Reproductive System

STRUCTURAL OUTLINE

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

● External Genitalia (Vulva)
● Internal Genitalia
- Vagina
- Uterus
- Uterine Tubes
- Ovaries
- Reproductive Cycle
- Breasts

Reproductive SYSTEM

● Male gametes are called Spermatozoa

● Female gametes are called Ova

FUNCTION OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM
- Formation of ova
- Reception of Spermatozoa
- Suitable environment for fertilization and fetal development
- Parturition (Childbirth)
- Lactation

MONS PUBIS
- Rounded cushion of fatty and connective tissue covered by skin and coarse, curly hair
over the symphysis pubis

EXTERNAL GENITALIA (VULVA)

CONSISTS OF THE:
- Labia Majora and Minora
- Clitoris
- Vaginal Orifice
- Vestibule
- Hymen
- Vestibular Glands
 LABIA MAJORA
- Two large folds forming the boundary of the vulva.
- "Greater lips"
- Contains two small glands:
● Bartholin's Glands - helps lubrication during coitus.

LABIA MINORA
- Two smaller folds of skin between the majora.
- "Lesser lips"
- Thin, hairless ridges at the entrance of the vagina. In front they split to enclose the
clitoris.

CLITORIS
- Corresponds to the penis in the male.
- Contains sensory nerve endings and erectile tissue.
- Small, pea-shaped structure.
- Plays important part in sexual excitement in females.

VESTIBULAR GLANDS
- "Bartholin's Gland"
- Situated on each side near the vaginal opening.
- Size of a small pea.
- Secrete mucus that keeps the vulva moist.

VESTIBULAR GLANDS
- "Skene's Glands"
- Lesser vestibular glands.
- Responsible for lubrication.
- Situated on either side of the lower end of the urethra.

FEMALE PERINEUM
- Tiny patch of sensitive skin between our vaginal opening and anus.
- Foundation that helps support pelvic floor muscle.
- During childbirth, perineum stretches to make room for the baby.

VAGINA
- Female internal genitalia
Function:
- Passageway for blood and mucosal tissue from uterus (menstruation)
- Receives the penis during coitus
- Provides passageway for childbirth

● Lactobacillus Acidophilus - "good" bacteria in the vagina, protects against the "bad"
bacteria that causes disease.
 HYMEN
- Thin laver of mucous membrane that partially occludes the opening of the vagina.
- Normally incomplete to allow passage of menstrual flow.
- Stretched or completely torn away by sexual intercourse, insertion of tampon or
childbirth.

UTERUS
- Hollow, muscular pear-shaped organ, located in the pelvic cavity between urinary
bladder and the rectum.

PARTS OF THE UTERUS:

● FUNDUS - accommodates most of the growing fetus until term.
● BODY - main part. Narrowest inferiorly at the internal os where it is continuous with the
cervix.
● CERVIX - "neck of the uterus", protrudes through the anterior wall of the vagina, opening
into it at the external os.

LAYERS OF UTERUS:
● Endometrium
● Myometrium
● Perimetrium

UTERINE TUBES
- "Fallopian Tubes"
- Curved portion of the fallopian tube is called the ampulla.
- Funnel-shaped structure, infundibulum.
- End of each tube has fingerlike, projections called fimbriae move in waves that sweep
mature ovum into the fallopian tube.
Functions:
- Prepare the ovum from the ovary to the uterus by peristalsis and ciliary movement.
- Secretions of the tube nourish both ovum and spermatozoa.
- Fertilization takes place in the tube, and zygote is propelled into the uterus for
implantation.

OVARIES
- Located on either side of the uterus. Size, shape, and position vary with age.
- Round, smooth, and pink at birth. Grow larger, flatter, and turn grayish by puberty.
- After menopause, they shrink and turn white.
- "Female gonads"
- Maturation is controlled by Hypothalamus and APG.

BREASTS
- "Mammary Glands"
 - Accessory glands of the FRS.
- Lobules open into lactiferous ducts which drain milk towards the nipple.
- Glandular tissue proliferates (hyperplasia) when lactating to support milk production.
- Recedes after lactation stops.
- Montgomery's Tubercles lubricates the nipple during lactation.

STRUCTURAL OUTLINE

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

- Scrotum
- Testes
- Seminal Vesicles
- Ejaculatory Ducts
- Prostate Gland
- Urethra and Penis
- Ejaculation

FUNCTION OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYS.

- Production, maturation and storage of spermatozoa.
- Delivery of spermatozoa in semen into the female reproductive tract.

SCROTUM
- A pouch of pigmented skin, fibrous and connective tissue and smooth muscle.
- Divided into two compartments, each containing a testis, epididymis and a spermatic
cord.

TESTIS
- Male reproductive glands and are equivalent of the ovaries in the female.
- Surrounded by three layers of tissue:
1. Tunica Vaginalis
2. Tunica Albuginea
3. Tunica Vasculosa

SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES
- Site where spermatozoa are produced.
- Coiled tubules found within the testes.
- Between the tubules are Leydig Cells that secretes testosterone after puberty.

SPERMATIC CORDS
- Suspends the testis in the scrotum.
- Each contains testicular artery, testicular veins and lymphatics.

SEMINAL VESICLES
- 5 cm tube that joins with the deferent duct to form the common ejaculatory duct.
 - Contract and expel their stored contents: seminal fluid, during ejaculation.

PROSTATE GLAND
- Size of a walnut.
- in size as a man ages.
- Secretes a thin, milky fluid that makes up 30% of the volume of semen and gives its
milky appearance.
- Contains a clotting enzyme, the likelihood of semen being retained to the cervix.

VAS DEFERENS
- Tube that carries the sperm out of the testis.

LOW SPERM COUNT

- New sperm are produced continually and take about 42 to 76 days to mature.
- Normal sperm densities range from 15 million to greater than 200 million sperm per mL
of semen.
- Normal volume: 1.5 - 5 mL per ejaculation
- 15 million sperm per mL or <39 million sperm total per ejaculation = LOW SPERM
COUNT