ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY MODULE

General Biology 2
2ND Semester | 2020-2021

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• Describe the general functions of the reproductive system.
• Describe the structure and function of each component of male and female reproductive system.

FUNCTIONS

• Production of gametes. The reproductive system produces gametes: sperm cells in the testes of males and oocytes (eggs) in
the ovaries of females.
• Fertilization. The reproductive system enhances fertilization of the oocyte by the sperm. The duct system in males nourishes
sperm until they are mature and are deposited in the female reproductive tract by the penis. The female reproductive system
receives the male’s sperm and transports them to the fertilization site.
• Development and nourishment of a new individual. The female reproductive system nurtures the development of a new
individual in the uterus until birth and provides nourishment (milk) after birth.
• Production of reproductive hormones. Hormones produced by the reproductive system control its development and the
development of the gender-specific body form. These hormones are also essential for the normal function of the reproductive
system and for reproductive behavior.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Ducts Accessory structures
Epididymis Prostate gland
The male reproductive system consists of the testes (sing. testis), a series of
Vas deferens Bulbourethral gland
ducts, accessory glands, and supporting structures.
Ejaculatory duct Seminal vesicle
Ducts Urethra

1. The epididymis, a coiled tube system, is located on

the testis and is the site of sperm maturation. Final
changes, called capacitation of sperm cells, occur
after ejaculation.
2. The seminiferous tubules lead to the rete testis,
which opens into the efferent ductules that extend
to the epididymis.
3. The ductus deferens passes from the epididymis
into the abdominal cavity.
4. The ejaculatory duct is formed by the joining of the
ductus deferens and the duct from the seminal
vesicle.
5. The ejaculatory ducts join the prostatic urethra
within the prostate gland.
6. The urethra extends from the urinary bladder
through the penis to the outside of the body.
Accessory Structures
1. The seminal vesicles empty into the ejaculatory duct.
2. The prostate gland consists of glandular and muscular tissue and
empties into the urethra.
3. The bulbourethral glands empty into the urethra.
Sperm cells (5%) will mix with the secretions of the seminal vesicle (60%),
prostate gland (30%), and bulbourethral gland (5%) to form the milky fluid
called semen.
Semen components:
• Sperm cells – for fertilization.
• Fructose – food of the sperm.
• Prostaglandins – increase vaginal contraction to help sperm cells travel.
• Alkaline substances – neutralizes acidic vagina.

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 ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY MODULE
General Biology 2
2ND Semester | 2020-2021

Supporting Structure

Supporting structures include the scrotum and the penis.

Scrotum - a saclike structure containing the testes. Externally, the

scrotum consists of skin. Beneath the skin are a layer of loose
connective tissue and a layer of smooth muscle. In cold temperatures,
the smooth muscle contracts, causing the skin of the scrotum to
become firm and wrinkled and reducing the overall size of the scrotum.
The testes are pulled nearer the body, and their temperature is
elevated. During warm weather or exercise, the smooth muscles relax,
the skin of the scrotum becomes loose and thin, and the testes
descend away from the body, which lowers their temperature.If the
testes become too warm or too cold, normal sperm cell development
does not occur.

Penis - the male organ of copulation and functions in the transfer of

sperm cells from the male to the female. The penis contains three
columns of erectile tissue. Engorgement of this erectile tissue with blood causes the penis to enlarge and become firm, a process called
erection. The shaft of the penis is covered by skin that is loosely attached to the connective tissue surrounding the penis. The skin is
firmly attached at the base of the glans penis, and a thinner layer of skin tightly covers the glans penis. The skin of the penis, especially
the glans penis, is well supplied with sensory receptors.

Main Organ: Testes

The testes or male gonads are oval organs, each about 4–5 cm
long, within the scrotum. The outer part of each testis consists of a
thick, white connective tissue capsule. The interior of the testis
divides into lobules containing seminiferous tubules, in which sperm
cells develop.

✓ Sperm cells are developed in testes in a process called

spermatogenesis.
✓ Meiosis of the spermatogonium proceeds from the sides of
the seminiferous tubule into the center.
Spermatogenesis

Spermatogonium → primary spermatocyte → secondary

spermatocyte → spermatid → sperm cells

✓ Upon becoming sperm cells, they travel into the rete testis
then to the epididymis, where they become mature by
developing the capacity to swim and penetrate the egg cell.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The female reproductive organs consist of the ovaries, the uterine tubes (or fallopian
tubes), the uterus, the vagina, the external genitalia, and the mammary glands.

Uterine Tubes - The ovarian end of the uterine tube is surrounded by fimbriae. Cilia
on the fimbriae move the oocyte into the uterine tube. Fertilization usually occurs in the
ampulla of the uterine tube, which is near the ovary.

Uterus - The uterus is a pear-shaped organ. The uterine cavity and the cervical canal
are the spaces formed by the uterus. The wall of the uterus consists of the perimetrium,
or serous layer; the myometrium (smooth muscle); and the endometrium.

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 ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY MODULE
General Biology 2
2ND Semester | 2020-2021

Vagina - The vagina connects the uterus (cervix) to the vestibule. The vagina
consists of a layer of smooth muscle and an inner lining of moist stratified squamous
epithelium. The wall of the vagina produces lubricating fluid. The hymen covers the
vestibular opening of the vagina in young females.

Female External Genitalia

1. The vestibule is a space into which the vagina and the urethra open.
2. The clitoris is composed of erectile tissue and contains many sensory receptors
important in detecting sexual stimuli.
3. The labia minora are folds that cover the vestibule and form the prepuce.
4. The greater vestibular glands produce a mucous fluid.
5. The labia majora cover the labia minora, and the pudendal cleft is a space
between the labia majora.
6. The mons pubis is an elevated area superior to the labia major

Ovaries
The two ovaries are small organs suspended in
the pelvic cavity by ligaments. The suspensory
ligament extends from each ovary to the lateral
body wall, and the ovarian ligament attaches the
ovary to the superior margin of the uterus. In
addition, the ovaries are attached to the posterior
surface of the broad ligament by folds of
peritoneum called the mesovarium. The ovarian
arteries, veins, and nerves traverse the
suspensory ligament and enter the ovary through
the mesovarium. Each of the ovarian follicles
contains an oocyte, the female sex cell.

Oogenesis and Fertilization

Oogenesis
Oogonium → primary oocyte → secondary oocyte → ovum (and
polar bodies) → egg cell

• Before birth, a female already has a limited number of oogonium

in her ovary which divides into primary oocytes.
• Between birth and puberty, primary oocytes are arrested (do not
divide).
• On the onset of puberty, the primary oocytes begin dividing one
by one into secondary oocytes.
• Simultaneously during development until puberty, primary oocytes
are surrounded by follicles – they secrete estrogen to stimulate
ovulation.
• Upon becoming secondary oocytes, they are now surrounded by
a mature (Graafian) follicle.
• Upon release (ovulation), the oocyte travel into the oviduct and
the follicle ruptures to become corpus luteum.
• In the oviduct (fallopian tube), the oocyte will wait to become
fertilized.

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 ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY MODULE
General Biology 2
2ND Semester | 2020-2021

• If fertilized, the zygote will then implant into the uterus and the
corpus luteum enlarges in response to human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) hormone.
• The corpus luteum also secretes estrogen and progesterone to
maintain pregnancy.
• If unfertilized, oocyte will die and the corpus luteum begins to
degenerate into corpus albicans, dropping progesterone levels
and initiating menstruation.

Menstrual cycle

• The ovarian cycle (or menstrual cycle is basically controlled by

hormones).
• During ovulation, basal body temperature goes up, LH and FSH, and
estrogen spikes, releasing the oocyte.
• Progesterone levels will then increase, thickening the endometrium and
maintaining the oocyte while waiting for pregnancy
• 14 days after ovulation, without pregnancy, the endometrial lining
sloughs off, rupturing some blood vessels with it, in a process called
menstruation.

Mammary Glands

The mammary glands are modified sweat glands that consist of

glandular lobes and adipose tissue. The lobes connect to the
nipple through ducts. The nipple is surrounded by the areola.
Each adult female breast contains mammary glands consisting of
usually 15–20 glandular lobes covered by adipose tissue. It is
primarily this superficial adipose tissue that gives the breast its
form. Each lobe possesses a single lactiferous duct that opens
independently to the surface of the nipple. The duct of each lobe
is formed as several smaller ducts, which originate from lobules,
converge. Within a lobule, the ducts branch and become even
smaller. In the milk-producing, or lactating, mammary gland, the
ends of these small ducts expand to form secretory sacs called
alveoli.

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