Human Reproduction

Male reproductive system

The male reproductive system consists of the following parts:

• The penis
• Ducts (Epididymis, vas deferens and the urethra)
• Accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate gland and Cowper's gland)
• The testes

You need to be able to:

• label a diagram of the male reproductive system
• state the function of each part

Diagram of the male reproductive system:

The testes are the primary male sex organs. They consist of:

• Seminiferous tubules = produce spermatozoa through meiosis

• Epididymis = stores sperms temporarily
• Vas deferens or Sperm duct = carries spermatozoa from the epididymis to
the ejaculatory duct
• Sertoli cells = these provide nutrients for the developing spermatozoa
• Cells of Leydig = secretes the male sex hormone, called testosterone

Diagram of a longitudinal section through a testis.

Diagram of the cross section of a seminiferous tubule showing the stages of
spermatogenesis:

Scrotum:

• the bag of skin that encloses the testes.

• protects the testes by holding them away from the body. This ensures that
they are exposed to temperatures 2 degrees lower than that of the body,
therefore 35 degrees Celsius body temperature, for optimal sperm
production.
Female Reproductive Systems
The female reproductive system consists of the following:

• The ovaries are the primary female sex organs. They produce ova (eggs)
within the follicles.
• Fallopian tubes (oviduct) transport ova from the ovaries to the uterus and is
also the site for fertilisation.
• The uterus is also known as the womb. It is where implantation and
development take place. The lining of the uterus, the endometrium consists of
blood vessels.
• The vagina is also known as the birth canal. It is where copulation occurs and
the foetus leaves the female's body through the vagina.

Diagram of a cross section through the Female reproductive system

Ovaries
The ovaries are the primary female sex organs. They are responsible for
the following:
• production and release the female sex hormones progesterone and
oestrogen (these hormones are responsible for secondary sexual
characteristics, during puberty)
• they produce ova within their follicles.
Puberty
• A child undergoes physical and physiological changes.
• It leads to the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
• The age at which it begins is affected by genetic and environmental factors.
• In girls it is normally between the ages of 11 and 14 and boys it is between the
ages of 14 and 16.
• Puberty is stimulated when the pituitary gland secretes gonadotropin.
• In females, the hormone gonadotropin stimulates the ovaries to secrete
oestrogen and progesterone.
• In males, the hormone gonadotropin stimulates the testes to secrete
testosterone.

Infographic showing oestrogen levels in women at different ages

Infographic showing Testosterone levels in males at different ages

Secondary Sexual Characteristics
• Males and females both develop secondary sexual characteristics during
puberty.
• The respective sex hormones are responsible for this process.

Gametogenesis:
Gametogenesis is the process by which gametes are produced from the
germinal epithelium of the sex organs (testes and ovaries), through meiosis.

Gametogenesis is classified into two

categories:
1. Oogenesis: process by which
ovaries produce ova, by means of
meiosis.
2. Spermatogenesis: process by which
testes produce sperm cells
(spermatozoa), by means of meiosis.
Menstrual Cycle:
It is important that you understand all the events in the chart below:
Ovarian Cycle:

The ovarian cycle describes what happens inside the ovary.

The Graafian follicle undergoes changes, as it releases the ovum during ovulation
to form the corpus luteum.

Overview of the Ovarian Cycle

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is produced by the pituitary
gland/hypophysis.
• FSH stimulates the development of the Graafian follicles, containing the mature
ovum.
• The Graafian follicle produces oestrogen, which begins to prepare the
thickening of the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium), for implantation, after
fertilisation.
• The Graafian follicle ruptures (breaks open) to release the mature ovum on day
14 of the cycle. This is known as ovulation.
• The ovum leaves the ovary to enter the fallopian tubes.
• The hormone luteinising hormone (LH) is secreted by the pituitary
gland/hypophysis converts the ruptured follicles left into the ovary to form a
yellow body, called the corpus luteum.
• The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which maintains the thickness of the
endometrium.
• If fertilisation doesn't happen, the corpus luteum disintegrates and the
progesterone levels drop.

Uterine Cycle:
The uterine cycle describes the changes that take place in the inner wall of the
uterus (endometrium). It gradually thickens, becoming enriched with blood vessels,
until the endometrium walls shed, thus causing menstruation.

Overview of the Uterine Cycle

• Graafian follicle produces oestrogen which prepares the endometrium for

implantation by:

–Thickening it

–Increasing blood supply

–Increasing glands

• After ovulation corpus luteum produces progesterone which keeps the

endometrium intact for implantation.
• If fertilisation does occur the corpus luteum will remain and secrete progesterone
to maintain the endometrium and the pregnancy.
• If fertilisation does not occur the corpus luteum disintegrates, causing
progesterone levels to drop and menstruation occurs.
• During menstruation, the endometrium wall disintegrates and leaves the vagina
as blood.
• This can last between 3 to 7 days, and varies from one female to the next.

Feedback Mechanisms of the Ovarian and Uterine Cycles:

Fertilisation to Birth:

Fertilisation and Development:

Fertilisation

• The sperm and ovum meet in the Fallopian tube.

• Using the enzymes in the acrosome it digests away the jelly layer of the ovum.
• The haploid nucleus of the sperm cell penetrates the ovum and the nuclei
fuse forming a diploid zygote. This is called fertilisation.
• As the zygote passes through the Fallopian tube it undergoes mitosis to form a
ball of cells called a morula.
• The morula further undergoes mitosis and it forms a hollow ball of cells called
a blastocyst.
• By the time it reaches the uterus it will have formed an embryo.
• The embryo then attaches to the endometrium and this is called implantation.

Development

• After implantation occurs the extra-embryonic membranes develop.

• Chorion which forms the chorionic villi.
• Amnion which is filled with amniotic fluid.

The amniotic fluid has the following functions:

• Acts as a shock absorber, preventing injury.

• Prevents dehydration.
• Regulates the temperature.

The Placenta:

The chorionic villi together with the uterine tissue in which the villi are embedded
make up the placenta.

Functions:

• Serves as attachment of the embryo to the mother.

• Allows for diffusion of food and oxygen from the mother to the embryo.
• Allows for diffusion of carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste from the embryo to
the mother.
• Secretes progesterone after 12th week.

The Umbilical Cord:

• The umbilical cord attaches the embryo and the placenta.

• It contains the umbilical artery and umbilical vein.
• The umbilical artery carries deoxygenated blood with waste away the embryo
to the mother.
• The umbilical vein carries oxygenated blood with nutrients from the placenta to
the embryo.
Gestation:

Gestation is the period during which the embryo develops within the uterus of the
mother, up to the time it is born.

• During this period, the embryo increases in shape and size as it continues to
grow and develop.
• At 8 weeks, it starts to look like a human baby and is referred to as a foetus.
• A full term of gestation in humans is 40 weeks long.
Fertilisation to Birth
Fertilisation to Birth