ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
The REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
MALE & FEMALE
Female Reproductive system – organs and function
 Menstrual cycle
 Secondary sexual charecteristics
 Male Reproductive system – organs and function
 Contraception

THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
 Vagina
 Cervix
uteri - "neck of uterus"
 External orifice of the uterus
 Canal of the cervix
 Internal orifice of the uterus
 corpus uteri - "Body of uterus"
 Cavity of the body of the uterus
 Fundus (uterus)
THE LAYERS & LIGAMENTS OF THE
UTERUS
Endometrium
 Myometrium
 Perimetrium
 Peritoneum

broad ligament of the
uterus (mesometrium)
 round ligament of uterus
 ovarian ligament (or
"proper ovarian ligament")

OVARY
 Ovaries
are oval shaped and, in the human, measure
approximately 3 cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm.
 The ovary is located in the lateral wall of the pelvis in a
region called the ovarian fossa.
 The fossa usually lies beneath the external iliac artery
and in front of the ureter and the internal iliac artery.
STRUCTURE OF THE OVARY
The outermost layer is the germinal epithelium.
 The tunica albuginea covers the cortex.
 The ovarian cortex consists of ovarian follicles and stroma in
between them. Included in the follicles are the cumulus
oophorus, membrana granulosa, corona radiata, zona pellucida,
and primary oocyte.
 The zona pellucida, theca of follicle, antrum and liquor folliculi
are also contained in the follicle.
 Also in the cortex is the corpus luteum derived from the follicles.
 The innermost layer is the ovarian medulla. It can be hard to
distinguish between the cortex and medulla, but follicles are
usually not found in the medulla.

OVARY
OVARIAN HORMONES – OESTROGEN &
PROGESTERONE
 They
induce and maintain the physical changes of
puberty and the secondary sex characteristics.
 They support maturation of the uterine endometrium in
preparation of implantation of a fertilized egg.
 They provide signals to the hypothalamus and pituitary
that help maintain the menstrual cycle.
 Oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining
subcutaneous fat, bone strength, and some aspects of
brain function.
THE COMPETITIVE GIRLS

OESTROGEN

PROGESTERONE

3 – oestrone, oestrdial, oestriol

Secreted by ovary + corpus luteum

Produced by ovary

Peaks 5-7 days after ovulation

Peak before ovulation


Together with FSH & LH – puberty
changes
Balancing & protecting from oestrogen
dominance

Increases libido

Decreases libido

Maintains the lining of uterus

Increases uterine lining

Stimulates new bone growth

Slows down resorption of bones

More effects on pregnancy

Maturation and release of egg

Encourages fat burning

Fat storage

Natural diuretic

Salt & water retention

Precursor to stress hormones
CHOLESTEROL HORMONES
Cholesterol
Pregnenolone
Progesterone
PROGESTERONE – THE PRECURSOR
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Progesterone
Oestrogen
Testosterone
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes
in the females that is associated with reproductive fertility.
 The length of a woman's menstrual cycle will typically vary, with
some shorter cycles and some longer cycles. A woman who
experiences variations of less than 8 days between her longest
cycles and shortest cycles is considered to have regular menstrual
cycles.
The PHASES  Menstrual phase – discharge of endometrial lining
 Follicular phase (also known as proliferative phase)
 Ovulation (not a phase, but an event dividing phases)
 Luteal phase (also known as secretory phase)
 Ischemic phase (some sources group this with secretory phase)

THE GONADOTROPHICS
FSH – FOLLICLE
STIMULATING
 Maturation of ovarian
follicles
 Regulated by GnRH –
hypothalamus
 Negative feedback loop
LH – LUTEINISING
 Growth and maturation of
follicle
 Stimulates ovary to
produce T, O & P
 To form the corpus
luteum from ovarian
follicles
MENARCHE & MENOPAUSE
The menstrual cycle is under the control of the reproductive
hormone system and is necessary for reproduction. A woman's
first menstruation is termed menarche, and is one of the later
stages of puberty in girls. The average age of menarche in
humans is 12 years, but is normal anywhere between ages 8 and
16. Factors such as heredity, diet and overall health can accelerate
or delay menarche.
 The cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's
reproductive life is termed menopause. The average age of
menopause in humans is 51 years, with anywhere between 40 and
58 being common. Menopause before age 35 is considered
premature. The age of menopause is largely a result of genetics;
however, illness, certain surgeries, or medical treatments may
cause menopause to occur earlier.

SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Growth
of pubic hair and development of breast are
the most noticeable, others being
 change in skin tone- smoother,
 finer crown hair,
 widens the pelvis and hips
 increases the amount of body fat in hips, thighs,
buttocks, and breasts.
 Oestrogen also induces growth of the uterus,
proliferation of the endometrium, and menses.
 increase of subcutaneous fat with decrease in facial hair.
FALLOPIAN TUBES
In humans, the Fallopian tubes are about 7–14 cm long.
There are four regions of the fallopian tube from the ovary
to the uterus:
 Infundibulum - contains Fimbria
 Ampulla - usual site of fertilization
 Isthmus
 Intramural oviduct - inside wall of uterus

VAGINA
The human vagina is an elastic muscular canal that extends from
the cervix to the vulva. Although there is wide anatomical
variation the average vagina is 6 to 7 inches (15.24 to 17.78 cm) in
length; its elasticity allows it to stretch during sexual intercourse
and during birth to offspring.
 The vaginal opening is at the back (caudal) end of the vulva,
behind the opening of the urethra.
 The vagina, along with the inside of the vulva, is reddish pink in
colour, as with most healthy internal mucous membranes in
mammals. Length, width and shape of the vagina may vary.
 Vaginal lubrication is provided by the Bartholin's glands near the
vaginal opening and the cervix and also seeps through the vaginal
wall (which does not contain any glands).

FERTILIZATION
When an ovum is developing in an ovary, it is encapsulated in a
sac known as an ovarian follicle. On maturity of the ovum, the
follicle and the ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape
and enter the Fallopian tube. There it travels toward the uterus,
pushed along by movements of cilia on the inner lining of the
tubes.
 This trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is fertilized while in the
Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium
when it reaches the uterus, which signals the beginning of
pregnancy.
 Occasionally the embryo implants into the Fallopian tube instead
of the uterus, creating an ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as
a "tubal pregnancy".

THE BREAST
The breasts of a female’s body contain the mammary glands,
which secrete milk used to feed infants. The breasts are modified
sudoriferous (sweat) glands, producing milk.
 Each breast has one nipple surrounded by the areola. The areola
is coloured from pink to dark brown and has several sebaceous
glands.
 The larger mammary glands within the breast produce the milk.
They are distributed throughout the breast, with two-thirds of
the tissue found within 30 mm of the base of the nipple.
 These are drained to the nipple by between 4 and 18 lactiferous
ducts, where each duct has its own opening.
 The remainder of the breast is composed of connective tissue
(collagen and elastin), adipose tissue (fat), and Cooper’s ligaments.

THE PENIS
The penis is an external male sexual & reproductive organ and
for mammals additionally serves as the external organ of
urination.
The human penis is made up of 3 columns of erectile tissue
 the two corpora cavernosa (singular: corpus cavernosum) and
 one corpus spongiosum
 The corpus spongiosum lies on the underside (known also as the
ventral side) of the penis; the two corpora cavernosa lie next to
each other on the upper side (dorsal side).
 The end of the corpus spongiosum is enlarged and bulbousshaped and forms the glans penis. The glans supports the
foreskin or prepuce, a loose fold of skin that in adults can retract
to expose the glans.
 The area on the underside of the penis, where the foreskin is
attached, is called the fraenum (or fraenulum).

BLOOD AND NERVE SUPPLY
Artery -Dorsal artery of the penis, Deep artery of the
penis, Artery of the urethral bulb
 Vein -Dorsal veins of the penis
 Nerve -Dorsal nerve of the penis
 Lymph -Superficial inguinal lymph nodes
 Precursor -Genital tubercle, Urogenital folds

TESTES
 Like
the ovaries, testicles are components of both the
reproductive system (gonads) and the endocrine system
(endocrine glands).
The functions of the testicles are:
 producing sperm (spermatozoa)
 producing male sex hormones-testosterone
 Both functions of the testicle, sperm-forming and
endocrine, are under control of gonadotropic
hormones produced by the anterior pituitary:
luteinizing hormone (LH)
 follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

THE DUCTS OF THE TESTES
Under a tough membranous shell- tunica albugina, the testis
contains very fine coiled tubes called the seminiferous tubules.
 The tubes are lined with a layer of cells that, from puberty into
old-age, produce sperm cells. The sperm travel from the
seminiferous tubules to the rete testis- to the efferent ducts, and
then to the epididymis where newly-created sperm cells mature.
 The sperm move into the vas deferens, and are eventually
expelled through the urethra and out of the urethral orifice
through muscular contractions.
 Between the seminiferous tubules are special cells called Leydig
cells (interstitial cells) where testosterone and other androgens are
formed.

SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Testosterone
directly increases size and mass of
muscles, enhancing strength
 prominent Adam’s apple with larger vocal cords,
deepening the voice,
 changing the shape of the face and skeleton.
 Testosterone converted into DHT in the skin, it
accelerates growth of androgen-responsive facial and
body hair.
 Taller stature is largely a result of later puberty and
slower epiphyseal fusion.
 Broadening of shoulders, chest, hands and feet; heavier
bone structure;
 fat deposits around abdomen and waist.
COMPOSITION OF SEMEN
The components of semen come from two sources: sperm, and
"seminal plasma".
 Seminal plasma, in turn, is produced by contributions from the
seminal vesicle, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.
 The seminal plasma provides a nutritive and protective medium
for the spermatozoa during their journey through the female
reproductive tract.
 The normal environment of the vagina is a hostile one for sperm
cells, as it’s very acidic (from the native microflora producing
lactic acid), viscous, and patrolled by immune cells.
 The components in the seminal plasma contain basic amines such
as putrescine, spermine, spermidine and cadaverine - are
responsible for the smell and flavour of semen.
 These alkaline bases counteract the acidic environment of the
vaginal canal, and protect DNA inside the sperm from acidic
denaturation.

THE SPERM
The sperm cell consists of a head 5 µm by 3 µm and a tail 50 µm
long. The head- The acrosome contains lytic enzymes which are
released when the sperm reaches an ovum.
 These enzymes digest the outer membrane of the egg, allowing
penetration of the sperm.
 The head also contains a single set of chromosomes derived
from the male. This will include either an 'X' or 'Y' chromosome,
because of the way the XY separate during meiosis.
 The middle - contains numerous mitochondria. These provide
the energy for movement of the tail.
 Spermatozoan stream lines are straight and parallel.
 The tail flagellates, which propels the sperm cell (at about 1-3
mm/minute in humans) by whipping in an elliptical cone.

CONTRACEPTION
This can be divided into these categories:
 External / Barrier– Male condoms, Female condoms,
Diaphragm, cervical cap, sponges,
 IUCD - copper T loop, other loops,
 Hormonal - contraceptive pill- the combined, the
morning after pill, progesterone only mini pills,
hormonal injections, subcutaneous implants,
 Vaginal spermicidal creams/jellies
 Cycle/ periodic awareness
 Withdrawal – coitus interruptus
 Sterilization – male (vasectomy), female(tubal ligation)