Reproductive System
PHR 204: Physiology II
Course Teacher: Namara Mariam Chowdhury
Hormones of Male Reproduction
Hormone Secreted by Functions
FSH (Follicle Anterior Initiates production of sperm in the testes
Stimulating pituitary
Hormone)
LH (Luteinizing Anterior Stimulates secretion of testosterone by the
Hormone) pituitary testes
Testosterone Testes •Promotes maturation of sperm
(interstitial •Initiates development of the secondary
cells) sex characteristics:
—growth of the reproductive organs
—growth of the larynx
—growth of facial and body hair
—increased protein synthesis, especially in
skeletal muscles
Inhibin Testes Decreases secretion of FSH to maintain
constant rate of spermatogenesis
Hormones of Female Reproduction
Hormone Secreted by Functions
FSH Anterior • Initiates development of ovarian follicles
pituitary • Stimulates secretion of estrogen by follicle
cells
LH (ICSH) Anterior • Causes ovulation
pituitary • Converts the ruptured ovarian follicle into
the corpus luteum
• Stimulates secretion of progesterone by the
corpus luteum
Progesteron • Ovary • Promotes further growth of blood vessels in
e • Placenta during the endometrium and storage of nutrients
pregnancy • Inhibits contractions of the myometrium
Inhibin Ovary (corpus • Inhibits secretion of FSH
luteum)
Hormones of Female Reproduction (contd)
Hormone Secreted by Functions
Estrogen • Ovary (follicle) • Promotes maturation of ovarian follicles
• Placenta during • Promotes growth of blood vessels in the
pregnancy endometrium
• Initiates development of the secondary sex
characteristics
—growth of the uterus and other reproductive
organs
—growth of the mammary ducts and fat
deposition in the breasts
—broadening of the pelvic bone
—subcutaneous fat deposition in hips and thighs
Relaxin Ovary (corpus • Inhibits contractions of the myometrium to
luteum) facilitate implantation (the attachment of the
Placenta during fertilized egg to the lining of the uterus to grow
pregnancy and develop)
Hormone Effects on the Mammary Glands
Hormone Secreted by Functions
Estrogen Ovary Promotes growth of duct
Placenta system
Progester Ovary (corpus Promotes growth of secretory
one luteum) cells
Placenta
Prolactin Anterior Promotes production of milk
pituitary after birth
Oxytocin Posterior Promotes release of milk
pituitary
(hypothalamus)
The Menstrual Cycle
▪ The menstrual cycle is a series of cyclic changes that the
uterine endometrium goes through each month as it responds
to the increase and decrease of ovarian hormones in the blood.
▪ The menstrual cycle includes the activity of the hormones of
the ovaries and anterior pituitary gland and the resultant
changes in the ovaries (ovarian cycle) and uterus (uterine
cycle).
▪ Notice first the four hormones involved: FSH and LH from the
anterior pituitary gland, estrogen from the ovarian follicle, and
progesterone from the corpus luteum.
▪ The fluctuations of these hormones are shown as they would
occur in an average 28-day cycle.
Phases of the menstrual cycle
Menstrual cycle can be described in terms of three
phases:
1. Menstrual phase
▪ The loss of the functional layer of the endometrium
is called menstruation or the menses.
▪ Menstruation may last 2 to 8 days, with an average of
3 to 6 days.
▪ At this time, secretion of FSH is increasing, and
several ovarian follicles begin to develop.
Phases of the menstrual cycle (contd)
2. Follicular phase
▪ FSH stimulates growth of ovarian follicles and
secretion of estrogen by the follicle cells.
▪ The secretion of LH is also increasing, but more
slowly. FSH and estrogen promote the growth and
maturation of the ovum, and estrogen stimulates the
growth of blood vessels in the endometrium to
regenerate the functional layer.
▪ This phase ends with ovulation, when a sharp
increase in LH causes rupture of a mature ovarian
follicle.
Phases of the menstrual cycle (contd)
3. Luteal phase
▪ Under the influence of LH, the ruptured follicle becomes the
corpus luteum and begins to secrete progesterone as well as
estrogen.
▪ Progesterone stimulates further growth of blood vessels in
the functional layer of the endometrium and promotes the
storage of nutrients such as glycogen.
▪ As progesterone secretion increases, LH secretion
decreases, and if the ovum is not fertilized, the secretion of
progesterone also begins to decrease.
▪ Without progesterone, the endometrium cannot be
maintained and begins to slough off in menstruation.
▪ FSH secretion begins to increase (as estrogen and progesterone
decrease), and the cycle begins again.
Spermatogenesis
▪ Spermatogenesis is the process of meiosis as it takes place in
the testes, the site of sperm production.
▪ Spermatogenesis is a dynamic process occurring in a series of
highly organized steps that culminates in the production of
fully mature spermatozoa.
▪ Within each testis are seminiferous tubules that contain
spermatogonia, which are stem cells that generate sperm.
▪ A spermatogonium divides by mitosis to form two cells, one
of which will remain in place as a stem cell, while the other
differentiates (specializes) to become a primary
spermatocyte that will undergo meiosis (Fig–1).
Spermatogenesis (contd)
▪ Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior
pituitary gland initiates sperm production, and testosterone,
secreted by the testes when stimulated by luteinizing
hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary, promotes the
maturation of sperm.
▪ Inhibin, also produced by the testes, decreases the secretion
of FSH.
▪ As you can see in Fig–1, for each primary spermatocyte that
undergoes meiosis, four functional sperm cells are
produced.
▪ Sperm production begins at puberty (10 to 14 years of age), and
millions of sperm are formed each day in the testes.
Spermatogonial stem cells
Figure 1: Spermatogenesis. The processes of mitosis and meiosis are shown. For each primary
spermatocyte that undergoes meiosis, four functional sperm cells are formed. The structure of a
mature sperm cell is also shown.
Oogenesis
▪ Oogenesis is the process of meiosis for egg cell formation; it
begins in the ovaries and is also regulated by hormones.
▪ FSH initiates the growth of ovarian follicles, each of which
contains an oogonium, a stem cell for egg cell production (Fig–2).
▪ This hormone also stimulates the follicle cells to secrete
estrogen, which promotes the maturation of the ovum.
▪ Notice that for each primary oocyte that undergoes meiosis, only
one functional egg cell is produced.
▪ The other three cells produced are called polar bodies. They have
no function, and will simply deteriorate.
▪ A mature ovarian follicle actually contains the secondary oocyte;
the second meiotic division will take place if and when the
egg is fertilized.
▪ The production of ova begins at puberty (10 to 14 years of age)
and continues until menopause (45 to 55 years of age), when
the ovaries atrophy and no longer respond to pituitary hormones.
Please follow the class
lecture for more details.
This image isn’t enough.
Figure 20–2. Oogenesis. The processes of mitosis and meiosis are shown. For each
primary oocyte that undergoes meiosis, only one functional ovum is formed.
Pregnancy
▪ Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo
or fetus within the female body.
▪ Signs and symptoms which may alert women, and
their health care providers, to the possibility of
pregnancy include:
✓a missed menstrual period,
✓nausea and/or vomiting,
✓increased frequency of urination,
✓fatigue,
✓breast tenderness,
✓and/or mood changes.
Stages of Pregnancy
A full-term pregnancy is considered to last 40 weeks from the
first day of the pregnant woman's last menstrual period
(LMP) prior to fertilization. Pregnancy is generally divided into
trimesters:
▪ First Trimester – the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in which
embryonic and early fetal development takes place.
▪ Second Trimester – the 13-27th weeks of pregnancy.
▪ Third Trimester - the 28-40th weeks of pregnancy.
Stages of Pregnancy (contd)
First Trimester
▪ For the first eight weeks post-fertilization, and ten weeks
from the last menstrual period (LMP), the cells are termed an
“embryo.” After eight weeks post-fertilization and ten weeks
from LMP until birth, the term changes to “fetus.” During the
first trimester, the embryo is the most susceptible to
environmental influences; during this stage, the majority of
organ system formation occurs.
Stages of Pregnancy (contd)
Second Trimester
▪ The second trimester occurs during weeks 13-27 and is
marked by accelerated growth, the development of reflex
responses and muscular activity. The placenta is fully
developed and the brain undergoes the most important
period of growth.
Third Trimester
▪ The third trimester begins at week 28 and continues until the
birth of the baby. All major organ systems continue to grow
and mature including the brain, the kidneys and the lungs.
The fetus is considered full-term at >= 37 weeks.