ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF THE MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM

A. MALE INTERNAL STRUCTURES:

o Testes – considered the male gonads are 2 oval organs, 4-5 cm long
within the scrotum. Each testes is encased by a protective white fibrous
capsule and comprises a number of lobules, each lobule containing
interstitial cells/Leydig’s cell and seminiferous tubule. Seminiferous
tubules produce spermatozoa while the Leydig cells are responsible for
the production of testosterone.
o Epididymis – a tightly coiled tube about 20 feet long responsible for the
conduction of sperm from the testes to vas deferens. It is where some
sperm stored and a part of the fluid that surrounds the sperm
(semen/seminal fluid) is produced by cells lining the epididymis.
o Vas deferens/Ductus deferens – a tube surrounded by arteries and veins
and protected by a thick fibrous coating. It carries sperm from epididymis
into the pelvic cavity. The blood vessels and the vas deferens together are
refererred to as a spermatic cord.
o Seminal vesicle - 2 convoluted pouches that lie along the lower portion of
the bladder and empty into urethra by way of ejaculatory ducts. These
glands secrete a viscous portion of the semen which has a high content of
the basic sugar and is alkaline in pH.
o Prostate Gland – lies just below the bladder. It secretes a thin alkaline fluid
that when added to the secretion from the seminal vesicle and sperm from
the epididymis further protects the sperm from being immobilized by
natural low pH (acidic) level of the urethra
o Urethra – hollow tube leading from the base of bladder, passing through
the prostate gland, continues to the outside through the shaft and glans
penis.
 o Cowper’s glands – lie beside the prostate gland and by short ducts empty
into the urethra. They secrete an alkaline fluid that helps counteract the
acid secretion of the urethra and ensures safe passage of spermatozoa.
B. Male External Structures:
o Penis – comprised of 3 columns of erectile tissues (2 corpus cavernosa
on the sides of the shaft; 1 corpus spongiosum around the urethra).
 Consists of the Shaft and the Glans Penis
 Shaft – contains the urethra which is the passageway for urine and
semen
 Glans – is highly sensitive (well supplied with sensory receptors)
and is located at the dismal end of the penis. At the tip of the glans
is the opening to the urethra, called urethral meatus. It is covered
by a fold of skin, Prepuce/foreskin that is often removed during
circumcision.
o During sexual stimulation, the penis may become engorged with blood,
enlarged, hardened and erect.
o Scrotum – rugated skin-covered muscular pouch/sac suspended from the
perineum. It contains the testes, epididymis and the lower portion of the
spermatic cord. It is divided into left and right internal compartments by a
septum. Beneath the skin is a layer of loose connective tissue and a layer
of smooth muscle, called Dartos muscle. In cold temperature, the dartos
muscle contracts, causing the skin of the scrotum to become firm and
wrinkled and reducing the size of the scrotum. An extension of the
abdominal muscles into the scrotum the Cremaster muscles contract
pulling the testes nearer to the body to raise it’s temperature. During warm
weather or exercise, the dartos andcremaster muscles relax, the skin of
the scrotum becomes loose and thin, and the testes descend away from
the body to lower their temperature. If the testes become too warm or too
cold, normal sperm cell development does not occur.

C. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

A. External Structures:
o Mons Veneris/Pubis – Pad of fat which lies over the symphysis pubis
where dark and curly hair grow in triangular shape that begins 1-2
years before the onset of menstruation. It protects the surrounding
delicate tissues from trauma.
o Labia Majora – Two (2) lengthwise fatty folds of skin extending from
mons veneris to the perineum that protect the labia minora, urinary
meatus and vaginal orifice.
o Labia Minora – 2 thinner, lenghtwise folds of hairless skin extending
from clitoris to fourchette.
 Glands in the labia minora lubricates the vulva
 Very sensitive because of rich nerve supply
o Space between the labia is called the Vestibule
o Clitoris – small, erectile structure at the anterior junction of the labia
minora that contains more nerve endings. It is very sensitive to
 temperature and touch, and secretes a fatty substance called
Smegma. It is comparable to the penis in it’s being extremely
sensitive.
o Vestibule – the flattened smooth surface inside the labia. It encloses
the openings of the urethra and vagina.
o Skene’s Glands/Paraurethral Glands – located just lateral to the
urinary meatus on both sides. Secretion helps lubricate the external
genital during coitus.
o Bartholin’s Gland/Vulvovaginal Glands – located lateral to the vaginal
opening on both sides. It lubricates the external vulva during coitus
and the alkaline pH of their secretion helps to improve sperm survival
in the vagina.
o Fourchette – thin fold of tissue formed by the merging of the labia
majora and labia minora below the vaginal orifice.
o Perineum – muscular, skin-covered space between the vaginal
opening and the anus. It is easily stretched during childbirth to allow
enlargement of vagina and passage of the fetal head. It contains the
muscles (pubococcygeal and levator ani) which support the pelvic
organs, the arteries that supply blood and the pudendal nerves which
are important during delivery under anesthesia.
o Urethral meatus – external opening of the urethra. It contains the
openings of the Skene’s glands which are often involved in the
infections of the external genitalia.
o Vaginal Orifice/Introitus – external opening of the vagina, covered by
a thin membrane called Hymen.
B. Internal Structures
o Fallopian tube/Oviduct – 4 inches long from each side of the uterus
(fundus). It transports the mature ova form the ovaries to the uterus
and provide a place for fertilization of the ova by the sperm in it’s outer
3rd or outer half. Parts:
 Interstitial – lies within the uterine wall
 Isthmus – portion that is cut or sealed in a tubal ligation.
 Ampulla – widest, longest portion that spreads into fingerlike
projections/fimbriae and it is where fertilization usually occurs.
 Infundibulum - rim of the funnel covered by fimbriated cells (hair
covered fingerlike projections) that help to guide the ova into the
fallopian tube.
o Ovaries – Oval, almond sized, dull white sex glands on either side of
the uterus that measures 4 by 2 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm thick. It is
responsible for the production, maturation and discharge of ova and
secretion of estrogen and progesterone.
o Uterus – hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ, 3 inches long, 2 inches
wide, weighing 50-60 grams held in place by broad and round
ligaments, and abundant blood supply from the uterine and
ovarianarteries . It is located in the lower pelvis, posterior to the
bladder and anterior to the rectum. Organ of menstruation, site of
implantation and provide nourishment to the products of conception.
o Layers:
 Perimetrium – outermost layer of the uterus comprised of
connective tissue, it offers added strenght and support to the
structure.
 Myometrium – middle layer, comprised of smooth muscles
running in 3 directions; expels fetus during birth process then
contracts around blood vessels to prevent hemorrhage.
 Endometrium – Inner layer which is visibly vascular and is shed
during menstruation and following delivery.
o Divisions of the Uterus:
 Fundus – upper rounded, dome-shaped portion that can be
palpated to determine uterine growth during pregnancy and the
force of contractions and for the assessment that the uterus is
returning to it’s non-pregnant state following child birth.
 Corpus – body of the uterus.
 Isthmus – area between corpus and cervix which forms part of
the lower uterine segment. It enlarges greatly to aid in
accommodating the fetus. The portion that is cut when a fetus
is delivered by a caesarian section.
o Cervix – lower cylindrical portion that represents 1/3 of the total
uterus. Half of it lies above the vagina; half of it extends to the vagina.
The cavity is termed the cervical canal. It has 2 openings/Os: internal
 os that open to the uterine cavity and the external os that opens to the
vagina.
o Vagina – a 3-4 inch long dilatable canal located between the bladder
and the rectum, it contains rugae which permit considerable stretching
without tearing. It acts as a organ of intercourse/copulation and
passageway for menstrual discharges and fetus. Doderlein’s bacillus
is the normal flora of the vagina which makes the pH of vagina acidic,
detrimental to the growth of pathologic bacteria.