The Reproductive System:
Lecture Objectives, Chapter 21: Reproductive System:
- List the essential and accessory organs of the male and female reproductive systems and give the general function of each.
- Describe the gross and microscopic structure of the gonads in both sexes and explain the developmental steps in spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
- Discuss the primary functions of the sex hormones and identify the cell type or structure responsible for their secretion.
- Identify and describe the structures that constitute the external genitals in both sexes.
- Identify and discuss the phases of the endometrial or menstrual cycle and correlate each phase with its occurrence in a typical 28-day cycle.
Lab Objectives, Exercise 29: Male and Female Reproductive Systems, Pp 339-348
- Describe the structure and function of the male reproductive organs.
- Identify the location of male reproductive organs on urogenital models or charts.
- Trace the pathway of a male gamete from its production through the duct system to ejaculation.
- Describe the structure and function of the female reproductive organs.
- Identify the location of the female reproductive organs on models and charts.
- Trace the pathway of a female gamete from its production to fertilization and trace the pathway of a zygote from formation to implantation in the uterus.
Gross Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System:
Testes - produce the gametes and the male hormone testosterone; also called the testicles or gonads
Accessory sex glands - secrete fluid that, along with sperm, forms semen.
Scrotum - houses the testes; it is a pouch of loose skin located on the exterior of the body that provides a temperature of 2-3 degrees C lower than body temperature that is needed for normal sperm development.
Penis - a cylindrical shaft medial and anterior to the scrotum and contains the urethra that transfers sperm into the female vagina
Seminiferous tubules - narrow tubes found in the lobules of the testes that produce the sperm that through which sperm travel to empty into the epididymis.
Epididymis - a curved, tubular organ located on the posterior side of each testis, which stores sperm as they undergo maturation, then peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle here move them into the ductus deferens
Ductus deferens - the vas deferens that leaves the scrotum and enters the spermatic cord that travels between the testes and the inguinal canal and enters the anterior abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal and loops around the posterior of the urinary bladder to enter the prostate gland; each one joins the duct from the seminal vesicle to form an ejaculatory duct
Spermatic cord - a cord traveling between the testes and inguinal canal, which contains spermatic arteries, veins and nerves
Ejaculatory duct - is located in the prostate gland, and empties sperm and fluid into the urethra
Urethra - semen travels through it and is ejaculated from the penis through the external urethral orifice
Three Accessory Glands: make and secrete most of the fluid portion of semen
Complete Activity 1: Structure of the Male Reproductive System
Gross Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System:
Female reproductive system - contains ovaries, gametes (oocytes), female sex hormones (progesterone, estrogen), tubes to transport the oocytes, and a uterus to protect and nourish the developing embryo and fetus.
Accessory organs - the vagina, external genitalia, mammary glands
Gonads - paired, oval-shaped ovaries, about the size of almonds, located on either side of the uterus, anchored in place by 3 paired ligaments:
Ovarian follicles - where the oocytes mature
Ovulation - process by which the oocytes are released
Ova - mature eggs that oocytes become once fertilized
Fallopian tubes - paired uterine tubes or oviducts that curve around the ovaries to receive and transport the oocyte to the superior part of the uterus, with finger-like structures projecting from the expanded open end of the tube called fimbriae
Fimbriae - finger-like structures projecting from the expanded open end of the Fallopian tubes that beat during ovulation to form a current that sweeps the oocyte into the uterine tube
Fertilization - the joining of an oocyte by a sperm cell, which occurs in the Fallopian tube, which attaches to the superior, lateral part of the uterus
Uterus - pear-shaped organ that lies posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum, containing 3 parts:
Vulva - the external female genitalia, consisting of the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and vestibule.
Mons pubis - anterior pad of adipose tissue beneath the skin that covers the pubic symphosis.
Labia majora - Two longitudinal folds of adipose tissue covered with skin and hair
Labia minora - smaller paired longitudinal folds of skin without hair
Clitoris - cylindrical erectile tissue located posterior to the mons pubis and anterior to the external urethral orifice
Prepuce - anterior extension of the labia minora, which cover the body of the clitoris like a hood, leaving part of it exposed
Vestibule - area medial to the paired labia minora containing the external urethral orifice, vaginal orifice, hymen (if present), and openings of glands that secrete mucus for lubrication
Hymen - a thin membrane around the perimeter of the vaginal orifice that partially blocks the orifice
Complete Activity 3: The Structure of the Female Reproductive Organs
Complete Reviewing Your Knowledge, Pp 347-348
Testes - produce the gametes and the male hormone testosterone; also called the testicles or gonads
- oval-shaped glands that are covered and protected by the scrotum or scrotal sac
- Head - consists mostly of a nucleus with an acrosome (top) covering it
- Acrosome - a vesicle filled with enzymes that allow sperm to penetrate the female oocyte for fertilization
- Midpiece - contains many mitochondria needed to produce ATP energy for movement of the tail once sperm cells are ejaculated
- Tail - flagellum that performs a whip-like motion, propelling the sperm
Accessory sex glands - secrete fluid that, along with sperm, forms semen.
Scrotum - houses the testes; it is a pouch of loose skin located on the exterior of the body that provides a temperature of 2-3 degrees C lower than body temperature that is needed for normal sperm development.
Penis - a cylindrical shaft medial and anterior to the scrotum and contains the urethra that transfers sperm into the female vagina
- Body - contains 3 cylinders of erectile tissue, all containing blood sinuses surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, fascia and skin
- Root
- Glans penis - the distal, expanded portion mostly covered with prepuce (foreskin) that moves the prepuce, exposing the glans penis
Seminiferous tubules - narrow tubes found in the lobules of the testes that produce the sperm that through which sperm travel to empty into the epididymis.
Epididymis - a curved, tubular organ located on the posterior side of each testis, which stores sperm as they undergo maturation, then peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle here move them into the ductus deferens
Ductus deferens - the vas deferens that leaves the scrotum and enters the spermatic cord that travels between the testes and the inguinal canal and enters the anterior abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal and loops around the posterior of the urinary bladder to enter the prostate gland; each one joins the duct from the seminal vesicle to form an ejaculatory duct
Spermatic cord - a cord traveling between the testes and inguinal canal, which contains spermatic arteries, veins and nerves
Ejaculatory duct - is located in the prostate gland, and empties sperm and fluid into the urethra
Urethra - semen travels through it and is ejaculated from the penis through the external urethral orifice
Three Accessory Glands: make and secrete most of the fluid portion of semen
- Prostate gland -chestnut-size gland surrounding the prostatic urethra, which add prostatic fluid to the semen
- Seminal vesicles - sac-like glands posterior to the bladder on either side that add seminal fluid to the sperm when they reach the end of the ductus deferens
- Cowper's gland (bulbourethral) - small, pea-sized glands that are located within the urogenital diaphragm and add fluid that lubricates the penile urethra and glans penis
Complete Activity 1: Structure of the Male Reproductive System
Gross Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System:
Female reproductive system - contains ovaries, gametes (oocytes), female sex hormones (progesterone, estrogen), tubes to transport the oocytes, and a uterus to protect and nourish the developing embryo and fetus.
Accessory organs - the vagina, external genitalia, mammary glands
Gonads - paired, oval-shaped ovaries, about the size of almonds, located on either side of the uterus, anchored in place by 3 paired ligaments:
- Broad ligaments
- Ovarian ligaments
- Suspensory ligaments
Ovarian follicles - where the oocytes mature
Ovulation - process by which the oocytes are released
Ova - mature eggs that oocytes become once fertilized
Fallopian tubes - paired uterine tubes or oviducts that curve around the ovaries to receive and transport the oocyte to the superior part of the uterus, with finger-like structures projecting from the expanded open end of the tube called fimbriae
Fimbriae - finger-like structures projecting from the expanded open end of the Fallopian tubes that beat during ovulation to form a current that sweeps the oocyte into the uterine tube
Fertilization - the joining of an oocyte by a sperm cell, which occurs in the Fallopian tube, which attaches to the superior, lateral part of the uterus
Uterus - pear-shaped organ that lies posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum, containing 3 parts:
- Body - starts inferior to the opening of the uterine tubes and is the largest region of the uterus, which decreases in size to meet the narrower cervix inferiorly.
- Fundus - dome-shaped superior portion of the uterus that is wider and meets the entrance of the uterine tubes on both sides of the uterus.
- Cervix - narrowed portion of the uterus that opens into the vagina inferiorly
- Uterine cavity - space within the uterus
- Uterine wall - 3 layers:
- Perimetrium - outer layer
- Myometrium - middle layer that is muscular and forms the majority of the uterine wall
- Endometrium - inner layer that secretes a substance that will nourish the zygote once conception takes place; part of it is shed during menstruation
- Perimetrium - outer layer
- Uterine ligaments - secure the uterus in place; 4 paired (large, flat broad ligaments and cord-like round ligaments)
Vulva - the external female genitalia, consisting of the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and vestibule.
Mons pubis - anterior pad of adipose tissue beneath the skin that covers the pubic symphosis.
Labia majora - Two longitudinal folds of adipose tissue covered with skin and hair
Labia minora - smaller paired longitudinal folds of skin without hair
Clitoris - cylindrical erectile tissue located posterior to the mons pubis and anterior to the external urethral orifice
Prepuce - anterior extension of the labia minora, which cover the body of the clitoris like a hood, leaving part of it exposed
Vestibule - area medial to the paired labia minora containing the external urethral orifice, vaginal orifice, hymen (if present), and openings of glands that secrete mucus for lubrication
Hymen - a thin membrane around the perimeter of the vaginal orifice that partially blocks the orifice
Complete Activity 3: The Structure of the Female Reproductive Organs
Complete Reviewing Your Knowledge, Pp 347-348