Chapter 27: Reproductive system

Male Reproductive System

Testes
- It is the male gonads
- Both sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems innervate/control the testes
- Exocrine Function: Produce sperm cells (gametes)
- Endocrine Function: Secretes testosterone
- Location: Lies in the scrotal sac, outside the pelvic cavity
- It is outside the pelvic cavity to keep the temperature 1-2 lower than inside the body
- There are TWO muscles in the scrotal sac:
-

1. Dartos Muscle - Smooth muscle of the skin

2. Cremaster Muscles - Skeletal muscle from the internal obliques
The testes are covered in TWO tunics:
1. Tunica Vaginalis - Located on the outside of the testes
2. Tunica Albaginea - White fibrous connective tissue

Testes

Blood Flow in Testes

- Testicular Arteries - Feeds blood to testes
- Testicular Veins - Forms a complex called the pampiniform plexus which helps cool arterial blood
Seminiferous Tubules
- It is for spermatogenesis - Synthesis of sperm cells
- Epithelium of these tubules contain stem cells embedded in the sustentocytes
- Myoid Cells - Muscle-like cells that surround the tubules; They contract to move sperm along the
tube

Travel of Sperm Through Tubes

Seminiferous Tubules

Rete Testis

Efferent Ductus

Epididymis Tubes

Ductus Deferens

Spermatogenesis
- Sperm cell maturation
Interstitial Cells
- Produce testosterone

Male Reproductive System physiology

Erection
- It is a parasympathetic reflex
- This reflex increases nitric oxide
- Nitric oxide is a vasodilator - It relaxes arteriole walls, which increases blood flow
- When filled with blood, the erectile tissue presses veins (outflow of blood)

Ejaculation of Sperm
- It is sympathetic nervous system control
Spermatogenesis
- Mitosis - Produces two daughter cells - We call them diploid (2n)
- Meiosis - Produces four daughter cells - We call them haploid (n)
- Spermatogonia - Stem cells in the seminiferous tubules
2n

Spermatogonia
(Stem Cell)

Divides
through mitosis

Type A Daughter Cell

Maintains the germ
line

2n

2n

Type B Daughter Cell

Meiosis I

Midpiece
- Contains mitochrondia
- Produces ATP

Acrosome

- Digestive enzyme

Meiosis II

Head
- Contains DNA

Tail

- For motility

Late Spermatid

Spermatozoa

Primary
Spermatocyte

Early Spermatid

Sustentocytes
- Theyre supporting cells in seminiferous tubules
- Main Function: Tight junctions of these cells form something called the Blood-Testis Barrier
- Other Functions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Provide nutrition for dividing cells

They help move developing sperm cells towards the lumen of tubule
They secrete testicular fluid for transport
They phagocytize dead cells & debris
They provide chemicals to regulate spermatogenesis

***Know the other male structures from lab & their functions***

FeMale Reproductive System physiology

Ovaries
- They are the female gonads
- Exocrine Function: Secrete oocytes
- Endocrine Function: Secrete estrogens & progesterone
- Blood Supply: Served by ovarian arteries & uterine arteries
Ovarian Follicles
- Theyre structures that house an immature egg
- There are two different cells:
- Follicle Cells - One layer of cells around the oocyte
- Granulosa Cells - More than one layer of cells around the oocyte
Ovulation
- The ovarian walls ruptures & the oocyte is released from the ovary into the uterine tube
- There is no physical contact between the ovary & the uterine tube
- Fimbriae hovers on top of the ovaries & move it into the uterine tube
Ovulation
- Uterine Tubes
- Fimbriae - Helps move oocyte to uterine tube (oviduct)
- Ampullae - Wide portion of the tube that helps move oocyte to uterine tube (oviduct)
- Uterus - Thick muscular walled organ that is the site of implantation
- Like the stomach, there is a fundus & body

Fundus

Body

Cervix

 Layers of the Uterine Wall

- There are THREE layers:

1. Perimetrium - It is an outer serous layer

2. Myometrium - It is made of thick walled smooth muscle
3. Endometrium - It is the inner layer, it is a mucosal layer, & it is made up of simple columnar
epithelial cells
- There are TWO sublayers to the endometrium:
1. Stratum Functionalis - It is the layer that is shed during menstruation
2. Stratum Basalis - This layer replaces the function of the stratum functionalis about
every four weeks

External & Internal Female & Male Reproduction

- There are structures between the males & females that are homologous
- Homologous Structures - Structures that appear in different animals (In our case, male & female)
with underlining anatomical commonalities
Female

Male

How Are They Homologous?

Vagina, Clitoris

Penis

Theyre both copulator organs & erectile

tissue

Labia Minora/Labia Majora

Scrotum

They're both skin encasing reproductive

structures

Greater Vestibular Gland

Bulbourethral Gland

They both secrete fluid for lubrication

Prepuce - Folds of skin around the

clitoris

Prepuce - Foreskin around the glands

of the penis

They're both skin that surround the

copulator organs/erectile tissue

***Extra credit on the next page***

(Aside from the bulbourethral gland, which cleanses)

 Follicular Phase
- There are TWO subphases:

Phase 1: Preantral Phase (Gonadotropin independent)

- Intrafollicular paracrine control oocyte development
Phase 2: Antral Phase
- Directed by PSH & LH (theyre gonadotropins)
- Activated follicles grow tremendously with fluid-filled antrum
- Primary follicles complete Meiosis I

Ovulation
- LH surge triggers ovulation
Luteal Phase
- Remaining granulose cells enlarge to form a corpus luteum
- If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum secretes estrogens & progesterone to maintain the first
-

three months of pregnancy

If no fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum degenerates