THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM The scrotum

Sac of skin and superficial fascia that hangs

Male Reproductive System General outside the abdominopelvic cavity at the
Primary sex organs (gonads) root of the penis
Testes in males, ovaries in females Contains paired testicles separated by a
Gonads produce sex cells called gametes midline septum
and secret sex hormones
Accessory reproductive organs: Intrascrotal temperature is kept constantly
Ducts, glands, and external genitalia by two sets of muscles:
Sex hormones Cremaster - Bands of skeletal muscle that
Androgens (males) elevate the testes
Estrogens and progesterone (females) Dartos - Smooth muscle that allow rise and
fall
Sex Hormones General
Sex Horrmones play roles in:
The development and function of the
reproductive organs
Sexual behavior and drives
The growth and development of many other
organs and tissues

A. Male Reproductive System

The male gonads (testes) produce sperm
and lie within a sac called the scrotum The testes
Sperm are delivered to the exterior through Each test is surrounded by two tunics:
system of ducts: epididymis, ductus The tunica vagiinalis, derived from
deferens, ejaculatory duct, and the urethra peritoneum
Accessory sex glands: The tunica albuginea, the fibrous capsule of
Empty their secretion into the ducts during the test
ejaculation Septa divide the test is into 250-300 lobules,
Include the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, each containing 1-4 seminiferous tubules
and bulbourethral glands
Seminiferous tubules:
Produce the sperm
Converge to form the tubulus rectus
From there rete testis, the sperm leave the
testis via efferent ductules
They then enter the epididymis

Path of sperm
Seminiferous tubules >> tubulus rectus >>
rete testis >> efferent ductules >>
epididymis
Interstitial Cells
Surrounding the seminiferous tubules are
interstitial cells that produce androgens

Testicular arteries branch from the

abdominal aorta and supply the testes
Spermaticcord - encloses PNS and SNS
nerve fibers, blood vessels, and lymphatics
that supply the testes

Epididymis is
The penis Non-motile sperm enter, pass through iits
Copulatory organ designed to deliver sperm tubes and become motile
into the female reproductive tract Upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts,
Prepuce (foreskin) - cuff of skin covering the expelling sperm into the ductus deferens
distal end of the penis (removed during the
circumcision) Ductus deferens and ejaculatory duct
Propels sperm from the epididymis is to the
Internal penis - the urethra and cylindrical urethra
bodies of erectile tissue Vasectomy - cutting and ligating the ductus
Erectile tissue - spongy network of deferens, which is a nearly 100% effective
connective tissue and smooth muscle form of birth control
riddled with vascular spaces
Corpus spongiosum - surrounds the urethra Urethra - conveys both urine and semen (at
and expands to form the glans and bulb of the different times)
the penis Consists of three regions:
Corpus cavernosa - paired dorsal erectile Prostatic - portion surrounded by the
bodies prostate
Erection - during the sexual excitement, the Membranous - lies in the urogenital
erectile tissues fill with blood causing the diaphragm
penis to enlarge and become rigid Spongy or penile - runs through the penis
and open to the outside at thee external
urethral orifice
Accessory glands: Seminal vesicles Ovarian - anchors the ovary medially to the
Lie on the posterior wall of the bladder and uterus
secretes 60% of the volume of semen Suspensory - anchors the ovary laterally to
Join the ductus deferens to form the the pelvic wall
ejacuulatory duct Mesovarium - suspends the ovary in
between
Accessory glands: Prostate glands Broad ligament - contains the suspensory
Doughnut-shaped gland that encircles part ligament and the mesovarium
of the urethra inferior to the bladder
Plays a role in thee activation of sperm
Enters the prostatic urethra during
ejaculation
Can be palpated by digital rectal
examination

Accessory glands: Bulbourethral glands

(cowper’s glands)
Pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate
Produce thick, clear mucus prior to
ejaculation that neutralizes traces of acidic
Ovaries
urine in the urethra and lubricates the penis
Blood supply - ovarian arteries and the
ovarian branch of the uterine artery
Female Reproductive Anatomy
They are surrounded by a fibrous tunica
Ovaries are the primary female reproductive
albuginea, which is covered by a layer of
organs
epithelial cells called the germinal
Make female gametes (ova)
epithelium
Secrete female sex hormones (estrogen
Embedded on the ovary cortex are ovarian
and progesterone)
follicles
Accessory ducts include uterine tubes,
Each follicle consists of an immature egg
uterus, and vagina
called an oocyte
Internal genitalia - ovaries and the internal
ducts (vagina, cervix , uterus, fallopian
Cells around the oocyte are called:
tubes)
Follicle cells (one cell layer thick)
External genitalia - external sex organs
Granulosa cells (when more than one layer
(labia and clitoris)
present)

Ovulation - ejection of the oocyte from the

ripening follicle
Corpus luteum - ruptured follicle after
ovulation
The ovaries
Paired organs on each side of the uterus
held in place by several ligaments
 Endometrium - mucosal lining of the uterine
cavity
Has numerous uterine glands that change in
length as the endometrial thickness
Ovaries changes
Receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a
site for fertilization Vagina
Empty into the superolateral region of the Thin-walled tube lying between the bladder
uterus via the isthmus and rectum, extending from the cervix to the
Expand distally around the ovary forming exterior of the body
the ampulla The urethra is embedded in the anterior wall
The ampulla ends in the funnel-shaped, Provides a passageway for birth, menstrual
ciliated infundibulum containing fingerlike flow, and is the organ of copulation
projections called fimbriae
Wall consists of three coats:
Uterus Fibroelastic adventitia
Hollow, thick-walled organ located in the Smooth muscle muscularis
pelvis anterior to the rectum and Stratified squamous mucosa
posterosuperior to the bladder
Body - major portion of the uterus Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an
Fundus - rounded region superior to the incomplete partition called the hymen
entrance of the uterine tubes Vaginal fornix - upper end of the vagina
Isthmus - narrowed region between the surrounding the cervix
body and cervix
Cervix - narrow neck which projects into the
vagina inferiorly
Cervical canal - cavity of the cervix

Supports of the Uterus

Mesometrium - portion of the broad
ligament that supports the uterus laterally
Lateral cervical ligaments - extend from the
cervix and superior part of the vagiina to the
lateral walls of the pelvis
Round ligaments - bind the anterior wall the
labia majora

Uterine Wall External Genitalia: Vulva (pudendum)

Composed of three layers: Lies external to the vagina and includes the
Perimetrium - outermost serous layer; the labia, clitoris, and vestibular structures
visceral peritoneum Labia majora - elongated, hair-covered, fatty
Myometrium - middle layer; interlacing skin folds homologous to the male scrotum
layers of smooth muscle
Labia minora - hair-free skin folds lying
within the labia majora; homologous to the
ventral penis
Greater vestibular glands:
Pea-sized glands flanking the vagina
Homologous to the bulbourethral glands
Keep the vestibule moist and lubricated

Clitoris - embryologically homologous to the

penis
Erectile tissue hooded by the prepuce
The exposed portion is called the glans