Reproductive System

1. Reproductive System By: Caroline Furmanski J. Anthony Garcia Amy Meyer

2. The Reproductive System • Animals’ reproductive systems can be divided into the internal reproductive organs and the external genitalia. The gonads are the actual organs that produce the gametes. In the male, testes produce sperm, and in the female, ovaries make eggs.

3. The Male Reproductive System • Functions • - To produce, maintain, and transport sperm and semen • - To discharge sperm for fertilization • - Production and secretion of the male sex hormone, testosterone

4. Sperm • - Sperm is the male sex cell, or gamete • - Its main function is to carry the 18,000 male genes to the female egg • - Has enzymes built into its surface which allows it to digest its way through the “shell” of the woman’s egg, also known as the zona pellucida • - The sperm cell enters the main part of the egg, called the ooplasm, thus achieving fertilization

5. Structure of Sperm Cell • - composed of three main components: • * Midpiece • * Head • * Tail • - The head contains a cap, or acrosome, which has attached enzymes near the tip • - The head contains the nucleus and all hereditary information • -The midpiece contains various pieces of mitochondria which are essential for the sperm to survive on its way towards the egg • - The tail, or flagella, propels the sperm cell

6. Semen • - Semen is a thick white opaque fluid secreted by seminal vesicles • - It is secreted by the male sex organ, the penis • - It serves as a vehicle to carry and provide nutrients for sperm cells • -Millions of sperm cells join with this fluid and are spewed out of the urethra through contractions, also known as ejaculation

7. Male Urethra • - The male urethra is concerned with both reproduction and excretion • - It serves as a channel for all male sexual fluid • - Carries urine from the bladder to outside the body • - Responsible for ejaculating semen when a man reaches orgasm • - Flow of urine is blocked from the urethra when penis is erect

8. Glands:Prostate gland • - The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder • - The prostate gland is a small cone shaped organ that encircles the base of the urethra • - It emits prostatic fluid which enables sperm to remain alive and thrive • - Helps balance the acidic environment of the vagina-hyper link and protects the sperm from urinary traces

9. Bulbourethral Gland/ Cowpers Gland • - located under the prostate gland • - secretes a fluid that lubricates the urethra and neutralize any acidity that may be present

10. Seminal Vesicle • - situated on either side of the urethra above the prostate • -where 55% of semen is produced • - fluid produced contains mucus, amino acids, and fructose

11. Testes • - made up of tightly coiled somniferous tubules which manufactures sperm • - the interstitial cells, which are scattered in the somniferous tubules, produce the male sex hormone, testosterone • - attached to each testicle are the epididymis. Mature sperm cells are stored here.

12. Scrotum • - the scrotum is an external loose pouch-like sac of skin that hangs behind the penis • - contains the testicles • - have special muscles in its walls that allow it to contract and relax, allowing it to control the temperature of the testes

13. Vas Deferen • - are two long, muscular tubes (one from each testicle) that travels from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity, to behind the bladder • - The vas deferens transports mature sperm cells to the urethra

14. Penis • - The penis is the male sex organ • - Composed of three parts: • 1) The root- attaches to the wall of the abdomen • 2) The body/shaft • 3) The glans- the head of the penis • - The head of the penis is covered with a lose layer of skin called the foreskin • - The opening of the urethra is located at the tip of the glans • - The penis contains hundreds of sensitive nerve endings • - The cylindrical body of the penis consists of three internal chambers made up of sponge-like erectile tissue • - As the penis fills with blood, it becomes more rigid and erect

15. The Female Reproductive Organs Functions • Produces the female egg cells necessary for reproduction, called the ova. • Designed to transport the ova to the site of fertilization. Conception, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. After conception, the uterus offers a safe and favorable environment for a baby to develop before it is time for it to make its way into the outside world. If fertilization does not take place, the system is designed to menstruate. • Produces female sex hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle.

16. Parts of the Female Reproductive System • The female reproductive anatomy has external and internal structures. • External structures consist of: Labia majora, Labia minora, Clitoris, and Bartholin’s gland • Internal structures include: Vagina, Uterus, Ovaries, Cervix, Endometrium and Fallopian tubes.

17. Labia Majora • The labia majora enclose and protect the other external reproductive organs. Literally translated as "large lips," the labia majora are relatively large and fleshy, and are comparable to the scrotum in males. The labia majora contain sweat and oil-secreting glands. After puberty, the labia majora are covered with hair.

18. Labia Minora • Literally translated as "small lips," the labia minora can be very small or up to 2 inches wide. They lie just inside the labia majora, and surround the openings to the vagina (the canal that joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of the body) and urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body).

19. Bartholin’s Glands • These glands are located next to the vaginal opening and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion.

20. Clitoris • The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that is comparable to the penis in males. The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin, called the prepuce, which is similar to the foreskin at the end of the penis. Like the penis, the clitoris is very sensitive to stimulation and can become erect.

21. Vagina • The vagina is a canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside of the body. It also is known as the birth canal.

22. Uterus • The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a developing fetus. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix, which is the lower part that opens into the vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the corpus. The corpus can easily expand to hold a developing baby. A channel through the cervix allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit.

23. Cervix • The cervix is the lower most part of the uterus and is made up of strong muscles. It also provides support to the uterus due to attachment of muscles from the pelvic bone. The cervix protrudes and opens through a canal into the vagina. • The function of the cervix is to allow flow of menstrual blood from the uterus into the vagina, and direct the sperms into the uterus during intercourse.

24. Ovaries • The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones

25. Endometrium • The endometrium undergoes cyclic phases of proliferation. To assure optimal conditions for implantation the endometrium is swiftly discarded and regenerated if fertilization does not occur. 

26. Menstruation • Also called: Menses, Menstrual period, Period • Menstruation, or period, is a woman's monthly bleeding. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus, or womb. It passes out of the body through the vagina. Periods usually start around age 12 and continue until menopause, at about age 51. Most periods last from three to five days.

27. Menstrual Cycle • The average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days and occurs in phases: the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase (ovulation), and the luteal phase. • There are four major hormones (chemicals that stimulate or regulate the activity of cells or organs) involved in the menstrual cycle: follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone.

28. Follicular phase During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the following events occur: • Two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are released from the brain and travel in the blood to the ovaries. • The hormones stimulate the growth of about 15-20 eggs in the ovaries each in its own "shell," called a follicle. • These hormones (FSH and LH) also trigger an increase in the production of the female hormone estrogen. • As estrogen levels rise, like a switch, it turns off the production of follicle-stimulating hormone. This careful balance of hormones allows the body to limit the number of follicles that complete maturation, or growth. • As the follicular phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and continues to mature. This dominant follicle suppresses all of the other follicles in the group. As a result, they stop growing and die. The dominant follicle continues to produce estrogen.

29. Ovulatory phase The ovulatory phase, or ovulation, starts about 14 days after the follicular phase started. The ovulatory phase is the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, with the next menstrual period starting about 2 weeks later. During this phase, the following events occur: The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle triggers a surge in the amount of luteinizing hormone that is produced by the brain. This causes the dominant follicle to release its egg from the ovary. As the egg is released (a process called ovulation) it is captured by finger-like projections on the end of the fallopian tubes (fimbriae). The fimbriae sweep the egg into the tube. Also during this phase, there is an increase in the amount and thickness of mucus produced by the cervix (lower part of the uterus.) If a woman were to have intercourse during this time, the thick mucus captures the man's sperm, nourishes it, and helps it to move towards the egg for fertilization.

30. Luteal Phase The luteal phase begins right after ovulation and involves the following processes: • Once it releases its egg, the empty follicle develops into a new structure called the corpus luteum. • The corpus luteum secretes the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg to implant. • If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has fertilized the egg (a process called conception), the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus. The woman is now considered pregnant. • If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. Not needed to support a pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins.

31. Fallopian Tubes • These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Conception, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants to the uterine wall.

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37. For more information: • http://library.thinkquest.org/2935/Natures_Best/Nat_Best_Low_Level/Reproductive_page.L.html#male-semen • http://www.proceptin.com/phc/sperm-cell.php • http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2300/2376.asp • http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2400/2418.asp?index=9118 • http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/cervix-function.htm • http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514266676/html/i267714.html