains 23 chromosomes rather than 46 in other cells.

Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system includes the following: testes, epididymides, vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, urethra, bulbourethral, and the penis.

The penis is the male organ of sexual intercourse. The penis has a long shaft and an enlarged tip called the glans penis, which at birth is covered by a layer of skin. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the penis foreskin.

Spongy, erectile tissue containing distensible blood spaces extends through the shaft of the penis. During arousal, autonomic nerves release nitric oxide (NO) This leads to the production of cGMP which causes the smooth muscle of incoming arterial walls to relax and the erectile tissue to fill with blood. The veins that take blood away from the penis are compressed and the penis becomes erect.

The testes produce sperm and the male sex hormones. They lie outside the abdominal cavity within the scrotum. The seminiferous tubules are packed with cells undergoing spermatogenesis (production of sperm). Mature sperm has 3 distinct parts: a head, middle piece, and tail. Mitochondria in the middle piece provide energy for the tail movement.

Sex cells reproduce with meiosis as opposed to mitosis. Spermatogenesis occurs as follows:

The hypothalamus has ultimate control of the testes' sexual function because it secretes a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). There are 2 gonadotropic hormones: folliclestimulating (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are present in both males and females. In males, FSH promotes the production of sperm in the seminiferous tubules. LH controls the production of testosterone. Testosterone is the main sex hormone and essential for the normal development and functioning of the male organs.

Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix, and vagina.

The ovaries release one egg a month and fertilization occurs in the oviduct. Development occurs in the uterus. The vagina is the birth canal as well as the organ for sexual intercourse and outlet for menstrual flow. Development of the embryo and fetus takes place in the uterus.

The external organs of the female are known collectively as the vulva.

Upon sexual stimulation, the labia minora, the vaginal wall, and the clitoris become engorged with blood. The breasts also swell and the nipples become erect. The labia majora enlarge, redden, and spread away from the vaginal opening. Orgasm occurs the height of sexual response. Unlike males, females have no refractory period and can have multiple orgasms in a single sexual experience.

Female Hormone Levels

Female hormone levels cycle on a monthly basis and the ovarian cycle drives the uterine cycle. An ovary contains many follicles and each one contains an immature egg, called an oocyte. A female is born with as many as 2 million follicles, but is reduced to 300,000-400,000 by puberty. During oogenesis, a single follicle actually goes through all stages in one place within the ovary. As the follicle matures, layers of follicel cells surround a secondary oocyte. Eventually, the mature follicle ruptures, the secondary oocyte is released. The follicle then becomes the corpus luteum which eventually disintegrates.

Oogenesis

The ovarian cycle:

Estrogen and progesterone affect not only the uterus, but other parts of the body as well. Estrogen is largely responsible for secondary sex characteristics in females. Menopause is a period in a woman's life where the ovarian cycle ceases. This occurs around 45-55 years of age.

Estrogen and progesterone have other functions, one affecting the endometrium causing the uterus to undergo a cyclical series of events known as the uterine cycle:

Following unprotected sexual intercourse, many sperm will most likely make their way into the oviduct, where the egg is located following ovulation. Only one sperm fertilizes the egg and it becomes a zygote, which begins development as it travels down the oviduct to the uterus. The endometrium is now prepared to receive the developing embryo.

IUD = INTRA UTERINE DEVICE