The Reproductive System

The

reproductive or genital system is a system

of organs with in an organism which work together for the purpose of reproduction

The reproductive systems of the sexes in a

species have significant differences which allow

for a combination of genetic material between two individual organisms. The combination allows for a greater possible genetic fitness for the offspring.

The male and female systems are like two halves that come together to create new human life.
Each system has primary and secondary organs. The primary organs, or gonads, produce reproductive (sex cells) and secrete sex hormones.

Purpose of Male Reproductive System

To produce, maintain, and transport sperm and protective fluid (semen) To discharge sperm within the female reproductive tract during sex To produce and secrete male sex hormones responsible for maintaining the male reproductive system

Male Reproductive System Overview

The primary organ for males are the testes Their main function is to produce male gametes or sperm. They also produce the male hormone testosterone. The reproductive ducts, or channels, carry the sperm outside the body. Accessory glands produce secretions that combine with the sperm to create semen* The male genitalia (external sex organs) are the scrotum and penis * White fluid composed of sperm and glandular secretions that is propelled out of a male's reproductive tract during ejaculation.

Testes

The testes or testicles are 2 egg shaped structures suspended in the scrotum.
Location is due to temperature control.

The scrotum is a sac like structure of skin that hangs between the upper thighs
In a male fetus the testes are developed near the kidneys and then drop into the scrotum near the time of birth .

Testes cont
Each testis is divided into lobes. Each lobe is subdivided into many lobes which contains 1 to 4 coiled tubes, seminiferous tubules, where sperm is produced. The combined length of all the seminiferous tubules in a testis equals about a mile.

Sperm

Mature sperm cells are the smallest cells in the male body. A sperm cell resembles a tadpole and consists of 3 main regions: the head, the middle piece and the flagellum (tail) The head contains the male genetic material essential for reproduction The tip of the head contains the acrosome which had enzymes that break down the membrane of the female egg.

Sperm cont

The middle piece contains ATP which powers the flagellum. The sperm from the tubules are carried by fluids through a network before entering the reproductive ducts.

The Epididymis

The first of the reproductive ducts Its a 20 ft long tube that is coiled around in the back of the testis As the sperm moves through the tubes, it collects nutrients and develops into its mature state. The process takes about 2 weeks The walls of the tube is made of smooth muscle cells so that the sperm moves freely into the next duct.

The Ductus Deferens

After the sperm leaves the epididymis it enters the ductus deferens , or vas deferens. The duct extends from each epididymis over the top of the bladder and then down its backside. The smooth muscular walls move the cells along by contracting in a wavelike motion.

The Ejaculatory Duct

Formed by the union of the vas deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicles* Each duct empties out the sperm into the single urethra * Glands in males located at the base of the bladder that secrete fluid that becomes part of semen

The Urethra
Extends from the base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the penis Unlike in females, the male urethra functions for both the reproductive system and the urinary system. It transports semen and urine outside of the body. When sperm enters the urethra from the ejaculatory duct, the gateway from the bladder to the urethra closes.

Accessory Glands and Semen

3 accessory glands produce fluids that mix with sperm to create semen. The secretions together are referred to as seminal fluid. Between 40 million to 600 million sperm are released within each ejaculation(0.05 to 0.17 oz)

Seminal Vesicles
Located at the base of the bladder 1st gland that adds secretion to sperm Its ducts join with the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory ducts Its thick, yellowish makes up for 70% of the seminal fluid.

Contains fructose, vitamin C and mucus Nourish and activate sperm as they pass through the reproductive tract

Prostate Gland
Surrounds the urethra beneath the neck of the bladder Produces acidic, milky secretion that enters urethra through small ducts

The Bulbourethral Glands

The last glands to add secretions Tiny glands are located underneath the prostate The thick, clear mucus enters the urethra when a man is sexually aroused It cleanses the urethra of lefto over urine. Also serves as a lubricant

The secretion of all three glands are slightly basic (solutions containing a high number of hydrogen ions are acidic, those with a low number are alkaline or basic).
This is important because a female vagina has an acidic environment and the fluid helps neutralize it so that sperm can travel up so fertilization can take place.

Male Genitalia
The scrotum and the penis are outside the body The temperature inside the scrotum is a few degrees cooler than inside the body.

Sperm cannot be produced in the body because its too hot

If its cold, the body pulls the scrotum closer to the body, maintaining equilibrium

Penis is the organ that surrounds the urethra It moves urine and semen outside the body The two main parts of the penis are the glans (enlarged tip) and shaft (body). The shaft contains three masses or columns of erectile tissue During sexual arousal, however, blood flow to the spongy tissue increases. The penis, engorged with blood, becomes longer, wider, and rigid(an erection)

Female System
The reproductive system in females is more complex than that in males The system produces female gametes, called ova or eggs, and provides a protective space for an ovum to be fertilized and to develop until birth. The primary organs in this system are the ovaries. The accessory organs include the fallopian tubes, the uterus, the vagina, the genitalia, and the mammary glands.

Ovaries
The ovaries are two almond-shaped structures located on each side of the pelvis Ligaments attach the ovaries to the walls of the pelvis and to the uterus (womb) Within each ovary are many tiny saclike structures called ovarian follicles Each follicle consists of an immature or developing egg called an oocyte surrounded by one or more layers of cells called follicle cells

Fallopian Tubes

Fallopian tubes, or oviduct, connect the ovaries to the uterus Each fallopian tube is extremely narrow. The end of the tube has fingerlike projections called fimbriae which surround the ovary The inner surface is covered with cilia If reproduction occurs a developing embryo is swept through the oviduct and into the uterus

The Uterus
Thick, walled muscular organ the size of a pear. Its purpose is to hold the developing fetus The narrow end is called the cervix An embryo completes development after it embeds itself in the wall of the uterus (endometrium)

The Vagina and Cervix

The purpose of the vagina is to receive the penis during copulation and serve as the birth canal. It is a tubular tract that leads from the uterus to outside the body The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus where it joins the vagina.

The Uterine Cycle

Lasts 28 days Days 1-5 there is a low level of female sex hormones in the body. This causes the endometrium to disintegrate and blood vessel to rupture. A flow of blood passes through the vagina, aka the menstrual period

Days 6-13 there is increased production of estrogens by ovarian follicles which thickens the endometrium. This is called the proliferative phase of the cycle. Ovulation usually occurs on the 14th day of the cycle Days 15-28 there is increased production of a hormone called progesterone which causes the endometrium to double in thickness and the glands to mature which causes a thick mucoid secretion The uterus is now prepared to receive the developing embryo

Events following Fertilization

When fertilization occurs the development of an embryo starts as it moves down the oviduct The embryo embeds itself in the endometrium. The placenta* forms and is the site of exchanges of gases and nutrients

Functions of Estrogen and Progesterone

Estrogens are essential for the development of the female reproductive organs and the secondary sexual characteristics in females. Both hormones are required for breast development

The Mammary Gland

Contains 15-24 lobules that each have its own mammary gland The duct begins at the nipple and divides and then ends un sacs called alveoli Alveoli cells produce milk which produced by prolactin. After birth the breasts produce a watery, yellowish fluid called colostrum which has a similar composition to milk but has more protein and less fat A few days later the breasts start producing milk which is rich in antibodies that provide immunity to the newborn