Reproductive
Systems
I. Male or Female?
 Function is to produce and deliver sperm
I
H
A
B
C
D
G
F
E
A.
Testes
1. Each of the testes is made up of many
seminiferous tubules
 What process occurs here?
2. Sperm form inside the tubules
3. Interstitial cells lie between the seminiferous
tubules and produce testosterone
 What is the scrotum and what is its function?
seminiferous tubules
Testes
B. Structure of Sperm Cells
1. A sperm cell has a head
containing the haploid
nucleus, a mid-piece
containing mitochondria, and
a tail that is a flagellum.
2. At the tip of the head is the
acrosome which contains
species specific enzymes.
 What do these enzymes do?
C.
Vas Deferens (ductus deferens)
1. Carries sperm from
testes to ejaculatory
duct.
Vas deferens
2. It passes through the
body wall via the
inguinal canal.
 What is an inguinal
hernia?
 What is a
vasectomy?
D.
Ejaculatory Duct
1. Forces semen into urethra
E. Urethra
1. Carries semen through the Urethra
penis to the outside of the
body.
2. Special valve prevents
urine from entering the
urethra when penis is
erect
F. Penis
1. Soft tissue that fills with
blood
 Function?
Ejaculatory Duct
G. Seminal Vesicles
1. Produces seminal fluid
Seminal Vesicle
H. Prostate Gland
1. The prostate gland is a chestnut-shaped structure
that also forms seminal fluids
2. Most older men develop prostate problems
Prostate Gland
Internal Organs of the Male System
Urinary
bladder
Seminal
vesicle
Vas deferens
Prostate
Spongy
urethra
epididymis
teste
II. Male or Female?
 Function is to produce eggs (ova) and nourish a developing
embryo
A
B
C
K
D
J
I
E
H
G
F
A. Ovaries
1. Produce eggs
2. Produce estrogens and
progesterone.
Ovary
B. Fallopian Tubes
1. Do not connect to the
ovary
2. Fimbriae at the end of
the tubes draw egg
into tube
3. Egg is pushed along
fluid-filled tube by
microscopic cilia
4. Fertilization usually
occurs in the upper
portion of the tube
5. Egg stays in tube a
few days before
entering the…
C. Uterus
1. Site of embryo
implantation and
development.
2. Unless pregnancy occurs
the inner layer
(endometrium) builds
up and breaks down
~every 28 days.
Uterus
D. Cervix
1. Lower, narrow portion of uterus
2. Site of Pap test
Cervix
E. Vagina
1. Receptacle for the penis
2. Birth canal
Vagina
Organs of the Female Reproductive System
III. Menstrual Cycle (in brief)
A. Menstrual phase (days 1-5)
1. Sudden drop in progesterone and estrogens
stimulate the breakdown of the endometrium
2. 50-150 ml of blood, tissue fluid, mucus and
epithelial cells are shed
B. Preovulatory phase (days 6-13)
1. The pituitary gland stimulates the ovaries to
produce a mature egg and estrogens
2. Estrogens repair the endometrium
C. Ovulation (day 14)
1. The ovary wall ruptures and releases an egg
D. Postovulatory phase (day 15-28)
1. After ovulation the ovaries produce progesterone
2. Progesterone has several functions:
a. Maintains the endometrium
b. Inhibits ovulation
c. Increases fluid retention
IV.
To Conceive or Not to Conceive
Two Options:
1. Egg is NOT fertilized
a. The peak in estrogens and progesterone inhibit
further production of these hormones
 What happens?
2. Egg is fertilized
a. Growing mass of cells (embryo) produces
human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG)
b. HCG maintains progesterone levels until the
placenta begins to produce it