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REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Reproductive system of Male and Female The essential organ for reproduction is testes in males & ovary in females. These organs secrete hormones therefore they are also considered as endocrine glands.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Some Important Terms 1. Primary Sex Organs : Gonads Ovary 2. Secondary Sex Organs: Fallopian tube, uterus and Vagina.

(Viva) 3. Secondary Sexual Characters: These are the feature which appears at the age of puberty i.e. 12 to 14 yrs age. They are a. Menstrual cycle b. Development of breast c. Deposition of fats d. Broadening of the hips. e. Attraction towards opposite sex f. Changes in the voice

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OVARY (Short Note & Viva)

Structure and Function of Ovary

Functions of Ovary 1. Ovulation 2. Hormone secretion & their function A. Oestrogen B. Progesterone 1. Ovulation: At the age of puberty the menstrual cycle develops as already explained. This is due to stimulation by the anterior pituitary hormone called as F.S.H to the graffian follicle of the ovary. By that we mean now only one graffian follicle goes on maturing & exactly in the middle of the menstrual cycle i.e. 14 day the graffian follicle will come at the surface of the ovary & rupture thereby giving out a single ovum of the graffian follicle. This ovum will be immediately taken up by the fallopian tube by the movement of the cilia which lines the fallopian tubes & will be lodged in the middle of the tube waiting for the fertilization with the sperm. This whole process is known as ovulation. Structure of Graffian Follicle

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Main function of the ovary will be by the function of its two hormones i.e. oestrogen & progesterone which are continuously secreted till menopause (stopping of M.C age 44 to 50 yrs). 2. The function of 2 hormones can be divided into a. At puberty b. During pregnancy. Before studying the function of oestrogen & progesterone the following sequence of events should be remembered. (At puberty graffian follicles of the ovary are stimulated by the F.S.H of the anterior pituitary thereby starting the secretion of oestrogen by the graffian follicle & this estrogen is required for the 1st 14 days of the menstrual cycle. After 14 days graffian follicles ruptures & gives out the ovum as already discussed & now this graffian follicles is converted into corpus leuteum. Now the L.H (lutenising hormone) of the anterior pituitary will stimulate the corpus leuteum thereby starting the secretion of progesterone by the corpus leuteum & this progesterone is required for the next 14 days of M.C) Function of Oestrogen This is one of the hormones of the ovary of the female secreted by the graffian follicles & this secretion starts because of the stimulation of F.S.H of anterior Pituitary. This happens at time of puberty. Oestrogen is a steroid hormone. Sources 1. Synthetic stilbesterol (Effective by mouth) 2. Natural (in our body) a. Ovary b. Placenta c. Adrenal cortex.

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ILLUSTRATED PHYSIOLOGY Functions at Puberty 1. Further development of the secondary sex organs i.e. uterus, vagina & fallopian tube. 2. At puberty appearance of the secondary sexual characters i.e. starting of M.C, development of breast & deposition of fats throughout body. Function During Pregnancy 1. Huge development of uterus musculature is required for the growing fetus; Oestrogen will stimulate muscles of uterus so that muscle fibers become enlarge 10 times. 2. Development of breast for the preparation of storage of milk. This is done by increasing the number and length of the ducts. (Progesterone is required for the development of alveoli of ducts.)

Other Minor Functions 1. 2. 3. Anabolic function It means oestrogen helps in formation of bones, muscle, proteins in the body. It helps absorption of more water and salts by the tubules. Oestrogen level itself will control its level e.g. if oestrogen level is high. It will inhibit F.S.H of anterior pituitary therefore oestrogen level will become low &vice-versa as shown in diagram. This is known as Feedback Mechanism.

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PROGESTERONE (Short Note & Viva)

We get this hormone of the ovary starting from puberty from the corpus leuteum (formed after rupture of graffian follicle) which is stimulated by L.H of the anterior pituitary. Chemically it is a steroid hormone. Sources Synthetic Natural (in the body) a. Ovary from corpus leuteum. b. Placenta c. Adrenal cortex Function At Puberty Further development of the secondary sex organs, i.e. uterus, vagina and fallopian tube. 2. Appearance of the secondary sex characters i.e. starting of M.C. (next half of M.C.) development of breast & deposition of fats. Function during Pregnancy: This function is more important for growing child or there will be abortion. The fertilized ovum is firmly embedded (fixed) in the wall of the uterus. 2. Helps for the development of placenta. This tissue is very much required by the fetus for getting oxygen and nutrition from mothers blood. 3. There is relaxation of the muscles of uterus so that fetus can grow easily. Other Minor Functions 1. 2. 3. Anabolic function Absorption of water and salts. Controlling the level of the progesterone by feed back mechanism. E.g. when progesterone level low it stimulate of L.H. of anterior pituitary thereby increasing the progesterone level . 1. 1. 1. 2.

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MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Describe the different phases of menstrual cycle and their hormonal control. Introduction Menstrual cycle occurs in female at the age of puberty i.e. 12 to 14 yrs. This starting is due to anterior pituitary hormone acting at puberty. Anterior pituitary will stimulate 2 hormones of ovary i.e. oestrogen by F.S.H. of anterior pituitary and progesterone by the L.H. of anterior pituitary. The beginning of the menstrual cycle is called Menarche & the stopping is called Menopause (44 to 50yrs) In between the menstrual cycle stops during pregnancy. M.C. lasts periodically for 28 days and can be divided into 4 phases. 1. 2. 3. 4. Resting phase (4 days) Proliferating phase ( 10 days) Secreting phase (10 days) Menstrual phase (4 days)

It should be remembered that the purpose of M.C. is ovulation i.e. giving away of one ovum in the middle of the cycle i.e. 14th day, if the ovum is fertilized M.C. will stop with the formation of placenta for the development of the foetus. 1. Resting Phase (4 days): This phase is just to give some rest to uterine epithelium after the menstrual phase so that the raw surface of the uterus is again covered by epithelium. 2. Proliferative Phase (10 days): As the name suggest now there will be proliferation of 3 factors i.e. epithelium, blood vessel and glands of uterus. For this whole phase the oestrogen hormone of ovary is responsible 3. Secreting Phase (10 days): Here the proliferation as above goes on along with large amount of secretion from the glands. For this phase the hormone progesterone of ovary is responsible.

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REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM 4. Menstrual Phase (4 days) : When there is no fertilization of the ovum, now there will be no use of these changes therefore because of sudden drop of progesterone the whole epithelium structure along with secretion and some blood will be given out which is known as menstrual fluid. Hormonal Control of M.C.: This is shown by the following diagram

As shown in the figure the proliferation phase is controlled by oestrogen of ovary which is again controlled by F.S.H. of anterior pituitary similarly secreting phase is controlled by progesterone of ovary which is again controlled by L.H. of anterior pituitary.

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PREGNANCY (Viva & Short Note)

Describe the different physiological changes during pregnancy. Introduction If the ovum is fertilized (this occurs in the middle of the fallopian tube) it will come down to uterus where it will firmly fixed thereby forming placenta for giving O2 and nutrition to the growing foetus. Total pregnancy lasts for 9 months and 9 days after which there will be delivery of a child. Following are the changes in the different system. 1. Changes in the Uterus a. The uterus develops very much i.e. 10 times than the normal to accumulate the growing fetus and this is due to action of oestrogen on the uterus. b. There will be firm fixing of the fertilized ovum, there will be formation of placenta by the maternal and foetal tissue and there will be relaxation of birth canal i.e. uterus and vagina. All these 3 functions is due to progesterone of the ovary. Breast Changes: breast is further developed for the formation of milk. The duct part are increased because of oestrogen while alveolar part is increased because of progestrone Changes in Ovum: The corpus leuteum which is formed from the graffian follicle grows on and mainly responsible for formation of progestron which is very important for growing foetus. C.V.S.: Because there is increase blood volume B.P. in pregnancy will be little higher. Respiratory System: Vital capacity of lungs is less because of growing uterus.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM 6. Blood: Blood volume is growing as mentioned. There is always slight anemia and iron deficiency.

Following hormones are secreted during pregnancy 1. Oestrogen, Progesterone and relaxine by placenta and also placental gonad tropic hormone. 2. Progesterone by placental corpus leuteum. Important Pregnancy Tests Principle behind Pregnancy Test Within 10 days of pregnancy placenta will give a hormone called gonodotropic like hormone. Even after one weak the urine will contain this hormone therefore when urine is injected in rats or rabbits gonodotropic hormone will help to form corpus leuteum in the ovary and therefore the test will be positive. There are 2 pregnancy tests as follows 1. Ascheim Zondiac Test (Friedman test) (Rat test) 2 to 4 cc of urine is injected into rats. After 2 days the rats are killed and the ovary is dissected. If corpus leuteum are present the test is positive (99 %). Rabbit Test: 2 to 4 cc of urine is injected in rabbit and after 2 days the rabbits are killed and ovary is dissected if corpus leuteum is found the test is positive. Frog Test: This test is done on matured female frog. Inject 2 to 4 cc of urine under the dorsum of skin of the frog. After 4 to 5 hours examine the sample of urine from cloaca (common opening of urethra and genital). If the urine contains large number of ova the test is positive. The test is simple and less costly (90 % relatively). The same test can be done in male frog inject 2 cc of urine and the sample of urine from frog if it contains large number of sperms it is positive.

2.

3.

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ILLUSTRATED PHYSIOLOGY

PLACENTA (Short Note)

After fertilization of the ovum by the sperm it comes to the uterus and finally fixes to the wall of the uterus. There it will form placenta which is partly by the maternal tissue and partly by the foetus. The umbilical artery of the mother will come through the placenta to the foetal circulation and the umbilical vein will come out of the foetus through placenta to mothers circulation. Umbilical artery will give O2 and nutrition to the foetus while umbilical vein will carry all the waste products and CO2 from the foetus. Following is the diagram of the placenta explained above.

Function of Placenta Supply of nutrition to the foetus i.e. protein, fats, and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. 2. Supply of O2. 3. The waste products and CO2 from the foetus is given out to mothers blood through placenta. Minor Functions 1. 2. Storage of carbohydrate as glycogen and vitamins and minerals. Formation of certain important hormones i.e. oestrogen, progesterone, and gonadotrophic like hormone. All the 3 hormones are very much required for the growing foetus.Probably another hormone called relaxine is released during delivery of child for relaxation of uterus, cervix and vagina. 1.

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LACTATION
Lactation means preparation of the breast for milk formation and finally how it is given to the child and this occurs only after delivery of the child. This can be studied as follows. Preparation of the Breast: Further development of breast occurs due to high level of oestrogen for development of duct and progesterone for development of alveoli of the breast. Starting or Initiation of Lactation: This starting occurs in the alveoli of the breast only after delivery of the child due to anterior pituitary hormone prolactin or lactogenic hormone. Maintenance of Lactation : By this we mean this lactation of breast continue for 6 months or even more because of lactogenic hormone which is also helped by thyroxin hormone and even other anterior pituitary hormone. Mechanism of delivering of milk to the child: This is done by 2 methods. 1. 2. Mechanical i.e. by the suckling action of the infant to the breast. By reflex action known as suckling reflex as shown in diagram.

Suckling by the baby taken up by sensory path to hypothalamus which will stimulate posterior Pituitary thereby releasing the hormone oxytocin.This will stimulate breast and contract the breast muscles thereby delivery of milk.

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MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Certain Important Terms (Viva) 1. 2. 3. Primary Sex Organs testes (gonads) Secondary Sex Organs Spermatic cord, seminal vesicle and prostrate. Secondary Sexual Characters a. Development of muscles b. Development of moustache, & hairs around private parts c. Sudden change in voice. d. Broadening of the shoulder e. Attraction towards opposite sex

Structure and Function of Testes

Functions of Testes as follows 1. Formation of the large numbers of spermatozoa by the seminiferous tubule as shown in the figure The different stages are spermatogonia spermatid. Spermatocyte spermatozoa

2. Formation of hormone testosterone 3. Formation of spermatozoa reproduction by fertilizing ovum

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REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Function of Testosterone at Puberty 1. 2. Further development and maturation of secondary sex organs i.e. seminiferous tubule, seminal vesicle and prostate. Development of secondary sex character(see above)

Other Minor Functions 1. More formation of protein in body which is called anabolic function. Therefore the injection of testosterone is given to older people who will improve the health and may increase life span. 2. It may help in formation of sperms. 3. The testosterone itself will regulate L.H. of anterior pituitary. (Feedback mechanism). Effects of Removal of Testes 1. In childhood the effects will be The person will not develop secondary sex character of male i.e. no hair growth, no musculature rather some feature of female will appear and the height is less these persons are known as Eunuch. They will also be sterile because there are no sperms. Removal after adult stage a. Degeneration of already existing secondary sex character i.e. falls of hair and no muscular development. b. The person will be sterile

2.

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SPERMATOZOA (Short Note)

These are formed in the testes in the seminiferous tubules. The different stages are spermatognia spermatid spermatocyte spermatozoa

To have the normal function of sperms following things are necessary. 1. 2. 3. Count should be 100 to 200 millions per cubic cc but below 20 million/cc the person will be sterile. Mobility should be more than 80 %. Morphology should be more than 80 % normal.

Factor Controlling Sperm Formation 1. 2. 3. Vitamin E (anti sterility vitamin). The male hormone testosterone probably helps formation of sperms. Higher temperature will depress sperm formation so much that the person will be sterile. E.g. when the testes do not descend down into the scrotum. Temperature of testes and abdomen will be always high so no sperm development.

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REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Certain Terms o Azospermia means when there are absolutely no sperms and person will sterile. o Oligospermia: When count is less than 20 million/cc. Here also the person will be sterile but this person can be treated with vitamin E and testosterone injection. While in azospermia person can never be treated.

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