Reproductive System Overview

Reproductive System Overview

• The reproductive system's primary function is to perpetuate the species.
• The male reproductive system produces sperm and delivers them to the female.
• The female reproductive system produces ova and supports the developing fetus.

Male Reproductive System

• Components: Testes (produce sperm and testosterone), penis, ducts, glands
• Functions: Production of sperm (gametes) and their delivery to the female. Production of hormones mainly testosterone which promotes male secondary sexual characteristics.

Male Reproductive System: Testes

• Location: Housed in the scrotum.
• Purpose of scrotum location: Keeps testes at a lower temperature than the body, essential for sperm viability.
• Structure: Seminiferous tubules (sperm production). Epididymis (stores sperm). Ductus deferens/vas deferens (transport sperm).

Male Reproductive System: Accessory Glands

• Seminal vesicles: Secrete 60% of seminal fluid, crucial for nourishing sperm and promoting fertilization.
• Prostate: Encircles the urethra; its secretion plays a key role in sperm activation.
• Bulbourethral glands: Secrete an alkaline mucus ahead of sperm to wash out residual urine and buffer sperm against acidity.

Male Reproductive System: Urethra

• Structure and function: Consists of three parts: prostatic urethra (passes through the prostate), membranous urethra (passes through the pelvic floor), and spongy/penile urethra (within the penis).

• Pathway to exit body: Seminiferous tubules → epididymis → ductus deferens/vas deferens → ejaculatory duct → prostatic urethra → membranous urethra → penile/spongy urethra.

Male Reproductive System: Penis

• Structure: Contains three spongy erectile tissues: Corpora cavernosa and Corpus spongiosum.
• Erection: Parasympathetic system causes the erectile tissues to fill with blood.
• Emission: Sympathetic system causes glandular secretion and peristalsis of semen into the prostatic urethra.
• Ejaculation: Sympathetic system closes the urethral sphincter; parasympathetic and somatic systems produce muscular contractions to expel semen through the urethra.
• Remission: Sympathetic system produces vasoconstriction, reduces blood flow, and ends the erection.

Female Reproductive System

• Components: Ovaries (produce ova and hormones), uterine/fallopian tubes, uterus (supporting growing fetus), vagina, external genitalia.

Female Reproductive System: Ovaries

• Structure: Produce ova and hormones (progesterone and estrogen).
• Function: Production of ovum.

Female Reproductive System: Ovum

• Production: Approximately 500,000 immature ova at birth, approximately only 400 mature during a lifetime, one released per month.
• Transport: Via the uterine/fallopian tubes to the uterus.

Female Reproductive System: Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes

• Structure and function: Muscular tubes that transport the ovum from the ovaries to the uterus. Three sections: Infundibulum - widest part with fimbriae for ovum capture, Ampulla – where fertilization usually occurs, Isthmus – narrowest part, attached to the uterus.

Female Reproductive System: Uterus

• Structure and function: Muscular, hollow pear-shaped organ housing the developing fetus. The uterus is composed of three layers; endometrium (inner lining, proliferates with hormonal cycles), myometrium (middle muscular layer), and perimetrium (outer layer, visceral peritoneum).
• Pregnancy role: Can enlarge up to 20 times its size during pregnancy.

Female Reproductive System: Vaginal Canal

• Structure and function: Mucus membrane-lined tube that serves as a channel from the uterus to the outside of the body. Sperm pathway into the uterus. Positioned at approximately 90 degrees to the uterus. Approximately 7–8 cm in length.

Female Reproductive System: External Genitalia

• Components: Mons pubis, clitoris, labia majora, labia minora.

Female Reproductive System: Peritoneal Ligaments

• Suspensory ligament: Surrounds ovarian vessels and nerves.
• Broad ligament: Surrounds the uterine tubes, uterus, ovaries, and ovarian ligaments.
• Ovarian ligament: Anchors the ovaries to the uterus.
• Round ligament of the uterus: Anchors the uterus anteriorly to the labia majora.