Endocrine and
Reproductive Systems
Animal Systems: Reproduction
Endocrine System:
Function:
The endocrine system regulates long-term
changes in the body such as growth and
development. It is made up of glands that
release their products into the
bloodstream.
It also controls many of your body’s daily
activities
Invertebrates Vertebrates
• hormones control sexual cycles and • In humans – the endocrine system
often the shedding of eggs in relies on many different glands
mollusks (about 9 different ones)
• arthropods demonstrate extensive
endocrine systems, which play a • These glands act on each other
role in: and on target tissues
• water balance
• migration of pigments for
protective discoloration
• growth
ex. The endocrine system of Ex: Pancreas produces insulin to
insects which undergo bring down blood sugar levels,
metamorphosis (molting)
Evolutionary Trends of the
Endocrine System
STRUCTURE
HORMONES– chemicals released in one part of the
body that travel through the bloodstream and affect the
activities of cells in other parts of the body.
• Hormones bind to specific
chemical receptors on cells. • Hormones are chemical messengers
• Cells that have receptors for a
particular hormone are called
target cells.
• If a cell does not have receptors
or the receptors do not respond
to a particular hormone, the
hormone has no effect on it.
Glands
Gland – Organ that
produces and
releases a
substance, or
secretion.
1. Pituitary Gland ie. Master Gland
8 ft
Function: controls other 11 in
endocrine glands and regulates
growth rate, reproduction, and
metabolism.
-produces Human Growth
Hormone
Disorders: Too much growth hormone can
result in a condition called gigantism.
Robert
Wadlow
2. Hypothalamus – regulates hunger,
thirst, sleep, body temperature, and
most involuntary mechanisms
◦ influenced by the nervous system
◦ links the nervous system to the
endocrine system via the pituitary gland
◦ controls secretions of the pituitary
3. Pineal gland– secretes melatonin
which responds to daylight and
seasonal changes (sleep/wake cycle)
4. Thymus gland - Hormones released by the
thymus gland help the immune system (T-cells)
develop during childhood. By adolescence, this
gland has shrunk considerably in size
5. Adrenal glands - These glands release
several hormones such as adrenaline
(epinephrine & norepinephrine), which
triggers the body’s response to sudden
stress (fight or flight). Other hormones
affect salt and water balance in the kidneys
and general metabolism
6. Thyroid Gland
Hormone: Thyroxin
Function: regulates the body’s overall
metabolic rate and controls calcium
levels in the bloodstream
Disorders:
Hyperthyroidism - too much thyroxin; fast
metabolism (weight loss)
Hypothyroidism - too little thyroxin; slow
metabolism (weight gain)
7. Pancreas - Produces insulin
(lowers) and glucagon (raises) to
keep the blood sugar level
constant.
• Disorders: Diabetes
disease in which the
pancreas fails to produce
insulin or the body does
not properly use Insulin
• Insulin triggers uptake of glucose from the
blood into body cells, this will then decrease
blood glucose concentration.
8. Ovary - The female reproductive
glands release sex hormones that
regulate egg maturation and control the
development of 2nd sex characteristics
(estrogen, progesterone)
* breast development; widen hips
9. Testes - The male reproductive
glands release a sex hormone that
regulates sperm production and controls
the development of 2nd sex
characteristics (testosterone)
* facial hair growth; voice deepen
Reproductive System:
Purpose:
The reproductive system combines genetic
information from both parents (in most
animals) to produce new life forms.
This system produces sex cells (gametes),
delivers them, and protects a developing
fetus until birth.
Comparing Reproductive Systems
Asexual Sexual
Involves one parent. As a result, the involves the fusion of two gametes.
offspring tend to have the same Sperm and eggs are sometimes
genotype and phenotype as the parent. produced by the same individual and
sometimes produced by different
individuals.
Ex: Flatworms can divide into 2 halves; each half Ex: Vertebrates
grows into a separate organism. Cnidarians
undergo budding where a new individual grows
from and then breaks off of the parent individual.
Genetically identical Genetic variation
There are 2 major mechanisms of fertilization
external fertilization: Used by many aquatic
invertebrates. Eggs and sperm are simultaneously
shed into the water, and the sperm swim through
the water to fertilize the egg
(fertilized externally and DEVELOP externally!)
internal fertilization: The eggs are fertilized within
the reproductive tract of the female, and then are
covered with egg shells and/or remain within the
body of the female during their development
[can DEVELOP internally (i.e. placental animals) or can DEVELOP externally (shelled-eggs;
birds)]
Comparative Reproductive Systems
In most animals, individuals are either definite males
or females; however some species are
hermaphrodites. This is when one organism
produces both egg and sperm.
Ex: earthworms and garden snails
Parts of the Reproductive System
**Gametes:
Specialized sex cells
(sperm and egg)
Parts of the Reproductive System
Male
1. Penis - External sex organ, delivers sperm to female
Male Reproductive System
The main organs of the
male reproductive system
are the testis (singular).
The testes remain in the
scrotum (external sac)
outside the body cavity,
where the temperature is
about 1-3⁰ lower than the
normal temperature of the
body.
Lower temperature is
important for proper sperm
development.
Parts of the Reproductive System
Male
urethra- carries sperm
and urine through and
out the penis
Semen
Combination of sperm and
seminal fluid is known as semen.
2.5 million sperm are found in
one drop of semen!
If sperm are released in the
reproductive tract of a female, the
chances of a single sperm
fertilizing an egg, if one is
available, is quite good.
Parts of the Reproductive System
Female
1. Ovaries-
The primary organs in the female reproductive
systems; the female gametes (ova or egg)
2. Fallopian
Tubes - Transport
egg to uterus
3. Uterus – Organ
where fertilized
egg develops
4. Vagina - Birth
canal
Parts of the Reproductive System
Female
5. Placenta - serves for gas
exchange and metabolic
products with mother
6. Umbilical cord- attaches
embryo to placenta
7. Amniotic fluid - keeps
the embryo moist and
protected