Reproductive System
Lesson 1
Main Functions of the Reproductive System
1. To reproduce and continue the existence of
humans
2. To produce the next generations, and
3. To produce egg and sperm cells
Human Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive glands are called the testes.
Testes are located outside of the body cavity in a pouch
called the scrotum.
A temperature lower than 37°C—the average body
temperature—is required for the normal development of
sperm.
Because the scrotum is located outside of the body cavity,
it is several degrees cooler.
Human Male Reproductive System
The testes produces the male reproductive cells
called sperms.
The seminiferous tubules, located within the
testes, produce 100–200 million sperm each day.
The epididymis is a structure located on top of each
testis where sperm mature and are stored.
Human Male Reproductive System
The Vas deferens is a duct leading away from the testis
through which the sperms travel when they are released
from the body.
There are two vas deferens, one leading away from each
testis.
The two vas deferens join together and enter the
urethra, the tube that carries both semen and urine
outside of the body through the penis.
Human Male Reproductive System
Sperm require a nourishing fluid to survive long enough to
fertilize an egg. This nourishing fluid is called semen.
The seminal vesicles produces semen and secrete the sugar
needed for energy. They also provide other nutrients, proteins,
and enzymes for the sperm.
The prostate gland and bulbourethral glands produces an
alkaline solution to the fluid to neutralize acidic conditions that
sperm might encounter in the urethra and the female
reproductive tract.
Structure of a sperm cell
The sperm is comprised of a head, middle piece and tail.
The head contains a structure called acrosome which has
digestive enzymes that facilitate the entry of sperm into
the ovum.
The middle piece has multiple mitochondria, that provide
energy for the movement of sperms.
The tail is a flagellum that helps sperms in swimming so that
they can reach towards the ovum.
Classkick
Slides 12 and 13
Male Hormones -Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone which is made in the testes.
Testosterone is necessary for the production of sperm.
It also influences the development of male secondary sex characteristics that
begin to appear at puberty
PUBERTY : It is the period of growth when sexual maturity is reached.
These characteristics include hair on the face and chest, broader shoulders,
increased muscle development, and a deeper voice.
Male Hormones – GnRH,FSH,LH
The hypothalamus produces GnRH (Gonadotropin
Releasing Hormone), which travels to the anterior
pituitary gland and stimulates the rate of LH
(Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-
Stimulating Hormone) production.
Both FSH and LH travel from the anterior pituitary
gland to the testes.
Male Hormones – GnRH,FSH,LH
In the testes, FSH promotes the production of sperm and
LH stimulates the production and secretion of testosterone.
LH and FSH are regulated by negative feedback.
More Testosterone, less LH and FSH produced and vice-versa.
Classkick Assignment
Slides 14 and 15
Human Female Reproductive System
Female reproductive cells called
egg/ovum are produced by the ovaries.
The ovary is where oocytes (immature
eggs) mature prior to release (ovulation).
The ovum is surrounded by follicle cells
that protect and nourish the ovum.
Human Female Reproductive System
After the egg is released from the ovary, it travels
through an oviduct, a tube that connects to the
uterus.
The uterus, or womb, is where a baby develops
before birth.
The cervix, at the lower end of the uterus, has a
narrow opening into the vagina, which leads to
the outside of the female’s body.
Human Female Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are steroid hormones made by cells in
the ovaries.
A female’s anterior pituitary gland also produces LH and FSH.
During puberty, a female will experience her first menstrual cycle,
the events that take place each month in the human female to
help prepare the female body for pregnancy.
During every menstrual cycle, one follicle fully matures and
releases an egg. The follicle is then called the corpus luteum.
Structure of an egg cell
The egg cell is surrounded by three layers externally:
1. Corona radiata is the outermost layer surrounding the egg
cell and consists of follicular cells. These cells play a role in
nourishing and protecting the egg.
2. Zona pellucida is the thick, transparent, and non-cellular
layer located beneath the corona radiata. Provides structural
support to the egg. It also plays a crucial role in sperm-egg
interaction during fertilization.
3. Vitelline membrane is the innermost layer, which is a thin,
transparent membrane secreted by the egg cell itself. This
membrane provides additional protection to the egg.
Production of sex cells (gametes)
Male sex cells/gametes : Sperms
Female sex cells/gametes : Eggs/Ovum
Produced by a process of cell division called
Meiosis (Meiosis 1 and Meiosis 2)
Meiosis results in 4 gametes in males and
only 1 in females.
Production of sex cells (gametes)
In males, sperms are produced daily from primary spermatocytes,
beginning at puberty and continuing throughout a male’s lifetime.
In females, meiosis stops before the first meiotic division is
completed.
On reaching puberty, once in each menstrual cycle, meiosis
continues for a single developing egg.
The second meiotic division takes place only if fertilization
occurs.
Production of sex cells (gametes)
The Menstrual Cycle
The human female has a reproductive cycle called the
menstrual cycle.
Endometrium is the tissue that lines the uterus. The
endometrium is where the embryo implants if fertilization of
the egg occurs.
Because an embryo needs oxygen and nutrients, the
endometrium has a blood supply.
During menstruation, bleeding occurs as the outer layers of
the endometrium tear away, and blood vessels that supply the
endometrium are ruptured.
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle typically lasts about 28 days.
The entire menstrual cycle can be divided into three
phases:
1. The flow phase
2. The follicular phase followed by ovulation
3. The luteal phase
The Menstrual Cycle
The flow phase (Menstruation)
Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is when menstrual flow
begins.
Menstrual flow is the shedding of blood, mucus, and
epithelial cells from the endometrium.
Around day 5, repair of the endometrial lining begins.
It becomes thicker as the cycle continues
Hormone activity
Estrogen and Progesterone levels are low.
The Follicular phase
At the beginning of a menstrual cycle, when estrogen
levels are low, the anterior pituitary begins to
increase the production of LH and FSH.
Rising levels of FSH stimulate the development of
several follicles in the ovaries.
These early follicles in turn begin to produce
estrogen. Usually, only one of these follicles will
develop past the early stage.
The Follicular phase
Estrogen levels continue to rise as the
follicle develops. Progesterone eventually
begin to rise as well.
Up to a certain point, the estrogen being
produced exerts negative feedback on GnRH
secretion i.e. less FSH/LH will be produced
Ovulation
Around the 12th-14th day of the cycle, estrogen changes
its response to GnRH. Rather than suppressing, the
estrogen now supports GnRH release (POSITIVE
FEEDBACK)
The switch to positive feedback causes a rise in LH.
High LH levels in turn initiates the process of ovulation,
whereby the follicle ruptures and egg is released.
The Luteal Phase
After ovulation, the cells of the follicle change, and the
follicle is transformed into a structure called the corpus
luteum .
The corpus luteum produces high amounts of
progesterone and some estrogen, which keep levels of
LH and FSH low through negative feedback.
The Luteal Phase
Toward the end of the cycle, the corpus luteum breaks
down. This results in a rapid decrease in progesterone
and estrogen levels.
A rapid decrease in hormones triggers detachment of
the endometrium, and the flow phase of a new
menstrual cycle will begin.
Classkick Assignment
Slides 16,17,18