Lesson1:

Unit 6 – Lesson
The Reproductive System
 Lesson
Lesson Objectives!

At the end of the lesson, we should be able to:

 Describe the parts of the reproductive system and

their functions
 Explain the role of hormones in the female and
male reproductive systems
 Discuss the phases of menstrual cycle; and
 Trace the growth of the zygote during nine months
of pregnancy
 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

What is Reproductive System?

Why is it important to learn about the Reproductive System?

 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

The Reproductive System is an organ system

made up of our sex organs which allows us to
produce an offspring sexually. [1]

The Reproductive System is composed of the

Male (produces sperm cells) and Female
Reproductive System (produces egg cells). [2]
 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

It is important to learn about the Reproductive

System because it: [3]
● Helps in educating every youth about
sexual and reproductive health.
● Creates awareness among people about safe
sexual practices.
● Aids in preventing sexually transmitted
infections like HIV or AIDS.
 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

It is important to learn about the Reproductive

System because it: [3]
● Protects both the mother and the child from
infectious diseases and to deliver a healthy
baby; and
● Provides complete knowledge about the
early pregnancy, infertility, birth control
methods, pregnancy, post-childbirth care of
the baby and mother, etc.
 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

The Morphological and Physiological structure

of the Male Reproductive System is different
from the Female Reproductive System.

Though the parts and functions of the

reproductive system are different in some
aspects, they are still coordinated parts and
functions.
 Introduction to the
Reproductive System

The role of the male reproductive system is to

produce and transport sperm cells while the
female reproductive system is to produce egg
cells for child-bearing.

Reproduction won’t occur if there’s no fusion

of the gametes (or reproductive cell) between
the male organ (sperm cells) and the female
organ (egg cells).
 The Male
Reproductive System
 Morphology and Physiology of the Male
Reproductive System

The Male Reproductive Organ has six main parts:

Penis – soft, tubular organ. It is the external sexual

organ of the male where the sperm are delivered into
the female’s body. Contains erectile tissue in which
the penis becomes larger and stiffer due to increase of
blood flow during ejaculation.

Urethra – tube passing through the penis to outside of

the body which carries urine and sperm.
 Morphology and Physiology of the Male
Reproductive System

The Male Reproductive Organ has six main parts:

Epididymis – coiled J-shaped tube located on the back

of each testicle. Stores sperm for two to four days
after it has been produced.

Vas Deferens – tube that receives the sperm from the

epididymis of each testicle.
 Morphology and Physiology of the Male
Reproductive System

The Male Reproductive Organ has six main parts:

Testes – made up of coiled tubules, it is where the

male sex hormones (testosterone) and sperms are
produced.

Scrotum – pouch of skin hanging from the penis.

Houses the testes and protects sperm by keeping the
temperature of testes lower than normal body
temperature.
 The Glands and Ducts of the Male
Reproductive Organ

Vas Deferens – a tube about 18in long and loops over the
bladder.

Urethra – valve within urethra that prevents mixing of

urine and sperm.
 The Glands and Ducts of the Male
Reproductive Organ

Seminal Vesicles – located at the base of the bladder, it

secretes a thick fluid that nourishes the sperm.

Ejaculatory Ducts – tubes lined with muscles which

contract to force the semen out of the body during
ejaculation.
 The Sperm Cell

Sperm Cell – a unique structure located in the testis. It

fertilizes the egg.

How is Sperm Cell Produced?

Males have two testes found inside the scrotum which
produces millions of minute sperm cells which can be
observed only under the microscope. The sperm cell
which comes from the testes, and travels in the
epididymis are temporarily stored until they are released.
 The Sperm Cell

How is Sperm Cell Produced?

When the sperm cells are released, they move along the
vas deferens. Along the way, the sperms get combined
with the nutrient secretions from the prostate gland and
seminal vesicles, becomes a mixture called semen. It will
be then transported into the urethra and out of the penis.
 The Female
Reproductive System
The Parts & Functions
of the Female
Reproductive System

Ovaries – small and almond-shaped organs

located inside the female; one on each side of
the body a few inches below the waist. They
secrete hormones called estrogen and
progesterone to produce mature egg cells.
The Parts & Functions
of the Female
Reproductive System

Fallopian tubes – two very fine tubes which

extended from each ovary into the uterus. They
contain the egg until fertilization takes place. It
also acts as a passageway leading the sperm to
the egg and the fertilized egg to the uterus.
The Parts & Functions of the Female
Reproductive System

Uterus/Womb – hallow, muscular, pear-shaped

organ located between the two ovaries, where
the fertilized egg will develop and grow into a
baby. However, if the eggs remain unfertilized,
it sheds and passes through the vagina, which
leave the body as menstrual discharge.
The Parts & Functions of the Female
Reproductive System

Cervix – narrow structure within an inch- long

canal connecting the lower end of the uterus to
the upper portion of the vagina.
The Parts & Functions of the Female
Reproductive System

Vagina/Birth canal – hallow tube leading from

the cervix to outside of the body. The wall is
elastic allowing it to expand during childbirth
and sexual intercourse.
 The Parts & Functions of the Female
Reproductive System

Vulva – the female’s external genitalia. It includes the following parts:

● Mons veneris – hairy skin-covered pad of fat over the pubic bone.
● Labia minora – small lips covered with modified skin.
● Labia majora – large lips covered with pubic hair.
● Clitoris - small almond-shaped erectile tissue located below the junction of two minora.
● Vaginal Orifice – opening to the vagina.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System

Hormones – are regulating and complex chemical substances secreted by the

endocrine glands. They play an important role regulating the functions of a specific
organ of the body. They also play a specific role during puberty, ovulation,
pregnancy, and development.

Reproductive Glands – controlled by the pituitary gland, which is controlled by the

hypothalamus. The reproductive glands work at low levels until around the age of 10.
After this age, hormone levels begin to increase, and physical changes start to
develop.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System

Reproductive Glands – The hypothalamus releases chemical substances that signal

the pituitary gland to start producing two hormones responsible for reproduction: the
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH). The hormones
affect the testes in men and the ovaries in women.

A male’s LH sends signals in the testes to produce testosterone with FSH to control
the production of sperm and the growth of facial hair. Meanwhile in females, the
pituitary hormones LH and FSH stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen and
progesterone. These hormones are responsible to produce ova or mature egg cells.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System
Other Roles of the Reproductive Hormones:
Glands Hormones Function
Regulates the development
of male sex organs, controls
Testes (Male) Testosterone
sex drive and secondary sex
characteristics at puberty.
Controls sex drive and
development of female
Ovaries (Female) Estrogen
secondary sex characteristics
at puberty.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System
Other Roles of the Reproductive Hormones:
Glands Hormones Function
Controls the development of
endometrium (mucus
membrane lining womb)
Ovaries (Female) Progesterone
during menstrual cycle and
maintenance of uterus during
pregnancy.
Stimulates the production of
Prolactin
milk in the mammary glands.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System
Other Roles of the Reproductive Hormones:
Glands Hormones Function
Females – stimulates
ovulation, maturation of egg
cell, and progesterone
Pituitary Luteinizing hormone
production
Males – stimulates sperm
and testosterone production.
Roles of Hormones in the Reproductive
System
Other Roles of the Reproductive Hormones:
Glands Hormones Function
Females – stimulates the
maturation of egg cell in the
ovary and estrogen
Pituitary Follicle-stimulating hormone
production
Males – stimulates sperm
production.
 Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation – also known as monthly period and

menstrual period, is the monthly shedding of the
lining of the uterus.

Process of Menstruation
● Menstrual cycle begins when an egg matures or
ripens in one of the ovaries. At the same time, the
endometrium, the lining of the uterus, starts to
thicken for possible pregnancy.
 Menstrual Cycle

Process of Menstruation
● The matured egg is released from the ovary. The
lining of the uterus continuously thickens until it
is ready to receive the fertilized egg.
● The thickened uterus serves as the home for the
developing embryo.
● If pregnancy does not successfully happen, the
endometrium breaks down or is destroyed and
discharged from the body
(Menstruation/Menstrual Period).
 Menstrual Cycle

Process of Menstruation
● The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days.
Sometimes, females have cycles as short as 21
days or as long as 35 days. They are still
considered normal.
● The endocrine system plays an important role for
the menstrual cycle.
● During the first half of the cycle (1 st to 14th day),
the pituitary FSH stimulates an egg to mature
inside one of the ovaries.
 Menstrual Cycle

Process of Menstruation
● When the egg starts to develop, it secretes
estrogen, which causes the endometrium to
thicken.
● At the middle of the menstrual cycle (14 th Day),
the level of the LH starts to rise; ovulation occurs.
● The ovary releases the egg and travels into the
fallopian tube.
● It takes 7 days for the egg to travel into the
fallopian tube going to the uterus.
 Menstrual Cycle

Process of Menstruation
● The production of progesterone increases after the time
reaches the uterus. As the progesterone increases, it
maintains the growth of the endometrium.
● If the egg has not been fertilized, progesterone and
estrogen levels drop. The endometrium breaks down the
unfertilized egg and passes out of the body through the
vagina.
 Menstrual Cycle

Phase Events Duration (days)

During menstruation, it
Follicular Phase breaks down the 1-5
endometrium
In the ovary, the follicle
matures and rebuilds the 6-13
Ovulation endometrium
The secondary oocyte is
14
released from the ovary
 Menstrual Cycle

Phase Events Duration (days)

Formation of corpus luteum;
Luteal Phase endometrium thickens and 15-28
develops
The Development of Life
 The Stages of Early Embryonic
Animal Development

Gametogenesis – the production of gametes (sperm and/or

egg). It is the first stage of animal development wherein the
sperm and egg form and develop inside the reproductive
systems under the control of parental genes.

Fertilization – the stage when the sperm penetrates an egg

then fusion of their nucleus takes place.

Cleavage – the stage when the fertilized egg undergoes series

of mitotic cell division and later becomes the early embryo.
 The Stages of Early Embryonic
Animal Development

Gastrulation – the next stage to organize cell migration

patterns in the embryo to form two or more primary germ
layers (region layers of cells forming all organs of the
anomaly body)

Organogenesis – process of cell differentiation and formation

of all major organs once germ layers have formed.

Growth & Tissue specialization – last stage; when the organs

acquire their unique structures and chemical properties.
 The Process of Fertilization and the Development
of the Human Embryo

First Week of Development

The union of a sperm cell from a male and an egg cell from a female is called fertilization.
After fertilization of the egg cell, the zygote travels in the oviduct to get nutrients from
maternal secretions, then will undergo the process of first mitotic cell division which
forms cleavages. When it reaches the uterus, cleavages have transformed into a solid group
of cells called morula and later on will develop into a blastocyst. There is an inner cell
mass of the blastocyst having a surface cell layer called the trophoblast.
 The Process of Fertilization and the Development
of the Human Embryo

First Week of Development

Secretion of chorionic gonadotropin from trophoblast helps to maintain the corpus luteum
to grow and to secrete estrogens and progesterone. These hormones help the uterine lining
to do its task during pregnancy

Once the blastocyst is formed, it begins to adhere itself to the uterine lining. This process
of attachment is also known as implantation. After the blastocyst has been implanted, it is
now called the embryo.
 The Process of Fertilization and the Development
of the Human Embryo

The Embryo
Embryo is the initial development stage in humans after fertilization. The bond that holds
the embryo to the wall of the uterus is called the placenta. Approximately 25 days, after
fertilization, a cord forms between the embryo and the sac (called the placenta). This cord
is referred to as the umbilical cord which is the embryo’s lifeline, meaning the embryo
gets its oxygen and food from the mother through the placenta.

The developing embryo is enclosed in a sac of a thin sheet of tissues called the amniotic
sac. Within this sac is the amniotic fluid where the embryo floats. This fluid serves as a
shock absorber and helps the embryo to maintain its temperature.
 The Process of Fertilization and the Development
of the Human Embryo

The Fetus
After two months, the embryo is about 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) long and has a
recognizable human form or a fetus. The fetus grows with the help of the placenta. The
placenta connects to the developing embryo by means of the umbilical cord. At four
months, the fetus moves and can be recognized. The baby’s eyelashes are formed, and
eyelids can be recognized at seven months. All the organs are well-developed in the ninth
months, the baby is ready to born.