REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM
 Female Reproductive System
• Functions of female reproductive system
• Formation of ova
• Reception of spermatozoa
• Provision of suitable environments for
fertilization and fetal development
• Parturition (childbirth)
• Lactation (production of breast milk)

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 Female External Genitalia (vulva)
• Labia majora
• 2 large folds form boundary of vulva
• Composed of fibrous tissue and fat
• Contain large numbers of sebaceous and eccrine sweat glands

• Labia minora
• 2 smaller folds between labia majora
• Cleft between labia minora is vestibule
• Vagina, urethra, ducts of greater vestibular glands open into
vestibule

• Clitoris
• Corresponds to penis in the male
• Contains erectile tissue and sensitive sensory nerve endings

• Vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands

• Situated one on each side near vaginal opening
• Size of a small pea
• Secrete mucus that keeps vulva moist

• Perineum
• Triangular area extending from base of labia minora to anal canal
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 Internal Genitalia
• Internal female reproductive organs lie in
the pelvic cavity
• Vagina, uterus, 2 uterine tubes, 2 ovaries
• Vagina
• Hymen
• Fibromuscular tube
• Wall has 3 layers
• Outer covering of areolar tissue
• Middle layer of smooth muscle
• Inner lining of stratified squamous
epithelium forming ridges or rugae
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Maintain vaginal pH 3.5 – 4.9
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 Uterus
• Hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ
• In pelvic cavity between urinary bladder
and rectum
• 7.5cm long, 5cm wide, 2.5cm thick, weighs
30-40g
• Anteversion (leans forward), anteflexion
(bent forward)
• Fundus
• Dome-shaped part above openings of uterine
tubes
• Body
• Upper two-thirds of uterus
• Pear-shaped
• Cervix
• Narrowest portion
• 2.5cm
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 Uterus
• Walls of uterus are composed of 3 layers of
tissue
• Perimetrium
• Peritoneum distributed differently on various
surfaces of uterus
• Covers anterior, upper, posterior surfaces of
uterus

• Myometrium
• Mass of smooth muscle fibers interlaced with
areolar tissue, blood vessels, nerves

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 Uterus
• Endometrium
• Superficial functional layer thickens and
becomes rich in blood vessels in the first half
of menstrual cycle
• If ovum is not fertilized and does not implant,
this layer is shed during menstruation
• Deeper basal layer is permanent layer and
lies between functional layer and
myometrium
• It is not lost during menstruation and
regenerates a fresh functional layer during
each cycle

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 Uterus Functions
• Menstrual cycle
• After puberty, endometrium goes through a regular monthly cycle of changes
• Under control of hypothalamic and anterior pituitary hormones
• Prepares the uterus to receive, nourish and protect a fertilized ovum
• If ovum is not fertilized, functional layer of uterine lining is shed, and a new cycle
begins with a short period of vaginal bleeding (menstruation)
• If ovum is fertilized, the zygote embeds itself in uterine wall

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 Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes
• 10cm long
• Open into the peritoneal cavity close to ovaries
• End of each tube has finger-like projections called fimbriae which extend around
ovary but do not make direct contact
• Fimbriae ensure the ovum released at ovulation is channeled into uterine tube
• Fertilization of ovum usually takes place in uterine tube and zygote is propelled
into uterus for implantation

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 Ovary
• 2.5-3.5cm long, 2cm wide, 1cm thick
• 2 layers of tissue
• Medulla
• Inner part of ovary and consists of fibrous tissue,
blood vessels and nerves
• Cortex
• Surrounds medulla
• At birth, stroma contains millions of ovarian
follicles each containing an immature ovum

• Ovulation - every 28 days, one or more

ovarian follicle matures, ruptures and releases
its ovum into peritoneal cavity
• Following ovulation the ruptured follicle
develops into corpus luteum which leaves a
small permanent scar of fibrous tissue called
corpus albicans on the surface of ovary
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 Puberty in Female
• Rise in production of reproductive hormones
• Onset of menstruation
• Maturation of reproductive organs
• Ovarian activity is controlled by gonadotrophins FSH
and LH from anterior pituitary
• Ovaries secrete estrogen
• Secondary sexual characteristics
• Maturation of uterus, uterine tubes, ovaries
• Increased secretion of labial and vestibular glands
• Development and enlargement of breasts
• Growth of pubic and axillary hair
• Widening of pelvis
• Increased fat deposition in subcutaneous tissue,
especially at hips and breasts
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 Reproductive Cycle
• Occurs regularly in females every 26-30 days
throughout childbearing period between first
menstrual period (menarche) and menopause
• FSH
• Promotes maturation of ovarian follicles and
secretion of estrogen leading to ovulation
• Predominantly active in first half of the cycle
• Secretion is suppressed once ovulation has taken
place to prevent other follicles maturing during
current cycle

• LH
• Triggers ovulation and stimulates development of
corpus luteum and secretion of progesterone

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 Reproductive Cycle
• Menstrual phase
• If ovum is not fertilized, corpus luteum degenerates
• Corpus luteum is source of progesterone and estrogen → hormone level in blood fall
• Functional layer of endometrium, dependent on high levels of ovarian hormones, is shed
in menstruation
• Menstrual flow consists of secretions from endometrial glands, endometrial cells, blood
from degenerating capillaries and unfertilized ovum
• Proliferative phase
• Ovarian follicles mature and produce estrogen which stimulate proliferation of
functional layer of endometrium
• Endometrium thickens and becomes vascular and rich in mucus-secreting glands
• Increased level of estrogen trigger surge of LH mid-cycle
• LH surge trigger ovulation
• Usually one follicle ruptures and releases its ovum
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 Reproductive Cycle
• Secretory phase
• After ovulation, LH stimulates development of corpus luteum from ruptured follicle
• Under influence of progesterone, endometrium becomes edematous and secretory
glands produce increased amounts of watery mucus
• Assists motile spermatozoa through uterus to uterine tubes where ovum is usually fertilized
• Ovum is viable only a very short time after ovulation – about 8 hours
• Spermatozoa may be capable of fertilizing ovum for only about 24 hours, although they
can survive for several days
• Body temperature rises by about 1⁰C immediately following ovulation
• After ovulation, FSH and LH levels fall
• Low FSH levels prevent further follicular development
• Falling LH levels lead to death of corpus luteum

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 Breasts
• Contains about 20 lobes which contains a
number of glandular structures called
lobules
• produce milk after childbirth

• Lobules open into lactiferous ducts

• Drain mild towards nipple

• Nipple
• Small conical projection surrounded by
pigmented area, areola
• Sebaceous glands (Montgomery’s tubercles)
• Lubricate nipple during lactation

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 Breast Functions
• Breast grows and develops under
influence of estrogen and
progesterone
• After childbirth, hormone prolactin
from anterior pituitary stimulates
milk production (lactation)
• Oxytocin from posterior pituitary
stimulates milk ejection in response
to nipple stimulation by suckling baby
(positive feedback mechanisms)

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 Male Reproductive System
• Functions
• Production, maturation, storage of
spermatozoa
• Delivery of spermatozoa in semen into
female reproductive tract
• Scrotum
• Pouch of pigmented skin, fibrous and
connective tissue, smooth muscle
• Divided into 2 compartments
• Each contains one testis, one
epididymis, testicular end of a spermatic
cord
• Lies below symphysis pubis, in front of
upper thighs, behind penis

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 Testis
• Male reproductive gland, equivalent of female
ovary
• 4.5cm long, 2.5cm wide, 3cm thick
• Suspended in scrotum by spermatic cords
• Each testis contains 200-300 lobules
• Each lobule are 1-4 convoluted loops of germinal
epithelial cells, called seminiferous tubules
• Seminiferous tubules combine to form a single
tubule, 6m long, which is repeatedly folded and
packed into a mass called epididymis
• Epididymis leaves scrotum as deferent duct in
spermatic cord
• Interstitial cells (of Leydig) secrete hormone
testosterone after puberty
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 Spermatozoa (sperm)
• Produced by spermatogenesis in
seminiferous tubules of testes
• Mature as they pass through epididymis
where they are stored
• FSH from anterior pituitary stimulates sperm
production
• Head, body, long whip-like tail used for
motility
• Head is filled by nucleus containing DNA and
enzymes to penetrate outer layers of ovum
• Body is packed with mitochondria to fuel action
of tail
• Tail powers along female reproductive tract

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 Spermatozoa (sperm)
• Spermatogenesis takes place at temperature about 3⁰C below normal body
temperature
• Testes are cooled by their position outside abdominal cavity
• Cremaster muscle wraps around tunica vaginalis and extends upwards around
spermatic cord and attaches to structures in groin
• When contracts, it pulls scrotum towards body for protection

• Sperm production begins at puberty and continues throughout life often into old
age, under the influence of testosterone

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 Seminal Vesicles
• 2 small fibromuscular pouches, 5cm long
• Lie immediately behind bladder
• Each seminal vesicle opens into a short
duct which joins with deferent duct to
form an ejaculatory duct
• Seminal fluid
• Forms 60% of the volume of semen
• Alkaline to protect the sperm in acidic
environment of vagina
• Contains fructose to fuel sperm

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 Ejaculatory Ducts

• 2 tubes, 2cm long

• Pass through prostate gland and join
prostatic urethra
• Carry seminal fluid and spermatozoa to
urethra

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 Prostate Gland
• Lies in pelvic cavity in front of rectum and
behind symphysis pubis
• Completely surround male urethra
• Weighs about 8g in youth but
progressively enlarges with age,
commonly weighing about 40g by age of
50
• Prostatic fluid
• Makes up 30% of volume of semen
• Thin and milky giving semen its white color
• Contains blotting enzyme which thickens
semen in vagina, increasing likelihood of
semen being retained close to cervix
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 Urethra
• Common pathway for flow of urine and
semen
• Runs from bladder to tip of penis
• 19-20cm long
• Prostatic urethra
• Opens from bladder and passes through
prostate gland
• Membranous urethra
• Extends from prostate gland to bulb of
penis
• Penile urethra
• Lies within corpus spongiosum of penis
and terminates at external urethral orifice
in glans penis
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 Penis
• Root
• Anchors penis in the perineum
• Shaft
• Externally visible, movable portion
• Formed by 3 cylindrical masses of erectile
tissue and smooth muscle
• Erectile tissue
• Supported by fibrous tissue covered with skin
and has rich blood supply
• Corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum
• Glans penis
• Triangular structure
• Penis is supplied by autonomic and somatic
nerves
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 Erection

• Facilitated by its rich sensory innervation

• Diameter of blood vessels regulates filling of erectile tissue and is controlled by
autonomic nervous system
• Parasympathetic stimulation leads to filling of spongy erectile tissue with blood
which increases blood flow into penis and obstructs outflow
• Penis becomes engorged and erect, essential for sexual intercourse

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 Ejaculation
• Spermatozoa are expelled from epididymis and pass
through deferent duct, ejaculatory duct, and urethra
• Semen is propelled by powerful rhythmical
contraction of smooth muscle in walls of deferent
duct
• Muscular contractions are sympathetically
mediated
• Muscle in walls of seminal vesicles and prostate
glands also contracts, adding their contents to the
fluid
• Sperm (10%), seminal fluids (60%), prostatic fluids
(30%)
• Semen is slightly alkaline to neutralize acidity of
vagina
• 2-5mL of semen are produced in a normal ejaculate
and contain 40-100 million spermatozoa per mL
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 Puberty in Male
• LH from anterior pituitary stimulates interstitial cells of testes to increase
production of testosterone
• Secondary sexual characteristics
• Growth of muscle and bone and marked increase in height and weight
• Enlargement of larynx and deepening of voice
• Growth of hair on face, axillae, chest, abdomen, pubis
• Enlargement of penis, scrotum, prostate gland
• Maturation of seminiferous tubules and production of spermatozoa
• Thickening of skin which also becomes oilier

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