THE REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM

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Reproduction
Reproduction is the formation of new individuals by sexual or asexual
means, which can repeat the process in their own turn.
Many simpler organisms like bacteria and yeast reproduce by fission or budding,
many plants reproduce vegetatively non sexually by various methods but in
humans, reproduction takes place only by sexual method.
PATTERNS OF REPRODUCTION :
1. Asexual reproduction – Under this mode of reproduction, the reproductive
units may consist of any portion of the parent body. (whole parent body or just
small fragment of it)
2. Sexual Reproduction – Most higher organisms - humans, reproduce sexually
by the production of gametes.
The gametes (sex cells – sperm and egg) are very small, microscopic and are
usually produced in male and female sexes respectively. The gametes unite
(fertilization) to produce a zygote which, through a process of development,
finally becomes the offspring.
The two sexes, male and female, often show outwardly differentiating features
called secondary sexual characters.
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Differences between Asexual and Sexual Reproduction-

Asexual Reproduction Sexual Reproduction

1. No gametes are formed. 1. Gametes are formed.

2. No mixing of genetic material, 2. Genetic mixing, increased

therefore, no or less variation in variation.
offsprings.
3. Normally more offspring 3. Fewer offspring

4. Only one parent is involved 4. Usually, two parents (male and

female) are involved

5. It is a rapid process during 5. Slower process

favorable conditions

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 Reproduction in Humans
The organs of the reproductive system
are divided into primary and accessory
parts:
i. The primary reproductive parts
include the gonads - testes in males
produce sperms and ovaries in
females produce eggs.
ii. The accessory reproductive parts
include all those structures, ducts and
glands which help in the transfer and
meeting of the two kinds of sex cells
leading to fertilization and in the
growth and development of the egg up
to the birth of the baby.
Secondary sexual characters do not
participate in reproduction hence, they are
not reproductive parts. Biyani’s
Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive systems consists of the following parts:
1. Testes (one pair) - produce sperms.
2. Sperm duct (vas deferens) arising from each testis - carry sperms.
3. Accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbo – urethral
glands) produce seminal fluid.
4. A penis for transferring the sperms into the female vagina.
5. Urethra contained inside the penis, conveys the sperms
received from sperm ducts.
2
3
1
4
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Testes : Testis (singular)
A. Location of testes – The two testes (popularly called testicles) are oval
organs which are contained in a thin-walled sac of skin called scrotum (or
scrotal sacs).
• In the embryonic stage, the testes are contained within the abdomen.
• They descend into the scrotum shortly before birth. An abnormal condition
results when they do not descend and it leads to sterility (incapability to
produce sperms).
• A slightly higher temperature inside the body does not permit
maturation of sperms. But in the normal condition, begin in a separate sac
suspended from the body, the testes escape too much body heat.
• Temperature regulation in the testes:
• Sperms are produced in the testes at a temperature
2 to 3˚C lower than that of the body. This temperature is
regulated in a strange manner through the
movements of the scrotum wall.
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• When it is too hot, the skin of the scrotum loosens so that the
B. Structure of testis – Each testes is From epididymis a distinct tube arises
encased in a capsule which is internally called sperm duct (vas deferens).
partitioned into 15-20 lobules SPERM DUCT – carry or transport
(segments). Each lobule contains:
mature sperms from testes to the
i. Seminiferous tubules (sperm urethra.
bearing) where the sperms are
produced. The process is called
spermatogenesis.
ii. Interstitial cells (interstitial : filling in
between) which are packing tissues
between the coils of the seminiferous
tubules. The interstitial cells also
called Leydig Cells produce the male
hormone testosterone.
The sperm producing cells of the
seminiferous tubules keep multiplying and
produce sperms.
The epididymis stores the sperms
for some days during which they
mature and become motile (capable
of moving). Biyani’s
Accessory Glands
The three male accessory glands are as
follows :
i. Seminal Vesicles –
• A pair of lobulated glands located between
the posterior surface of the urinary bladder
and the rectum.
• A duct from each seminal vesicle joins the
corresponding sperm duct just before it
unites with the urethra.
• Produce a secretion which serves as a
medium for the transportation of the
sperms.
• The mixture of this fluid and the sperms
produces a milky fluid, the semen. In the
sperm duct, the sperms are sluggish, but
by the addition of this secretion, they
become active. Biyani’s
ii. Prostate Gland –
• A bilobed structure which
surrounds the urethra close
to its origin from the bladder.
• It pours an alkaline
secretion into the semen as
it passes through the
urethra. It neutralizes acid in
female’s vagina.

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iii. Bulbo-Urethral
Glands -
• These are two small ovoid
glands which open into the
urethra just before it enters
the penis.
• The secretion serves as a
lubricant.

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Penis
 The penis lies in front of the scrotum, cylindrical in shape,
serves for the passing out of both semen and urine.
It is a highly vascular organ, having erectile tissues and
vascular spaces.
 Under the influence of sexual stimulation, blood flows
in large amount into the penis and enters into the vascular
spaces or sinuses, which makes it rigid and erect.

Semen is the mixture of sperms and secretions from

seminal vesicle prostate, Cowper’s and urethral
glands. It is a milky fluid. Its average amount is 2 to 3
ml in a single ejaculation and contains 200,000,000 –
400,000,000 sperms. Biyani’s
 Male Reproductive System

Supportive
Testes Ducts Accessory Glands
Structure

1. Seminiferous 1. Epididymis 1.Seminal Penis –

Tubules - produce 2. Sperm Duct Vesicle Transfers
sperms (Vas deferens) 2. Prostate sperms into the
Gland female organ
2. Interstitial cells - 3. Ejaculatory (vagina)
produce testosterone duct 3. Cowper’s
Gland

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Female Reproductive
System
The female reproductive system consist of the following reproductive
organs :

1. A pair of ovaries
2. A pair of oviducts (or fallopian tubes) - to convey
2
the egg released from the ovary.
3. A sac-like or pear-shaped uterus - for the growth
and development of the embryo developed
from the egg. 3
4. A vagina 1
5. Vulva - the outermost part 4

5
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1. Ovaries  The remnant of the follicle persists
The two ovaries - small ovoid bodies. for sometime to convert into a yellow
Their peripheral part produces ova or mass called corpus luteum (corpus
the eggs. : body, luteum : yellow). It secretes
2 hormones :
 Normally, only one egg matures
in each ovary every alternate  Oestrogen (as was secreted by
month. the follicle prior to ovulation).
A maturing egg contained in a  Progestrone
cellular sac is called the follicle. As the
eggs grows larger, the follicle also
enlarges and gets filled with a fluid and
is now called the Graafian follicle.
 When mature, the follicle bulges over
the surface of the ovary.
Oogenesis is the process in which
the ova-producing cells give rise to the
mature ovum.
 Rupturing of the follicle releases the
egg. This process is called as
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2. Oviduct
The two oviducts, also called
Fallopian tubes or uterine
tubes - about 12 cm long.
Cilia lining the funnel help to
pick up and push the released
ovum into the oviduct.
The waves of muscular
contractions (or peristalsis) of
the wall of oviduct push the egg
down into the uterus.

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3. Uterus
The uterus is a hollow pear –
shaped muscular organ situated
in the pelvic cavity between the
urinary bladder and the rectum.
It has elastic muscular wall.
Inner lining is high vascular
(richly supplied with blood
vessels) called Endometrium.
 It has two regions, an upper
wider potion which receives the
two oviducts and a small lower
constricted part, the cervix or
neck.
Ovaries are attach to uterus
with the help of ovarian
ligament
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4. Vagina
The vagina is a muscular
tube (10-15 cm long) starting
from the lower end of the
uterus upto the outside.
 The vagina receives the
male penis during copulation.
So it is called Copulatory
canal.
 The great elasticity of its
wall also allows the passage of
the baby during childbirth. So
it is also called Birth canal.

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Role of Hormones in Reproduction
The ovaries of a young girl start functioning around the age of 10 to 14 year. It starts
releasing the ova (ovulation). This stage is known as puberty.
At about the same time as the first ovulation, the ovary also releases female sex
hormones into the blood stream called oestrogens.
Oestrogen - bring bodily changes such as growth of mammary glands, widening of
hips, growth of hair in the pubic region and armpits and an increase in the size of the
uterus and vagina. These developments are referred to as secondary sexual
characteristics.
Another hormone secreted by the corpus luteum - Progesterone prepares the
uterus for receiving the embryo.
In boys, puberty takes place around the age of 11 to 15 years of age. The testes start
producing testosterone, resulting in the development of secondary sexual
characteristics like deepening of voice, growth of testes and penis, growth of hair on
chest, in the pubic region, armpits, chin and upper lip (moustache).
Puberty
Puberty is the period during which immature reproductive system of boys and girls
matures and becomes capable of reproducing. First sign is the enlargement of breasts
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in girls (age 10 yrs) and enlargement of testes in boys (age 11 yrs).
 Follicle cells produce
Components of Ovaries ova, oestrogen and
progestrone
Female Reproductive
System
Transport ova into
Oviducts
uterus

Female reproductive Protects and nourishes

Uterus
system growing embryo

Vagina Receives the sperms

Vulva, protects urethra

External Organs
and vagina

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Menstrual Cycle
The reproductive period of the human female continues from about the age of 13
years to 45-50 years.
This period is marked by a characteristic even repeated almost every month (28
days with minor variation) in the form of a menstrual flow. It may be temporarily
stopped only by pregnancy.
Menarche and Menopause
Menarche is the onset of menstruation in a young female at about the age of 13
years (arche : beginning). Menopause is the permanent stoppage of menstruation at
about the age 45 years (pause : stop).
The period of a menstrual cycle is counted from the day of the onset of the flow to
the next onset after 28 days.
1. Menstrual Phase 2. Follicular Phase 3. Ovulatory Phase 4. Luteal Phase
1. Menstrual Phase : It lasts for 3-5 days during which blood is discharged. The
bleeding is caused due to the shedding of the uterine lining rupturing the blood
vessels.
Starting from the onset of the menstruation flow, the ovary begins to form a new
egg in a follicle Biyani’s
2. Follicular Phase : (6th to 12th or • 4. Luteal Phase : It lasts from 15-
13th days) As the follicle grows, the 28 days. Uterus lining thickens
amount of oestrogens produced by further and after the release of the
the ovary increases. ovum, emptied follicle in the ovary
 This hormone then acts on the turns into a hormone-producing
uterus and causes its lining to become tissue called corpus luteum.
thicker and develop more blood If the ovum is fertilized, the corpus
vessels. luteum continues to release
 This change is a kind of preparation progesterone and so keeps the
of the uterus to receive the fertilized uterus in a state suitable for
egg and assist in the early implantation.
implantation of the embryo and its  If on the other hand there is no
subsequent development. fertilization, the ovum disintegrates
and the corpus luteum stops
producing progesterone.
3. Ovulatory Phase : On about the
As a result, the thickened lining of
13th or 14th day, the follicle ruptures
(ovulation) and the released egg the uterus restarts shedding on the
travels down the oviduct. 28th day and loses blood which
escapes through the cervix and
The two hormones produced by the vagina.
pituitary gland, follicle stimulating Biyani’s
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing
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 Fertilization (Union of egg nucleus and sperm
nucleus)
Fertilization : The fusion of the male gamete (sperm) and female gamete (ovum) to form a
zygote is called fertilization.

During copulation (mating or coitus)

the sperms are released into the vagina near the cervix of the uterus.

A single ejaculation by the human male contains - four hundred million sperms.

These sperms actively swim with the help of their tails and pass through the cervix into the cavity of the uterus
progressing at a rate of ≈ 1.5mm per minute.

From the uterus - they climb up to reach the oviducts.

If there is an ovum (egg) in the oviduct, it gets fertilized by just one single sperm.

A few days, soon after ovulation(12th or 13th day after the onset of menstruation) are most favorable for
conception (becoming pregnant).

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Out of the millions of sperms released into the vagina, very few are able to climb up to the upper parts of the
oviducts, the rest die on the way and are absorbed.
Parts of a sperm
1. Acrosome : at the top of the head
of the sperm - secretes an enzyme
(hyaluronidase) which facilitates
entry of the sperm into the egg by
dissolving the wall of the ovum.
2. Nucleus : contains genetic
material (22 + X or 22 + Y
chromosomes). During fertilization
combines with the nucleus of the
egg containing 22 + X
chromosomes, and thus restoring
the normal number of 23 pairs.
3. Mitochondria : contained in the
middle piece, provide energy (ATP)
for the activity of the sperm to
swim. The tail makes lashing
movements for propulsion.
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Implantation (Conception) And Pregnancy
The fertilized egg (zygote) soon
starts dividing (Mitosis) into 2, 4,
8, 16 cells and so on.
 By the time it reaches the uterus,
it has already formed a small hollow
ball of numerous cells called
blastocyst.
This kind of an embryo which
forms a pit in the wall
(endometrium) of the uterus and
gets fixed in it in about a week’s (5-
7 days) time after ovulation. This
process is called implantation and
it produces the state of pregnancy.

Implantation : The fixing of the blastocyst to the wall of the uterus/endometrium

is termed implantation.
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The uterus continues to develop to take care of the developing
embryo.
By the end of five weeks of pregnancy, the embryo is quite
advanced. The heart and circulatory system have been formed.
After two months, limbs have also been formed.

Embryo – a growing egg after fertilization until main parts of the

body and the internal organs have started to take shape.
Foetus – When embryo starts having a look of a baby (from 7
weeks of gestation and onwards).
Pregnancy – The state of carrying the unborn young one inside the
body.

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Ovulation , fertilization and implantation

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Placenta  The blood of the embryo comes in close
contact, but never mingles with the
The growing embryo or the foetus ( 8 blood of the mother.
weeks old with human – like appearance)  Placenta –is the intimate connection
is a living organism. established between the foetal
 It needs food and oxygen. membranes and uterine wall
It excretes nitrogenous wastes and permitting diffusion of nourishment
carbon dioxide which need to be from the mother’s blood to that of
continuously removed. the growing foetus and disposal of
wastes from the blood of the foetus
Placenta - Placenta is a disc – like to that of the mother.
structure attached to the uterine wall. A
cord containing blood vessels connects the
placenta with the foetus; this is called
umbilical cord.
The placenta is formed of two sets of
minute finger-like projections, the villi.
One set of villi are given out by the
uterine wall and the other set by an
extension (allantois) from the embryo.
 The two sets of villi get interlocked but
they never open into each other. Biyani’s
Functions of Placenta
The placenta allows diffusion of substances from the mother to the
foetus and from foetus to the mother as follows.
Mother to foetus Foetus to mother
(For utilization) (for elimination)
1. Oxygen 1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Glucose 2. Urea
3. Amino Acids 3. Other waste products
4. Lipids, fatty acids & glycerol
5. Vitamins
6. Mineral ions such as Na, K, Ca, Cl, etc.
7. Certain Drugs
8. Alcohol, Nicotine
9. Antibodies
10. Viruses
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Parturition (Birth)
The full term of the development of
the embryo in the uterus is called
gestation.
 In humans - it lasts for about 280 days.
At the time of birth, the baby is pushed
out by the powerful contractions of the
muscles of the uterus, head first.
 In a few minutes, the blood vessels in
the umbilical cord shrink and can be tied
and cut.
 After about 15 minutes, the placenta
breaks from the uterus and is expelled
out as “after – birth”. Uterus contracts
and gradually comes back to normal in a
few days.
Parturition is the act of expelling
the full term foetus from the mother’s
uterus at the end of gestation.
The new-born “announces” its arrival by Biyani’s
Twins – Fraternal & Identical
1. Fraternal Twins (Produced from 2. Identical Twins (produced from
two eggs) one egg)
Two eggs are released from ovaries at a A single fertilized egg get split and
time and both get fertilized to produced separated into two parts during its early
two individuals. Such twins produced stages of cell division.
from two eggs are called fraternal twins. Each of these two split parts then
 Fraternal twins may be either both behaves like an independent egg and
boys, or both girls, or one boy and one produces one complete individual each.
girl. (monozygotic twins)
Fraternal twins in all respects are like  Identical twins being produced from a
the normal sisters and brothers, but here single egg are either both boys or both
they are of the same age having been girls; and they are very similar
born within a few minutes of each other. (identical) to each other. Yet, all is not
 About 75 per cent of all cases of twins similar in identical twins, for example
belong to this type. Fraternal twins are fingerprints, birth marks and even
biologically known as : Diovular handwritings are not similar.
(meaning produced from two ova), or
Dizygotic (meaning produced from two
zygotes, that is, two fertilized eggs). Biyani’s
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