Human Reproduction

Testes are the male

gonads.
has of many highly
coiled seminiferous
tubules surrounded by
layers of connective
tissue.
Sperm is formed in
seminiferous tubules.
Leydig cells, scattered
between seminiferous
tubules produce
androgens.
 From seminiferous tubules sperm pass to the epididymis.
It takes ~20 days for sperm to pass through the tubules of
epididymis.
In epididymis, sperm
become motile and gain
the ability to fertilize.
Ejaculation propels sperm from
epididymis to vas deferens.
Vas deferens run from scrotum
& behind urinary bladder.
Each vas deferens joins with a
duct from seminal vesicle to form
an ejaculatory duct.
The ejaculatory ducts open into
urethra.
Urethra involve in both the
excretory & reproductive systems.
Accessory sex glands add
secretions to semen.
A pair of seminal vesicle
contribute ~60% of total
semen volume.
Seminal fluid is thick,
yellowish, alkaline.
Prostate gland secretes
prostatic fluid directly into
urethra.
Prostatic fluid contains
anticoagulant enzymes &
citrate.
It contains mucus, fructose, a coagulating enzyme,
ascorbic acid, and prostaglandins.
 Bulbourethral glands are a pair of small glands
along the urethra below the prostate.
Prior to ejaculation they secrete a clear mucus that
neutralizes any acidic urine remaining in the
urethra.
Bulbourethral fluid carries some sperm released
before ejaculation.
This is one of the reasons why the withdrawal
method of birth control has a high failure rate.
A male usually ejaculates about 2 5 mL of
semen each milliliter containing about 50 130
million sperm.
 Testes are located in
the scrotum.
This keeps the
temperature cooler
than body cavity.
Sperm structure:
Haploid nucleus.
Tipped with an acrosome.
Contains enzymes that help the sperm
penetrate the egg.
A large number
of mitochondria
provide ATP to
power the
flagellum.
 Reproductive Anatomy of the Human Female.

Fig. 46.9
 Ovaries are the female gonads.
Located in the abdominal cavity.
Each ovary is enclosed in a tough protective capsule.
Each ovary contains follicles.
 Each follicle consists of one egg cell surrounded by
one or more layers of follicle cells.
Follicles produce the primary female sex
hormones: estrogens.
Follicle cells nourish and protect the developing
egg cell.
A woman is born with ~400,000 follicles.
Only several hundred of which will release eggs
during a females reproductive years.
 Usually one follicle matures and releases its egg during
each menstrual cycle.
After ovulation the remaining follicular tissue develops
into the corpus luteum.
Secretes estrogens and progesterone.
Maintain the uterine
lining during pregnancy.
If pregnancy does not
occur the corpus luteum
disintegrates.

Fig. 46.10
Oogenesis
 Female gametes

Female gametes
(ova or eggs)
small numbers.
Human females release
~500 ova in a lifetime.
Larger
Stationary
contain food reserves to
nourish the embryo after
fertilisation
Spermatogenesis vs. Oogenesis
Spermatogenesis & oogenesis both involve meiosis but
differ in 3 significant ways
A continuous & prolific process in begin
at purberty.
Occurs in seminiferous tubules of testis
Produces 4 sperms from every primary spermatocyte

At birth an ovary contains all the

primary oocytes it will ever have.
- Oogenesis has long resting periods.
- Occurs in ovary
Unequal cytokinesis during meiosis
results in the formation of a single
large secondary oocyte and 3 small
polar bodies.
 Oogenesis is the production of ova from oogonia.
Differs from spermatogenesis in 3 major ways:
Lifecycle of sexually reproducing organisms
The Importances of gametogenesis
1 Produces haploid gametes
- Haploid gametes fuse together to form a diploid individual.
- Maintain the number of chromosome in each generation.

2 Causes recombination of gene

- during prophase I (crossing over)
- random arrangement of chromosomes during metaphase I
- random fertilisation of gametes
 Spermatogenesis vs. Oogenesis

SPERMATOGENESIS: OOGENESIS:
4 haploid spermatozoa are Results in 3 Polar bodies
produced via meiosis from a 2n and 1 Ovum.
spermatogonium. Meiosis I occurs during
Occurs in testes (seminiferous ovulation
tubules) Meiosis II occurs after
is an ongoing process fertilization
Occurs in the ovaries