Introduction to the Reproductive System

THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS

• Overall function is to produce offspring

• Testes produce sperm and male sex hormones
• Ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones
• Mammary glands produce milk.

The reproductive system is a collection of internal and external organs — in both males and
females — that work together for the purpose of procreating.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM HAS FOUR FUNCTIONS:

 To produce egg and sperm cells

 To transport and sustain these cells
 To nurture the developing offspring
 To produce hormones

These functions are divided between the primary and secondary, or accessory, reproductive
organs. The primary reproductive organs, or gonads, consist of the ovaries and testes. These
organs are responsible for producing the egg and sperm cells gametes), and hormones. These
hormones function in the maturation of the reproductive system, the development of sexual
characteristics, and regulation of the normal physiology of the reproductive system. All other
organs, ducts, and glands in the reproductive system are considered secondary, or accessory,
reproductive organs. These structures transport and sustain the gametes and nurture the
developing offspring.
Due to its vital role in the survival of the species, many scientists feel that the reproductive
system is among the most important systems in the entire body. Of the body’s major systems,
the reproductive system is the one that differs most between sexes, and the only system that
does not function until puberty. The male reproductive system is responsible for delivering
sperm to the female reproductive system

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

TESTES - The testicles, or testes, are important for the production and storage of sperm until
they’re mature enough for ejaculation. They also produce testosterone, which is responsible
for sex drive, fertility, and the development of muscle and bone mass.

VAS DEFERENS - primary function is to transport sperm during emission form

the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct. This is performed through a rhythmic propulsion of
fluid and sperm at the time of emission.

PROSTATE GLAND - Its primary functions are to create fluids in your semen and force semen
through your urethra when you ejaculate.

EPIDIDYMIS - is a duct-like organ that connects the testis to the vas deferens and is comprised
of four anatomical regions: the initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda. Sperm maturation
occurs during epididymal transit by the interaction of sperm cells with the unique luminal
environment of each epididymal region.

SEMINAL VESICLE - is a part of the anatomy that’s typically considered male. The two seminal
vesicles are glands that produce the fluids that will turn into semen. The vesicles may also be
called seminal glands or vesicular glands.

SCROTUM - is a sac of skin that hangs from the body at the front of the pelvis, between the
legs. It sits next to the upper thighs, just below the penis. The scrotum contains the testicles.
These are two oval-shaped glands responsible for producing and storing sperm. They also
produce several hormones, the main one being testosterone. The scrotum is responsible
for protecting the testes. It helps with the thermoregulation of the testicles.

BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS - (also known as Cowper's glands) are a pair of pea shaped
exocrine glands located posterolateral to the membranous urethra. They contribute to the
final volume of semen by producing a lubricating mucus secretion.

PENIS – The penis is the male organ for sexual intercourse. It contains many sensitive nerve
endings. Studies suggest that the average penis is about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) when flaccid (soft)
and a little more than 5 inches (13 cm) when erect.

EJACULATORY DUCT - Each testicle has a vas deferens that joins with seminal vesicle ducts to
form ejaculatory ducts. The ejaculatory ducts move through your prostate, where they collect
fluid to add to semen. They empty into your urethra.

TESTOSTERONE - is the main sex hormone in people AMAB. It helps you develop certain
characteristics, including muscle mass and strength, fat distribution, bone mass and sex drive
(libido).

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM DO:

The organs that make up the male reproductive system perform the following:
 Produce, maintain and transport sperm cells and semen.
 Sperm cells are male reproductive cells.
 Semen is the protective fluid around sperm.
 Discharge sperm.
 Produce and secrete male sex hormones.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

EXTERNAL GENITALIA (VULVA)

INTERNAL
LABIA MAJORA - Your labia majora (“large lips”) enclose and protect the other external
reproductive organs. During puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora, which
also contain sweat and oil-secreting glands.

LABIA MINORA - Your labia minora (“small lips”) can have a variety of sizes and shapes. They
lie just inside your labia majora, and surround the opening to your vagina (the canal that joins
the lower part of your uterus to the outside of your body) and urethra (the tube that carries
pee from your bladder to the outside of your body). This skin is very delicate and can become
easily irritated and swollen.

CLITORIS - Your two labia minora meet at your clitoris a small, sensitive protrusion that’s
comparable to a penis in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Your clitoris is covered
by a fold of skin called the prepuce and is very sensitive to stimulation.

VAGINAL OPENING OR VAGINAL ORIFIS - Your vaginal opening allows menstrual blood and
babies to exit your body. Tampons, fingers, sex toys or penises can go inside your vagina
through your vaginal opening.

HYMEN – Your hymen is a piece of tissue covering or surrounding part of your vaginal
opening. It’s formed during development and present during birth.

URETHRAL ORIFIS - The opening to your urethra is the hole you pee from.

VAGINA – Your Vagina is a muscular canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the
outside of the body. It can widen to accommodate a baby during delivery and then shrink back
to hold something narrow like a tampon. It’s lined with mucous membranes that help keep it
moist.
CERVIX - Your cervix is the lowest part of your uterus. A hole in the middle allows sperm to
enter and menstrual blood to exit. Your cervix opens (dilates) to allow a baby to come out
during a vaginal birth, Your cervix is what prevents things like tampons from getting lost inside
your body.

UTERUS - is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that holds a fetus during pregnancy. Your uterus is
divided into two parts: the cervix and the corpus. Your corpus is the larger part of your uterus
that expands during pregnancy.

OVARIES - are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of your uterus. Your
ovaries produce eggs and hormones.

FALLOPIAN TUBE - These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of your uterus
and serve as pathways for your egg (ovum) to travel from your ovaries to your uterus.
Fertilization of an egg by sperm normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then
moves to the uterus, where it implants into your uterine lining.

FUNCTIONS OF REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The female reproductive system provides several functions. In addition to allowing a person to
have sexual intercourse, it also helps a person reproduce.

Your ovaries produce eggs. These eggs are then transported to your fallopian tube during
ovulation where fertilization by a sperm may occur. The fertilized egg then moves to your
uterus, where the uterine lining has thickened in response to the normal hormones of your
menstrual cycle (also called your reproductive cycle). Once in your uterus, the fertilized egg
can implant into the thickened uterine lining and continue to develop. If implantation doesn’t
take place, the uterine lining is shed as your menstrual period. In addition, the female
reproductive system produces sex hormones that maintain your menstrual cycle.

During menopause, the female reproductive system gradually stops making the female
hormones necessary for the menstrual cycle to work. At this point, menstrural cycle can
become irregular and eventually stop. You’re considered to be menopausal when you’ve gone
an entire year without a menstrual period.

MENSTRUAL CYCLE

reproductive age (beginning anywhere from 11 to 16 years of age) experience cycles of

hormonal activity that repeat at about one-month intervals. With every cycle, your body
prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether or not that’s your intention. The term
menstruation refers to the periodic shedding of your uterine lining when pregnancy doesn’t
occur that cycle. Many people call the days that they notice vaginal bleeding their “period.”

The average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days and occurs in phases. These phases
include:

 The follicular phase (the egg develops).

  The ovulatory phase (release of the egg).
 Luteal phase ( hormone levels decrease if the egg doesn’t implant).

There are four major hormones (chemicals that stimulate or regulate the activity of cells or
organs) involved in the menstrual cycle. These hormones include:

 Follicle – Stimulating Hormone

 Leteinizing hormone
 Estrogen
 Progesterone.

FOLLICULAR PHASE

This phase starts on the first day of your period. During the follicular phase of the menstrual
cycle, the following events occur:
Two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are released
from your brain and travel in your blood to your ovaries.
The hormones stimulate the growth of about 15 to 20 eggs in your ovaries, each in its own
“shell,” called a follicle.
These hormones (FSH and LH) also trigger an increase in the production of the hormone
estrogen.
As estrogen levels rise, like a switch, it turns off the production of follicle-stimulating hormone.
This careful balance of hormones allows the body to limit the number of follicles that will
prepare eggs to be released.
As the follicular phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and continues
to mature. This dominant follicle suppresses all of the other follicles in the group. As a result,
they stop growing and die. The dominant follicle continues to produce estrogen.

OVULATORY PHASE

The ovulatory phase (ovulation) usually starts about 14 days after the follicular phase started
(the exact timing varies). The ovulatory phase is the second phase of your menstrual cycle.
Most people will have a menstrual period 10 to 16 days after ovulation. During this phase, the
following events occur:
The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle triggers a surge in the amount of luteinizing
hormone (LH) that your brain produces.
This causes the dominant follicle to release its egg from the ovary.
As the egg is released (a process called ovulation) it’s captured by finger-like projections on the
end of the fallopian tube fimbrae. The fimbriae sweep the egg into the fallopian tube.
For one to five days prior to ovulation, many women or people AFAB will notice an increase in
egg white cervical mucus.. This mucus is the vaginal discharge that helps to capture and
nourish a sperm on its way to meet the egg for fertilization.
LUTEAL PHASE
The luteal phase begins right after ovulation and involves the following processes:
Once it releases its egg, the empty ovarian follicle develops into a new structure called the
corpus luteum.
The corpus luteum secretes the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone prepares
your uterus for a fertilized egg to implant.
If intercourse has taken place and sperm has fertilized the egg (conception), the fertilized egg
(embryo) will travel through your fallopian tube to implant in your uterus. This is how
pregnancy begins.
If the egg isn’t fertilized, it dissolves in your uterus. Not needed to support a pregnancy, the
lining of your uterus breaks down and sheds. This is when your period begins.