Reproductive system Male reproductive system

●​ Includes the scrotum, testes,

The purpose of the organs of the Male spermatic ducts, sex glands, and
reproductive system is to perform the penis.
following functions: ●​ These organs also work together to
produce sperm, the male gamete,
●​ To produce, maintain, and transport and the other components of semen
sperm(the male reproductive cells) ●​ These organs also work together to
and protective fluid (semen) deliver semen out of the body and
●​ To discharge sperm within the into the vagina where it can fertilize
female reproductive tract during sex egg cells to produce offspring
●​ To produce and secrete male sex
hormones responsible for Anatomy of the Male reproductive
maintaining the male reproductive system
system ●​ Scrotum
-​ Is a sac-like organ made of skin and
muscles that houses the testes
-​ It is located inferior to the penis in
the pubic region
-​ The scrotum is made up of 2 side by
side pouches with a testis located in
each pouch
-​ The smooth muscles that make up
the scrotum allow it to regulate the
distance between the testes and the
rest of the body
-​ When the testes become too warm
to support spermatogenesis, the
scrotum relaxes to move the testes
away from the body’s core heat.
Conversely, the scrotum contracts
to move the testes closer to the
body’s core heat when
temperatures drop below the ideal
range for spermatogenesis

●​ Testes
-​ The 2 testes, also known as
testicles, are the male gonads
responsible for the production of
sperm and testosterone
-​ The testes are ellipsoid glandular
organs around 1.5 to 2 inches long
and an inch in diameter
-​ Each testis is found inside its own tube that carries sperm superiorly
pouch on one side of the scrotum from the epididymis into the
and is connected to the abdomen by abdominal cavity to the ejaculatory
a spermatic cord and cremaster duct. The ductus deferens is wider in
muscle. diameter than the epididymis and
-​ The cremaster muscles contract uses its internal space to store
and relax along with the scrotum to mature sperms. The smooth
regulate the temperature of the muscles of the walls of the ductus
testes deferens are used to move sperm
-​ The inside of the testes is divided towards the ejaculatory duct through
into small compartments known as peristalsis.
lobules. Each lobule contains a
section of seminiferous tubule lined
with epithelial cells. These epithelial
cells contain many stem cells that
divide and form sperm cells through
the process of spermatogenesis.

●​ Epididymis
-​ Is a sperm storage area that wraps
up around the superior and posterior
edge of the testes.
-​ The epididymis is made up of
several feet of long, thin tubules that
are tightly coiled into a small mass. ●​ Seminal Vesicles
-​ Sperm produced in the testes moves -​ Are a pair of lumpy exocrine glands
into the epididymis to mature before that store and produce some of the
being passed on through the male liquid portion of semen
reproductive organs. -​ The seminal vesicles are about 2
-​ The length of the epididymis delays inches in length and located
the release of the sperm and allows posterior to the urinary bladder and
them time to mature anterior to the rectum
-​ The liquid produced by the seminal
●​ Spermatic Cords and Ductus vesicles contains proteins and
Deferens mucus and has an alkaline pH to
-​ Within the scrotum, a pair of help sperm survive in the acidic
spermatic cords connects the testes environment of the vagina
to the abdominal cavity. The -​ The liquid also contains fructose to
spermatic cords contain the ductus feed sperm cells so that they survive
deferens along with nerves, veins, long enough to fertilize the oocyte
arteries, and lymphatic vessels that
support the function of the testes. ●​ Ejaculatory duct
-​ The ductus deferens, also known -​ The ductus deferens passes through
as the vas deferens, is a muscular the prostate and joins with the
 urethra at a structure known as the
ejaculatory duct. ●​ Cowper’s Gland
-​ The ejaculatory ducts contain the -​ The cowper’s glands, also known
ducts from the seminal vesicles as as the bulbourethral glands, are a
well. pair of pea-sized exocrine glands
-​ During ejaculation, the ejaculatory located inferior to the prostate and
duct opens and expels sperm and anterior to the anus
the secretions from the seminal -​ The cowper’s glands secrete a thin
vesicles into the urethra. alkaline fluid into the urethra that
lubricates the urethra and neutralize
●​ Urethra acid from the urine remaining in the
-​ Semen passes from the ejaculatory urethra after urination
duct to the exterior of the body via -​ This fluid enters the urethra during
the urethra, an 8 to 10 inch long sexual arousal prior to ejaculation to
muscular tube. prepare the urethra for the flow of
-​ The urethra passes through the semen.
prostate and ends at the external
urethral orifice located at the tip ●​ Penis
of the penis -​ The penis is the male external
-​ Urine exiting the body from the sexual organ located superior to the
urinary bladder also passes through scrotum and inferior to the umbilicus.
the urethra -​ The penis is roughly cylindrical in
shape and contains the urethra and
●​ Prostate external opening of the urethra
-​ The prostate is a walnut-sized -​ Large pockets of erectile tissue in
exocrine gland that borders the the penis allow it to fill with blood
inferior end of the urinary bladder and become erect.
and surrounds the urethra -​ The erection of the penis causes it to
-​ The prostate produces a large increase in size and become turgid.
portion of the fluid that makes up -​ The function of the penis is to deliver
semen. This fluid is milky white in semen into the vagina during sexual
color and contains enzymes, intercourse
proteins, and other chemicals to -​ In addition to its reproductive
support and protect sperm during function, the penis also allows for
ejaculation the excretion of urine through the
-​ The prostate also contains smooth urethra to the exterior of the body
muscles tissue that can constrict to Penis
prevent the flow of urine or semen -​ Corpora cavernosum, corpus
-​ Unfortunately the prostate is also spongiosum, spongy urethra: 3
particularly susceptible to cancer. columns of erectile tissue which fill
Thankfully , DNA health testing can with blood for erection
tell you whether you’re at higher -​ Transfer sperm from male to female
genetic risk of developing prostate -​ Excrete urine
cancer.
 -​ It is the process of producing sperm
and takes place in the testes and
epididymis of adult males.
-​ Prior to puberty, there is no
spermatogenesis due to the lack of
hormonal triggers. At puberty,
spermatogenesis begins when
luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH) are
produced
-​ LH triggers the production of
testosterone by the testes while FSH
triggers the maturation of germ cells.
-​ Testosterone stimulates stem cells in
the testes known as
spermatogonium to undergo the
process of developing into
Semen spermatocytes. Each diploid
-​ Semen is the fluid produced by spermatocyte goes through the
males for sexual reproduction and is process of meiosis I and splits into 2
ejaculated out of the body during haploid secondary spermatocytes.
sexual intercourse -​ The secondary spermatocytes go
-​ Semen contains sperm, the male through meiosis II to form 4 haploid
reproductive gametes, along with a spermatid cells
number of chemicals suspended in a -​ The spermatid cells then go through
liquid medium a process known as
-​ The chemical composition of semen spermiogenesis where they grow a
gives it a thick, sticky consistency flagellum and develop the structures
and a slightly alkaline pH. These of the sperm head
traits help semen to support -​ After spermiogenesis, the cell is
reproduction by helping sperm to finally a sperm cell, spermatozoa.
remain within the vagina after The spermatozoa are released into
intercourse and to neutralize the the epididymis where they complete
acidic environment of the vagina their maturation and become able to
-​ In healthy adult males, semen move on their own.
contains around 100 million sperm
cells per milliliter. These sperm cells ●​ Testicular secretions:
fertilize oocytes inside the female -​ Include sperm and small amount of
fallopian tubes fluid

Physiology of the Male reproductive ●​ 2-5 ml of semen is ejaculated

system each time
●​ Spermatogenesis ●​ 1 ml of semen contains 100
million sperm
 ●​ Sperm can live for 72 hours once
inside female

Production of sperm cells

1.​ Germ cells
2.​ Spermatogonia
3.​ Primary spermatocytes
4.​ Secondary spermatocytes
5.​ Spermatids
6.​ Sperm cells

Path of sperm
1.​ Sperm develop in seminiferous
Male puberty
tubules (testes)
What is it?
2.​ Epididymis (mature)
-​ Sequence of events in which a boy
3.​ Ductus deferens
begins to produce male hormones
4.​ Receive secretions from seminal
and sperm cells
vesicles, prostate gland, and
-​ Begins at 12-14 and ends around 18
bulbourethral gland
-​ Testosterone is major male hormone
5.​ Urethra where semen sperm (exit)
-​ Secondary sexual characteristics
body
develop:
Ex. Skin texture, fat distribution, hair
Sperm cell structure
growth, skeletal muscle growth, and
●​ Head:
larynx changes
-​ Contain a nucleus and DNA

●​ Midpiece
-​ Contain mitochondria

●​ Tail
-​ Flagellum for movement
Fertilization hormones that maintain the
-​ Fertilization is the process by which reproductive cycle.
a sperm combines with an oocyte, or
egg cell, to produce a fertilized
zygote
-​ The sperm released during
ejaculation must first swim through
the vagina and uterus and into the
fallopian tubes where they may find
an oocyte
-​ After encountering the oocyte,
sperm next have to penetrate the
outer
-​ Sperm contain enzymes in
acrosome region of the head that
allow them to penetrate these layers
-​ After penetrating the interior of the
oocyte, the nuclei of these haploid
cells fuse to form a diploid cell
known as a zygote
-​ The zygote cell begins cell division
to form an embryo

Female reproductive system

-​ Is designed to carry out several
functions
-​ It produces the female egg cells
necessary for reproduction, called Female Anatomy
the ova or oocytes ●​ The female reproductive anatomy
-​ The system is designed to transport includes parts inside and outside the
the ova to the site of fertilization body.
-​ Conception, the fertilization of an ●​ The function of the external female
egg by a sperm, normally occurs in reproductive structures (the genitals)
the fallopian tubes is two fold:
-​ The next step for the fertilized egg is -​ To enable sperm to enter the body
to implant into the walls of the -​ To protect the internal genital organs
uterus, beginning the initial stages from infectious organisms
of pregnancy. If fertilization and/or
implantation does not take place, the ●​ The main external structures of the
system is designed to menstuate female reproductive system include
(the monthly shedding of the uterine External female genitalia
lining) ●​ Vulva:
-​ In addition, the female reproductive -​ external female sex organs
system produces female sex
 -​ Mons pubis, labia majora and Bartholin’s Gland
minora, clitoris, and vestibule -​ These glands are located beside the
vaginal opening and produce a fluid
●​ Mons pubis: (mucus) secretion.
-​ Fatty layer of skin covering pubic Clitoris
symphysis -​ The two labia minora meet at the
clitoris, a small, sensitive
●​ Clitoris protrusion that is comparable to the
-​ Small erectile structure located in penis in males
vestibule -​ The clitoris is covered by a fold of
-​ Equivalent to male penis skin, called the prepuce, which is
similar to the foreskin at the end of
●​ Prepuce: the penis
-​ Where 2 labia minora unite over -​ Like the penis, the clitoris is very
clitoris sensitive to stimulation and can
become erect.
●​ Vestibule
-​ Space in which vagina and urethra
are located

Labia Majora
-​ Enlose and protect the other
external reproductive organs
-​ Literally translated as “large lips,” the
labia majora are relatively large and
fleshy, and are comparable to the
scrotum in males
-​ The labia majora contain sweat and
oil-secreting glands
-​ After puberty, the labia majora are
covered with hair

Labia MInora Female reproductive organs

-​ Literally translated as “small lips”, ●​ Ovaries:
the labia minora can be very small or -​ Primary female reproductive
up to 2 inches wide organ
-​ They lie just inside the labia majora, -​ Produces oocytes and sex
and surround the openings to the hormones
vagina (the canal that joins the -​ One on either side of uterus
lower part of the uterus to the -​ Ovarian ligaments: anchor ovaries
outside of the body) and urethra (the to uterus
tube that carries urine from the -​ Suspensory ligaments: anchor
bladder to the outside of the body) ovaries to pelvic cavity
-​ Ovarian follicle: cells in ovaries that
contain oocytes
 ●​ Uterine (fallopian) tubes: Uterus layers:
-​ Part of uterus which extends toward -​ Perimetrium (serous): outermost
ovaries and receive oocytes later
-​ Fimbriae: fringe-like structures -​ Myometrium (muscular): middle
around opening of uterine tubes that layer
help sweep oocyte into uterine tubes -​ Composed of smooth muscle
-​ Tubal ligation (sterilization of female) -​ Endometrium: innermost layer that
-​ Ectopic pregnancy: if fertilized is sloughed. Off during menstruation.
oocyte (zygote) implants somewhere
beside uterus (usually in uterine ●​ Ovaries
tube) -​ Are small, oval shaped glands that
are located on either side of the
uterus
-​ The ovaries produce eggs and
hormones

●​ Fallopian tubes
-​ Are narrow tubes that are attached
to the upper part of the uterus and
serve as tunnels for the ova (egg
cells) to travel from the ovaries to
the uterus.
-​ conception , the fertilization of an
The internal reproductive organs in the egg by a sperm, normally occurs in
female the fallopian tubes
●​ Vagina -​ The fertilized egg then moves to the
-​ Is a canal that joins the cervix(the uterus, where it implants into the
lower part of the uterus) to the lining of the uterine wall.
outside of the body. It is also known
as the birth canal. What happens During the menstrual
cycle?
●​ Uterus(womb) -​ Females of reproductive age
-​ Is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that experience cycles of hormonal
is the home to a developing fetus activity that repeat about one month
-​ The uterus is divided into two parts: intervals.
the cervix, which is the lower part -​ With every cycle, a woman’s body
that opens into the vagina, and the prepares for a potential pregnancy
main body of the uterus, called the whether or not that is the woman’s
corpus. The corpus can easily intention
expand to hold a developing baby. -​ The term menstruation refers to the
A channel through the cervix allows periodic shedding of the uterine
sperm to enter and menstrual lining. (menstru means “monthly”)
blood to exit -​ The average menstrual cycle takes
about 28 days and occurs in phases:
 the follicular phase, the ovulatory ●​ The dominant follicle continues to
phase (ovulation), and the luteal produce estrogen
phase.
Ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle
These are four major hormones ●​ Ovulatory phase, or ovulation,
(chemicals that stimulate or regulate the starts about 14 days after the
activity of cells or organs) involved in follicular phase started
the menstrual cycle: ●​ The ovulatory phase is the
1.​ follicle-stimulating hormone midpoint of the menstrual cycle with
2.​ Luteinizing hormone the next menstrual period starting
3.​ Estrogen about two weeks later
4.​ Progesterone ●​ During this phase, the following
events occur:
Follicular Phase of the Menstrual cycle -​ The rise in estrogen from the
●​ This phase starts on the first day of dominant follicle triggers a surge in
your period. During the follicular the amount of luteinizing hormone
phase of the menstrual cycle, the that is produced by the brain
following events occur: -​ This causes the dominant follicle to
-​ Two hormones, follicle stimulate release its egg from the ovary
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing -​ As the egg is released (a process
hormone (LH), are released from the called ovulation), it is captured by
brain and travel in the blood to the finger-like projections on the end of
ovaries the fallopian tubes (fimbriae). The
-​ The hormones stimulates the growth fimbriae sweep the egg into the
of about 15 to 20 eggs in the tube.
ovaries, each in its own “shell”, -​ Also during this phase, there is an
called a follicle. increase in the amount and
thickness of mucus produced by the
●​ These hormones (FSH and LH) also cervix (lower part of the uterus)
trigger an increase in the production -​ If a woman were to have intercourse
of the female hormone estrogen during this time, the thick mucus
●​ As Estrogen levels rise, like a captures the man’s sperm,
switch, it turns off the production of nourishes it, and helps it to move
follicle-stimulating hormones. This towards the egg for fertilization
careful balance of hormones allows
the body to limit the number of Luteal phase of menstrual cycle
follicles that mature. -​ Begins right after ovulation and
●​ As the follicular phase progresses, involves the following processes:
one follicle in one ovary becomes -​ Once it release its egg, the empty
dominant and continues to mature follicle develop into a new structure
●​ This dominant follicle suppresses all called the corpus luteum.
of the other follicles in the group. As -​ The corpus luteum secretes the
a result, they stop growing and die. hormones progesterone.
 Progesterone prepares the uterus ●​ Day 14 ovulation
for a fertilized egg to implant -​ Oocyte is released due to LH
-​ If intercourse has taken place and a -​ Estrogen levels high
man’s sperm has fertilized the egg -​ Progesterone levels are increasing
(a process called conception), the -​ Cervical mucus thin
fertilized egg (embryo) will travel
through the fallopian tube to implant ●​ Days 15-28 secretory (between
in the uterus. The woman is now ovulation and next menses)
considered pregnant -​ Endometrium is preparing for
-​ If the egg is not fertilized, it passes implantation
through the uterus. Not needed to -​ Estrogen levels decrease (low)
support a pregnancy, the lining of -​ Progesterone levels high
the uterus breaks down and sheds, -​ Cervical mucus thickens
and the next menstrual period
begins Menopause
What is it?
How many eggs does a woman have? -​ Time when ovaries secrete less
-​ The vast majority of the eggs within hormones and number of follicle in
the ovaries steadily die, until they ovaries is low
are depleted at menopause -​ Menstrual cycle and ovulation are
-​ At birth, there are approximately 1 less regular
million to 2 million eggs; by the time -​ Hot flashes, fatigue, irritability may
of puberty, only about 300,00 remain occur
-​ Of these, only about 500 will be -​ Estrogen replacement therapy may
ovulated during a woman’s be used to decrease side effects
reproductive lifetime. Any remaining
eggs gradually die out at Other female reproductive facts
menopause. -​ Females are born with all of their
oogonia (2million), unlike males that
Stages of menstrual cycle only begin to produce sperm during
●​ Days 1-5 menses (shedding of puberty
endometrium) -​ At puberty about 300,000-400,00
-​ Menstrual bleeding (menses) oogonia are left.
-​ Estrogen and progesterone levels -​ Puberty to menopause, FSH
are low stimulates several follicles to begin
-​ Follicle begins to mature developing during each menstrual
cycle but only 1 follicle should be
●​ Days 6-13 proliferative (between ovulated.
end of menses and ovulation)
-​ Endometrium rebuilds ●​ Oocytes are swept into one uterine
-​ Estrogen levels begin to increase tubes by fimbriae
-​ Progesterone levels remain low ●​ If sperm is present uterine tube
-​ Follicle matures during ovulation oocyte could be
fertilized
 ●​ If fertilization occurs then zygote
implants in uterus
●​ Oocyte only lives for 24 hours, so if
no sperm is present at ovulation no
zygote develops, and oocyte dies

Female puberty
-​ Begins between 11-13 and is usually
completed by 16
-​ Menarche first episode menstrual
bleeding
-​ Vagina, uterus, uterine tubes, and
external genitalia to enlarge and fat
is deposited in breast and hips
-​ Elevated levels of estrogen and
progesterone are secreted by

ovaries.