REPRODUCTION SYSTEM

Overview
 How does the human reproductive
system work?

Mammals, including humans produce

gametes in paired organs called gonads
In males: testes (singular = testis);
produce sperm
In females: ovaries;
produce eggs
Human male reproductive tract
 Human male reproductive tract
Testes (in scrotum)
Sperm
Testosterone
 Human male reproductive tract
Accessory
structures
Seminal vesicles
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral gland

(together produce
semen)
 Human male reproductive tract
Accessory
structures
Epididymis

(sperm storage)
 Human male reproductive tract
Accessory
structures
Vas deferens

(connects testes to
urethra)
Testes produce sperm &
testosterone
Sperm production occurs
in seminiferous
tubules
Testes produce sperm &
testosterone
Sperm production occurs
in seminiferous
tubules

At puberty, testosterone
production begins
in interstitial cells
Testes produce sperm &
testosterone
Sperm production occurs
in seminiferous
tubules

Sertoli cells regulate

sperm production &
nourish developing
sperm
Testes produce sperm &
testosterone
Sperm production occurs
in seminiferous
tubules

Spermatozoa are
produced by
spermatogonia
The Seminiferous Tubules
The Seminiferous Tubules
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia (2n) either undergo mitosis to
produce new spermatogonia, or undergo meiosis to
produce sperm (1n)
Spermatogenesis
Spermiogenesis and Spermatozoon
Structure
 Human sperm almost no cytoplasm;
carries male DNA to egg DNA
Head
Nucleus DNA
Acrosome
Enzymes
 Human sperm almost no cytoplasm;
carries male DNA to egg DNA
Head
Nucleus DNA
Acrosome
Enzymes

Midpiece
Mitochondria
Energy
 Human sperm almost no cytoplasm;
carries male DNA to egg DNA
Head
Nucleus DNA
Acrosome
Enzymes

Midpiece
Mitochondria
Energy

Tail
Flagellum
Propeller
 Accessory glands

Seminal vesicles
Active secretory gland
Contributes ~60% total volume of semen
Secretions contain fructose,
prostaglandins, fibrinogen
Prostate gland
Secretes slightly acidic prostate fluid
Bulbourethral glands
Secrete alkaline mucus with lubricating
properties
 Contents of Semen

Typical ejaculate = 2-5 ml fluid

Contains between 20 100 million
spermatozoa
per ml
Seminal fluid
A distinct ionic and nutritive glandular
secretion
Human female reproductive tract
 Human female reproductive tract
Fallopian tubes,
Ovaries a.k.a. uterine tubes,
Eggs a.k.a. oviducts
Estrogen / progesterone

Accessory structures
receive & move sperm
to egg & nourish ovary fimbriae
uterus
developing embryo
Vagina receives cervix
sperm vagina
Fallopian tubes
site of fertilization
Uterus site of
development of
embryo
 Human female reproductive tract
Fallopian tubes,
Ovaries a.k.a. uterine tubes,
Eggs a.k.a. oviducts
Estrogen / progesterone

Accessory structures
receive & move sperm
to egg & nourish ovary fimbriae
uterus
developing embryo
Vagina receives cervix
sperm vagina
Fallopian tubes
sites of fertilization
Uterus site of
development of
embryo
 During embryonic development, the females
lifetime supply of eggs are formed.
Just before birth, the eggs develop to a
certain size and then enter a resting stage
until puberty.
At birth, a females ovaries contain 1 million
eggs.
Oogenesis formation of egg cells via
meiosis
It has long been thought that women have
all their primary oocytes (halted at
Prophase of Meiosis I) by
the time they are born
Oogenesis
 Ovulation occurs on approximately the 14th day
of the menstrual cycle.
Can be divided into four stages in terms of
ovarian activity.
Menstrual phase
Proliferative (follicular) phase
(preovulatory)
Ovulation
Secretory (luteal) phase (postovulatory)
 Increased levels of estradiol (or estrogen) in
blood causes the pituitary gland to secrete
LH.
LH causes the follicle to rupture.
The egg is released into the end of the
fallopian tube and is moved along by ciliated
cells in the lining.
Monthly menstrual cycle coordinates:
1) maturation of several eggs
2) release of one egg
3) preparation of the uterine lining for
possible pregnancy
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle:
Hormones from the brains master gland (pituitary)
initiate development of egg-bearing follicles in the
ovary
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle:
Estrogen produced by egg-bearing follicles
stimulates the growth of the uterine lining
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle:
Ovulation occurs on about day 14; remnants of
ruptured follicle become the corpus luteum, which
produces both estrogens and progesterone
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle:
Combination of estrogens + progesterone:
1) Inhibits hormone release from pituitary,
preventing development of more follicles
2) Stimulates further growth of uterine lining
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle:
If pregnancy does not begin:
1) The corpus luteum breaks down
2) Estrogens & progesterone levels fall
3) Uterine lining is shed as menstrual flow
Uterine wall consists of three layers:

Myometrium outer muscular layer

Endometrium a thin, inner, glandular
mucosa
Perimetrium an incomplete serosa
continuous with the peritoneum
The Uterine Wall
The Uterine Wall
 Uterine cycle

Repeating series of changes in the

endometrium
Continues from menarche to
menopause
Menses
Degeneration of the endometrium
Menstruation
Proliferative phase
Restoration of the endometrium
Secretory phase
Endometrial glands enlarge and
accelerate their rates of secretion
The Uterine Cycle
 Fertilization may lead to pregnancy
Sperm deposited in the vagina during copulation
swim through the uterus into the Fallopian tubes,
where they may encounter an egg

Sperm
Sperm

Sperm

Sperm
Oocyte (egg)
 Fertilization may lead to pregnancy
Sperm release enzymes that break down the
barriers around the egg (corona radiata and
zona pelucida)
oocyte

Zona pellucida
Corona radiata layer of jelly-like layer
accessory cells around egg around egg
 Fertilization may lead to pregnancy
Fusion of the nuclei of an egg and one sperm
(fertilization) produces a zygote

oocyte

Zona pellucida
Corona radiata layer of jelly-like layer
accessory cells around egg around egg
If pregnancy begins, the embryo secretes a
hormone that prevents the breakdown of the
corpus luteum
 Corpus luteum continues to produce estrogens
and progesterone, so the uterine lining continues
to grow and develop
 Most pregnancy tests detect the presence of a
hormone produced by the embryo and present
in the womans urine
 Fetal development
The inner wall of the uterus together with embryonic tissues
become the placenta, which transfers oxygen, carbon dioxide,
nutrients and wastes between the mother and the developing fetus

Maternal Maternal
arteries veins

Placenta

Maternal portion
Umbilical cord of placenta

Fetal
capillaries
Fetal portion of
Maternal blood placenta (chorion)
pools

Uterus

Umbilical cord
Journey of Ovum
Zygote

Ovum Mature ovum in

follicle
 Menstrual Disorders
Amenorrhea
Absence of menstrual flow
Dysmenorrhea
Pain during or shortly before menstruation
PMS
A complex, poorly understood condition that
includes a number of cyclic symptoms
occuring in the luteal phase of the menstrual
cycle
 Endometriosis

Characterized by the presence and growth of

endometrial tissue outside of the uterus.
Tissue may be implanted on the ovaries, cul-
de-sac, uterine ligaments, rectovaginal
septum, sigmoid colon, pelvic peritoneum,
cervix, and inguinal area.
 Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Oligomenorrhea / Hypomenorrhea
Cause: physical (hypothalamic, pituitary,
ovarian function, oral contraceptives) or
psychological
Rx: aimed at reversing the underlying
cause (hormonal therapy is often the
treatment of choice). Counseling may be
indicated.
 Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Metrorrhagia
Intermenstrual bleedings. Any episode of
bleeding, whether spotting, menses, or
hemorrhage, that occurs at a time other
than the normal menses.
Cause: hormonal, oral contraceptives, IUD,
pregnancy.
Rx: depends on cause.
 Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Menorrhagia
Excessive menstrual bleeding, in either
duration or amount.
Causes: hormonal disturbances, systemic
disease, benign & malignant neoplasms,
infection, and contraception (IUDs).
Rx: education about contraception
methods; medical & surgical management of
fibroids.
 Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding:

Any form of uterine bleeding that is
irregular in amount, duration, or timing and
not related to regular menstrual bleeding.
Causes: anovulation; pregnancy-related
conditions; lower reproductive tract
infections; neoplasms; trauma; systemic
diseases; iatrogenic causes. Refer to box
7-1 in text (p.167).
Rx: dependant on cause.
 Menopause

Perimenopause: the period that encompasses

the transition from normal ovulatory cycles to
cessation of menses and is marked by irregular
menstrual cycles.
Menopause: refers to the complete cessation
of menses and is a single physiologic event said
to occur when women have not had menstrual
flow or spotting for 1 year & can be identified
only in retrospect.
Postmenopause: the time after menopause.
 Osteoporosis

A generalized, metabolic disease

characterized by decreased bone mass and
increased incidence of bone fractures.
Affects >25 million women loder than 45
years old, in the US.
Approximately 50% of American women have
some degree of osteoporosis. 1 out of 2 have
changes severe enough to predispose them to
fractures.
 NOTE:

Alternative therapies are beneficial in

relieving discomforts associated with
menstrual disorders and menopause.
Osteoporosis, a progressive loss of bone mass
that results from decreasing levels of
estrogen after menopause, can be prevented
or minimized with lifestyle changes and
medication.
 NOTE:

Estrogen increases calcitonin levels to

prevent bone resorption and maintain bone
density.
Sexuality and the ability for sexual
expression continue after menopause.
Surgical Means of Birth Control
Male
Vasectomy surgically taking portion
of vas deferens out
Female
Tubal sterilization surgically taking
portion of fallopian tubes out
Hysterectomy removing all or part of
uterus and ovaries