2.

HUMAN REPRODUCTION
TOPIC
2.1 The Male Reproductive System
2.2 The Female Reproductive System
2.3 Gametogenesis
2.4 Menstrual Cycle
2.5 Fertilisation and Implantation
2.6 Pregnancy and Embryonic Development
2.7 Parturition and Lactation

REPRODUCTIVE EVENTS
• Humans sexual reproduction, viviparous, unisexual.
• Each sex has pair of gonads, reproductive duct and accessory structures.
• Sex organs – Testis( paired) male , ovaries (paired) Gamete formation, hormones
• Puberty

Gametogenesis Insemination Fertilisation

formation of gametes transfer of sperms into fusion of male and
(sperms/ ova) the female genital tract female gametes leading
to formation of zygote

Implantation Gestation Parturition

development of embryonic development delivery of the baby
blastocyst and its ( from conception to ( child birth)
attachment to the birth )
uterine wall
 THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Located in pelvis region

pair of testes Accessory ducts Accessory glands External genitalia

( in scrotum) (rete testis, vasa (Penis)
efferentia epididymis,
vas deferens )

Pair of testes (in scrotum)

Paired male gonads- sperm, hormones

oval in shape, length- 4 to 5 cm, a width 2 to 3 cm
situated outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch called scrotum.
Scrotum - low temp. of the testes (2– 2.5 ºC lower than the normal internal
body temperature) – spermatogenesis
testis is covered by a dense covering capsule tunica albuginea – inside as
septae
In each testis -250 compartments called testicular lobules
Each lobule -1-3 convoluted (coiled) seminiferous tubule
 Seminiferous lobules
sperm production
lined on its inside by two types of cells

MALE GERM CELLS SERTOLI CELLS

(Spermatogonia) (Supporting cells)

Meiotic division provide nutrition to the germ cell regions

Sperm formation outside the seminiferous tubules called
Interstitial spaces, contain small blood
vessels & interstitial cells/ Leydig cells

Leydig cells - synthesise & secrete male

hormone Androgen ( testosterone)

Other immunologically competent cells are

also present

Accessory ducts

Seminiferous tubules

Vasa efferentia through rete testies

Epididmysis(posterior surface of testies)

Vasa deferens- ascend to abdomen &loop

Over urinary bladder

Vas deferens receives duct- seminal vesicle

• Opens into urethra as Ejaculatory duct
• Function- Stores & transports sperms from testis to urethra
• Urethra- originates from urinary bladder, extends through penis to external
opening- urethral meatus
 External genitalia

Penis
External copulatory organ – external genitalia
Made of special tissue- erection to facilitate insemination
Enlarge distal end glans penis covered by loose skin called fore skin

Accessory glands

1. Seminal vesicles (paired)

2. A Prostate gland
3. Bulbourethral glands (paired)
• Seminal plasma- secretion of all the accessory glands.
• Rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes.
• Helps in lubrication

THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

located in the pelvic region

Pair of ovaries Pair of oviduct Uterus Cervix Vagina External genitalia

(fallopian tubes),
Accessory ducts

pair of the mammary glands ( nourishment of offspring)

• All parts are integrated structurally and functionally to support the
processes of ovulation, fertilisation, pregnancy, birth and child care.

Pair of ovaries
Ovaries are the primary female sex organs that produce the female gamete (ovum).
It also produces several female steroid hormones- estrogen & progesterone
The ovaries located in the lower abdomen.
Each ovary is about 2-4 cm in length.These are Connected to the pelvic wall and
uterus by ligaments.
Each ovary is covered by thin epithelium which enclose ovarian stroma
Ovarian Stroma, 2 zones- A peripheral cortex & an inner medulla.
At the peripheral cortex follicles are present & in medulla blood vessels &
ovarian ligaments are present

Ts of ovaries

Developing follicles in diff stages

Primary follicle

Graafian follicle

One mature around 14th

day of menstrual cycle
and ruptures to release
the oocyte – Ovulation

After release – follicle

Accessory ducts (Oviduct, Uterus, Vagina)

 Oviduct / Fallopian tube- 10-12 cm
length, from periphery of each ovary to
uterus
Part closer to ovary funnel shaped
infundibulum – edge finger like
projections Fimbriae (collects of ovum
after ovulation), wider part oviduct-
ampulla, Isthmus has narrow lumen and
joins uterus
Uterus /Womb & vagina

Single uterus -present in lower abdomen region also called womb.

hallow inverted pear shaped, attached to pelvic wall by ligaments
Inside the uterus fertilized ovum grows and develops in to embryo.
Opens into vagina through narrow cervix (cavity- cervical canal)
Cervical canal along withVagina- Birth Canal

The wall of the uterus

1. Perimetrium 2. Myometrium 3. Endometrium

external thin membranous. middle thick layer of inner glandular layer, lines
smooth muscles; strong uterine cavity; cyclical
contraction during delivery changes during menstrual
cycle.

External genitalia

! Mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, hymen, clitoris

! Mons pubis a pad of fatty tissue covered with hair
! labia majora - fleshy folds of tissue, surround the vaginal opening.
! labia minora – paired folds of tissue under labia majora
! Clitoris- tiny finger structure, lies at the upper junction of two labia majora
! Hymen - just inside the opening of the vagina, often torn during the first coitus
(intercourse)
! the presence or absence of hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity
 Mammary glands

! Paired, Glandular tissue, variable amount fats

! Glandular tissue – divided into 15-20 mammary
lobes containing cluster of cells – alveoli
! Alveoli secrete milk- stored in lumen (alveoli)
! Alveoli opens mammary tubules
! Tubules of each lobe join – mammary duct
! Many ducts join to form mammary ampulla-
which is connected lactiferous duct, through which
milk sucked out
GAMETOGENESIS
Process of formation of haploid gamete from diploid germ cells in the gonad

Takes place: primary sex organ (testies and ovary) and produce sperm and ovum
Male – Spermatogenesis (Spermatogonia) & begins at puberty
Female- Oogenesis (Oogonia) & starts at embryonic stage

SPERMATOGENESIS

Process of formation of haploid male gamete sperm in semniferous tubules of testies

two stages of spermatogenesis

Spermatidogenesis Spermiogenesis

formation of spermatids Inactive non motile spermatids

are transformed into active
motile spermatozoa i.e sperms

Multiplication phase Growth phase Maturation phase

The spermatogonia (Spermatogonium) The spermatogonial cells grow in
undergoes repeated mitotic division size by increasing cytoplasm and
and forms large number of diploid matures to form primary
spermatogonia cells (46 chromosomes) spermatocytes
 Spermatidogenesis
The diploid primary
spermatocyte undergoes first
meiosis resulting in the
formation of two equal haploid
cells called secondary
spermatocyte (23
chromosomes).
This later undergoes second
meiotic division to produce four
equal haploid spermatids.
Spermiogenesis: inactive non-
motile spermatids are
transformed into active motile
spermatozoa (sperms)
After spermiogenesis sperm
head- embedded in Sertoli cells
& release from seminiferous
tubules- Spermiation

SPERMATOGENESIS AND HORMONES

GnRH gonadotropin releasing hormone( hypothalamic hormone)

Anterior pituitary gland

Luteinising hormone LH Follicle stimulating hormone FSH

Leydig cells -androgens Sertoli cells

Spermatogenesis Secretion of factors of

STRUCTURE OF SPERM

1. HEAD -
Elongated haploid nucleus
• Anterior cap like acrosome
• Acrosome has hydrolytic enzymes
(hyaluronidase). It is derived from Golgi
complex during division – fertilization of ovum

2. NECK-
Connecting head and middle piece

3. MIDDLE PIECE-
Many mitochondria (produce energy for the
movement of tail – motility)

4. TAIL- Long slender

OOGENESIS
OOGENESIS- Process of formation of haploid ovum from diploid
oogonia cells in the ovary. Begins at embryonic development
 Gamate mother cell (2n)
OOGONIA At birth many million in fetal ovary

PRIMARY Propahse –I of meiotic division.

OOCYTE Temporary arrested in this stage

Primary • Primary oocyte+ granulosa cells

follicle • May follicles degenerate from birth to puberty

Secondary Primary follicles surrounded by more granulosa

follicles cells & theca

Tertiary • Secondary follicles – fluid filled cavity – antrum

follicles • Theca layer – theca interna (vascular) & theca
externa(fibrous)
• T. interna- 10-15 layers follicle cells (membrane
granulosa)
• Primary Oocyte (2n) within follicle- size increases
& first meiotic division – unequal large haploid
secondary oocyte+ 1st polar body

Secondary Retain nutrient rich cytoplasm of primary oocyte

oocyte • Tertiary follicles into Graffian follicle
• Secondary oocyte (ovum)- zona pellucida (membrane)

Oogenesis starts during embryonic stage.

Germinal epithelium of ovary divides mitotically to produce millions of gamete

mother cell or oogonia.

No oogonia formed or added after birth.

Oogonia enters into meiosis-I. It proceeds Prophase-I , get suspended and forms
primary Oocytes.

during puberty, the primary oocyte restarts its first meiotic division
 Oogenesis

Multiplicative Growth Maturation

o Certain primary germ cells (large o Long duration (12- 13 years) A fully-grown primary oocyte (2n)
size & nuclei) of germinal epitheliumo One of the diploid oogonia undergoes I meiotic division results
lining ovary, undergo rapid mitotic undergoes growth increasing in in the formation of two unequal
division. cytoplasm and accumulation of yolk sized haploid cells.
o It result in formation of group of & transform to enlarged oogonia o The large secondary oocyte (n) and
diploid egg mother cell, oogonia. called primary oocyte (2n) a small polocyte (polar body).
o Each group of cells forms a o Other oogonia form single layered o The secondary oocyte undergoes
rounded mass called egg nest. follicular epithelium- P. follicle II meiotic division to form a large
o P. follicle surrounded by more ootid/ ovum and a small 2nd polar
granulosal cell- Sec. follicle body.
o Sec. follicle- fluid filled antral o Sec. oocyte forms new
cavity- Antrium-Ter. Follicle membrane- Zona pellucida- Graffian
o Ter. Follicle- Graffian follicle follicle
o The 1st polar body also undergoes
equal division to produce two cells

• Thus during oogenesis four cells are produced.Among

them one is functional ootid and three are non-
functional polar bodies.The ootid with very little change
becomes an ovum
 MENSTRUAL CYCLE

! Reproductive cycle of fem'ale primates is called menstrual cycle.

! Menstruation is the term given to the periodic discharge of blood, tissue, fluid
and mucus from the reproductive organs of sexually mature females. The flow
usually lasts from 3 - 6 days each month and is caused by a sudden reduction in
the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
! The menstrual cycle begins when a female reaches the age of puberty.The
first menstruation begins at puberty is called Menarche.
! During the menstrual cycle the uterus endometrium prepares itself for
implantation of a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not occur the uterus lining is
shed from the body.
! Menstrual cycle repeated at an average interval of 28 days.
! One ovum is released in the middle usually 14th day of each menstrual cycle.
 Phases

Menstrual phase Follicular phase Ovulatory phase Luteal phase

(bleeding period) (before the egg (Egg is released) (After release of
is released) egg)
It is the 1st phase of Proliferative phase: This phase begins after ovulation.
menstrual cycle lasts for 3-5 ! 1- 14 days ! Ruptured Graafian follicle transformed into corpus
days. ! Menstrual phase followed luteum. It produces large amount of progesterone-
! Breakdown of endometrial by follicular phase. essential to maintain & proliferate endometrium
lining and blood vessel occurs. ! P. follicle grows- G. follicle ! Endometrium- necessary for implantation of
It leads to bleeding comes out & endometrium regenerates- fertilized egg/ ovum & does not shed during pregnancy
through vagina. proliferation ! If fertilization occurs corpus luteum grows further
! It occurs only when ovum ! Gonadotropins (Pituitary)- and pregnancy continues. Menstrual cycle stops up.
released and fertilization does FSH & LH, increases & ! In absence of fertilization, G. follicle transforms to
not occurs. stimulate follicular yellow bodied Corpus luteum
! Lack of menstruation is development. This in turn ! Progesterone level decreases. C. luteum degenerates
the indication of pregnancy. increases estrogen secretion to Corpus albican
from growing follicles.
! LH & FSH attains peak in
middle of cycle (14th day)
! Rapid secretion of LH- LH
Surge induces G. follicle to
rupture & release ovum
(ovulation)- Corpus luteum

FERTILIZATION AND IMPLANTATION

! During copulation (coitus) semen is released by the penis into the vagina is
called insemination.
! The motile sperms swim rapidly, pass through the cervix, enter into the uterus
and finally reach the junction of the isthmus and ampulla (ampullary-isthmic
junction) of the fallopian tube
! Fertilisation - if the ovum and sperms are transported simultaneously to the
ampullary isthmic junction.
! The process of fusion of a sperm with an ovum is called Fertilisation.
!Sperm contacts with zona pellucida of ovum & induces changes in membrane that
blocks entry of other sperm
!Acrosome of sperm secretes lytic enzymes (hyaluronidase) helps in penetration into
!Meiotic division of secondary oocyte after sperm enters plasma membrane of the
ovum.
! Second meiotic division – second polar body and ovum / ootid
! Nucleus of Ovum + Sperm = Zygote
the ovum cytoplasm through zona pellucida & plasma membrane
! Sex of baby decided this stage

SEX DETERMINATION
! Sex of a baby is determined during fertilization and in the zygote.
! Sex is determined by the sex-chromosomes present in zygote.
! Human contain 2 sets of chromosome- autosome & sex chromosome.
! Sex chromosome present in human female is XX and male XY.
! All the female gametes (ova) produced has 22 autosome and only ‘X’ chromosome.
! Sperms produced by male, 50% has 22 autosome with ‘X’ and 50 % has 22
autosome with ‘Y’ chromosome.
! The fusion of sperm withY chromosome with ovum (X) results in male baby- XY &
fusion of sperm with X chromosome with ovum (X) results in female baby.(XX).
! Zygote carrying XX chromosomes develop into female and with XY chromosome
develops into male
Cleavage

! Zygote from isthmus (oviduct) to uterus– mitotic division, first cleavage in first
36 hrs
! 2,4,8,16 daughter cells- blastomeres
! Embryo with 8 – 16 blastomeres – Morula
! Morula – division continues – hollow ball called Blastocyst.
! The blastomeres in blastocyst arranged into two layers.An outer layer called
trophoblast and an inner cells called inner cell mass.
! Trophoblast cells attaches to the endometrium. It helps in implantation and
development of placenta.
! Inner cell mass gets differentiated into the embryo.
! The complete attachment of Blastocyst to the uterine endometrium is called
implantation
 Pregnancy & Embryonic development

! Chorionic villi-finger like projections or trophoblasts

!Villi surrounded by maternal blood ,uterine mass
!Villi & uterine tissue- interdigitated – structural & functional unit between foetus
(embryo) & maternal body- Placenta
! Inner cell mass – ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm - different organs

Function of Placenta:
1. Helps in nutrition of the embryo & transports nutrients like amino acids, sugars,
vitamins form maternal blood to foetal blood
2. Respiration of embryo- exchange of O2 & CO2 through diffusion from foetal blood
to maternal blood vice versa
3. Excretion – nitrogenous waste like urea into maternal blood
4. Endocrine gland- estrogen, progesterone, human chronic gonadotropin (hCG) &
human placental lactogen (hPL)
5. Antibodies- diphtheria,small pox, measles etc., pass to foetus from maternal blood
6. Stores glycogen till liver formation
7. Effective barrier- toxic chemicals & germs
• Later phase of pregnancy relaxin- secreted by ovary
• hCG , hPL & relaxin- only during pregnancy
• Other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, prolactin, thyroxin- increases
several fold in maternal blood
• Hormones- supporting fetal growth, metabolic changes in mother & maintenance of
pregnancy
• After implantation- inner cell mass differentiates- outer ectoderm and inner
endoderm & middle mesoderm soon appears- tissue & organs
• Inner cell mass contain certain cells- Stem cells- potency to give rise to all tissues
& organs
• Pregnancy will last for 9 months divided as 3 trimesters - 1st :- end of 3rd month,
2nd :- end of 6th month & 3rd :- end of 9th month
• 1st month- embryo heart formed
• First sign- listening heart sound through stethoscope
• 2nd month- limbs & digits, end of 12 weeks(first trimester)- major organ system-
limbs, external genital organs
• 1st movement & hair on head- during fifth month
• End of 24 week (second trimester)- body covered with fine hair, eye lid separate,
 PARTURITION

! The period of pregnancy is called gestation period. It is 9 months in human.

! The delivery of foetus is called parturition. It occurs by the contraction of
uterine Myometrium.
! The signal of parturition is originated from the fully developed foetus and the
placenta. It induces mild contraction of uterus called fetal ejection reflex.
! Hormone (adrenal gland) secreted by foetus diffuses to maternal blood &
stimulate oxytocin secretion
! Oxytocin causes forceful contraction of myometrium (labour pain) & stimulates
further secretion of oxytocin
! Stimulatory reflex between uterine contraction & Oxytocin secretion continues
inducing stronger contraction & pushes the foetus by dilated cervix (birth canal)
facilitated by relaxin- parturition
! After delivery the placenta is also expelled out of the

LACTATION

! Mammary gland of female undergo differentiation & produce milk towards end
of pregnancy- Lactation
! The mammary gland starts producing milk towards the end of the pregnancy.
! Milk produced during initial days of lactation is called colostrum. It contains
several antibodies which provide immunity (passive) or resistance to the new born
baby.
! The milk production is controlled by Lacto trophic or prolactin hormone secreted
by pituitary.
! Breast feeding during initial period of infant growth is recommended for
bringing up a healthy baby