11 .

4 R e p r o d u c t i o n
Testis Tissue

Overview of Spermatogensis

The testes are composed of

seminiferous tubules which
produce sperm
Each tubule is surrounded by
a basement membrane which
is lined by germ line
epithelium cells
The germ line epithelium will
divide by mitosis to make
spermatogonia (which divide
by meiosis to make
spermatozoa)
The developing spermatozoa
are nourished by Sertoli cells
Outside of the tubules are
blood capillaries and
interstitial cells (Leydig cells),
which produce the male sex
hormone, testosterone

Spermatogenesis describes the production

of spermatozoa (sperm) in the seminiferous
tubules of the testes
The first stage of sperm production
requires the division of germline epithelium
by mitosis
These cells (spermatogonia) then undergo
a period of growth
This is followed by two meiotic divisions
that result in four haploid daughter cells
These haploid cells then differentiate to

LH: Stimulates the interstitial cells (Leydig cells)

to produce testosterone
FSH: Stimulates the (first) meiotic division of
spermatogonia

Structure of the ovary

The ovary contains follicles

in various stages of development
Epididymis
* O v e r v I e wEggocells
f O
o g primordial
e n s I s*
within
Testicular
fluids are
Oogenesis describes
production
of female
follicles the
have
been arrested
in
removed,
concentrating the
gametes (ova)
within
the
ovary
prophase I and have yet to
sperm
The process begins during
foetal development,
undergo meiotic division
Sperm mature
and
when a large number of cells (oogonia)
are formed
Egg cells within mature
develop
the ability
to swim
by mitosis before undergoing
a period
of growth
follicles have begun meiotic
These cells begin meiosis but are arrested in
division and are released from the
prophase I until pubertySeminal Vesicle
ovary
as secondary
oocytes
Adds
nutrients
At puberty, some
follicles
continue
to
develop each
(arrested
in
prophase
II)
(including
fructose)
for
month is response to FSH secretion
The ruptured
respiration
These follicles complete
the first follicle
meiotic division to
develops
into
a
corpus
luteum
Secretes
form two cells of unequal size
Similarities
between
that cytoplasm
will, inprostaglandins,
time,
degenerate
into
The cell with less
is a
polar body
(which
causing
spermatogenesis
and
corpus
albicans
degenerates),awhile
the
larger cell forms
a female
contractions
to the
germline
epithelium
oogenesis
secondary oocyte The
system and
helping sperm
The secondary oocyte
begins
the
second
meiotic
move
towards
the
eggin the

Both processes
result
division but is arrested in prophase II (until
formation of haploid
Prostate Gland
fertilisation)
gametes
Mature
sperm
and egg

Both
processes
involve

Differences between spermatogenesis and oogenesis

Process of Fertilization

*Role of hCG*
When the sperm enters the female reproductive
tract, biochemical changes to the sperm occur
in the final part ofitsThe
maturation
(capacitation)
endometrium
is a
The sperm is attracted
to
the
egg
due
to
the in
blood-rich environment
release of chemical signals
from
the secondary
which an
implanted
zygote
oocyte (chemotaxis) can grow and it is
Fertilisation generallysustained
occurs in by
thethe
oviduct
hormone
(fallopian tube)
progesterone
To enter the egg membrane,
the sperm
must

If progesterone
levels
penetrate the protective
jelly
coat (zona(i.e. the
aren't
maintained
pellucida) surrounding
the egg
via the
corpus
luteum
Early Embryo
Development
acrosome reaction
degenerates),
then the
The acrosome vesicle
fuses
with
the
jelly
coat
After
fertilisation,
the
zygote
endometrium will
be
and releases digestive
enzymes
which
soften
undergoes
several
mitotic
sloughed
away
the glycoprotein matrix
divisions
to create a solid ball
(menstruation)
The membrane of of
the
and sperm
then(at
fuse
Aegg
fertilised
zygote
cells
called
a
morula
develops
into a blastocyst
and the sperm nucleus
(and
centriole)
enters
around
4 days)
that secretes
Unequal
divisionshuman
beyond this
the egg
To prevent other sperm
from
chorionic
gonadotrophin
stage
causepenetrating
a
fluid-filledthe
(hCG)
fertilised egg (polyspermy),
the jelly
coat
cavity
to form
in the
middle thishCG
maintains
undergoes biochemical
changes
via the corpus
cortical
makes
a blastocyst
(at
luteum
post-ovulation
so
reaction
around 5 days)
the enzymes
blastocyst
can
The cortical granules
release
that
Thethat
blastocyst
consists
of:
An inner mass of cells (this
will develop into the embryo)
An outer layer called the
trophoblast (this will develop
into the placenta)
A fluid filled cavity (called the
blastocoele)