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