Reproductive System

1. Reproductive System

2. Rules of the Unit • Be respectful of people’s thoughts & feelings. • Assume there is diversity (race, gender, sexual orientation, life experiences) • If itis personal, keep it personal. • Act mature about the subject matter. • When sharing, use the phrase “Someone I know…”

3. What’s Your Health IQ?(true or false) • Sperm are made in the vas deferens • Testicular cancer is most common in men over 50 years old. • Estrogen is the primary hormone in males.

4. ANSWERS….. • False, sperm are made in the testes. • False, most cases of testicular cancer occur in males 15-35 years old. • False, testosterone is the primary hormone in males.

5. Male Anatomy • Testes (testicles) : (6) • As endocrine glands they produce testosterone and deliver it to the blood stream • Produce sperm • Sperm is produced in section of the testes called seminiferous tubules (long series of thread-like tubules packed in the testes.) • Testes produce millions of sperm per day. • Spermatic cords: suspend the testes, supply blood to the testes, carry sperm from the testes.

6. Male Anatomy • Epididymis: (5) • sperm is stored and matured here, located on the backside of each of the testes. When sperm move from testes to epididymis, they are unable to fertilize eggs. Maturation process takes about a month. • Sperm: male reproductive cell. They carry strings of genes (called chromosomes) or DNA instructions in case the sperm cell meets with an egg cell and fertilizes it. • Normal sperm carries 23 chromosomes in the head. When sperm meets an ovum (egg cell), which also carries 23 chromosomes, the result is 1 cell of 46 chromosomes and the production of human offspring.

7. Male Anatomy • Scrotum: (7) • muscular sac, holds testes and epididymis, controls temperature-lower than body temperature. • Penis: (9) • tube-like organ that functions in sexual reproduction, allows passage of urine and of semen, and has many nerve endings.

8. Male Anatomy • Foreskin: protects the glands of the penis, males who’ve been circumcised don’t have one. • Urethra(8) • passageway for both sperm and urine.

9. Male Anatomy • Vas deferens: (12) • narrow muscular tubes that connect the epididmyis with the urethra. Allows passage of sperm, as big around as sewing thread, they lead into the abdomen, where (behind the bladder) they widen into storage sacs • Semen: • helps sperm live longer and travel better, most of the fluid comes from the prostate gland.

10. Male Anatomy Three glands produce the fluid in semen • Seminal vesicles: (1) • Prostate gland: (3) • Cowper’s glands: (4)

11. Glands that produce Semen • Seminal vesicles: (1) • two pouches on either side of the prostate gland. • Contribute fructose (sugar) to semen for nourishing the sperm.

12. Glands that produce Semen • Prostate gland: (3) • produces most of the fluid that makes up semen. • about the size of a chestnut • The prostatic fluid helps the sperm swim faster, which is important for getting to the egg cell.

13. Glands that produce Semen • Cowper’s Gland (4) • produce fluid called pre-ejaculate that cleanses the urethra of acid (from urine) to protect the sperm. • two pea-sized glands that open into the urethra • located below the prostate gland

14. Pathway of Sperm • S-scrotum • T- testes • E- epididymis • V- vas deferens • S- seminal vesicles • P- prostate gland • C- cowper’s gland • U- urethra • P- penis

15. Male Reproductive System • The pituitary gland initiates puberty and the production of testosterone in males. • Testosterone is the male sex hormone.

16. Male Reproductive System • Nocturnal Emission- throughout puberty, hormones cause the glands in the reproductive system to begin producing fluids that constitute sperm. This fluid causes pressure to build up. While the male is asleep the penis becomes erect and it leads to ejaculation. There is no warning or way of preventing this. It may or may not be accompanied by a dream dealing with sexual content commonly called a “wet dream”. • Erection- an involuntary response that occurs when the spongy layers of the penis fill with blood causing the penis to harden and elongate. • During erection, a muscle contracts around the bladder to prevent urine and semen from passing through the urethra at the same time.

17. Path of Sperm • On the outside the male has two parts: penis and scrotum. The job of the scrotum is to hold the testicles at the proper temperature – lower than 98.6 degrees – for making sperm. • The scrotum will move toward or away from the body to keep it at a lower temperature. • The testicles’ other job, besides producing sperm: they make male hormones to give him a deeper voice, broader shoulders, and all the other characteristics of an adult male body. Sperm are made in the testes and then move into the epididymis to mature, which is a long tube tightly coiled into the back of the scrotum.

18. Path of Sperm • The sperm stay in the epididymis for about a month while they mature. Then they travel up into the body through a tube called a vas deferens. Males have two, one leading from each epididymis. • On the way, the sperm gather fluids called semen. These fluids come from three places: seminal vesicles (two long skinny glands which contribute sugars to help nourish the sperm on their long journey), prostate gland (the fluid from which is a lubricating liquid, allowing the sperm to swim freely), and Cowper’s glands (which mostly neutralize the acids that might still be in the urethra from the last urination).

19. Path of Sperm • The sperm travel, through one of the vas deferens, past the bladder, and into the tube that will carry them out of the body, the urethra. • The urethra is the tube that runs through the penis. In the male, the urethra has two jobs: urination and ejaculation.

20. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Hernia- the pushing of a part of the body through the muscle wall normally keeping it in. • Common for males is the inguinal hernia. This is a bulging portion of the intestines or other structure through a weakness in the abdominal wall. It is characterized by a abnormal bulge in abdomen, groin, or scrotum. Surgery can correct this.

21. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Sterility- sperm in the male is weak, malformed, sparse or nonexistent, or unable to join an ovum. Temperature changes, exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, and/or an untreated STI can cause sterility. • Testicular cancer- it is the most common cancer in men ages 15-35. It accounts for 12% of cancers in this age group. If caught in the early stages, it is curable.

22. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Signs of Testicular Cancer: • Slight enlargement in one of the testes and change in its consistency. • Small hard lump in the testicle or a collection of fluid or blood in the scrotum. • Dull ache in the groin area. • A testicluar self-exam should be performed by males at least once a month.

23. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Prostate Problems- occurs mainly in older men. As males get older, the prostate may get larger and block the urethra or bladder. This blockage may cause difficulty in urinating or with sexual function. Surgery may be needed in order to correct this.

24. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Prostate Cancer- 2nd most common behind lung cancer. • Signs: • Frequent urination • Difficulty urinating • Pain or burning when urinating • Blood in urine • Lingering pain in the back, hips, or pelvis • There are often no early signs for prostate cancer; the only prevention is regular exams by a doctor.

25. Male Reproductive System Concerns • Undescended Testes: in normal fetal development, the testicles develop in the abdomen and descend into the scrotum during the last months before birth. In a small percentage of newborns, one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. Surgery can correct this problem.

26. Female Reproductive System • The female reproductive system is located in the pelvis. • When a girl is born, her ovaries contain hundreds of thousands of eggs, which remain inactive until puberty begins. At puberty, the pituitary gland, located in the center part of the brain, starts making hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce female hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone.

27. Female Reproductive System • The secretion of these hormones causes a girl to mature into a women and toward the end of puberty, girls begin to release eggs as part of a monthly cycle called the menstrual cycle. • Approximately once a month, during ovulation, an ovary sends a tiny egg into one of the fallopian tubes. Unless the egg is fertilized by a sperm while in the fallopian tube, the egg dries up leaves the body about two weeks later through the uterus along with tissues of the inner lining of the uterus and some blood.

28. Female Reproductive System • Estrogen is the female sex hormone. • Estrogen & Progesterone- female hormones produced in the ovaries • Ovum= 1 single mature egg cell- female sex cell produced in the ovaries • Ova = Egg Cells (plural) • Fertilization- joining of a sperm cell and an egg cell

29. Female Reproductive System • Ovaries- two oval shaped organs that lie to the upper right and left of the uterus. They produce, store, and release the eggs into the fallopian tubes in the process called ovulation. They produce hormones estrogen and progesterone. • Ovulation- the process of releasing one mature ovum per month. At birth, the female usually has about 200,000-300,000 immature ova in her ovaries. Once puberty begins, hormones are released and ova begin to mature. Takes place about two weeks after menstruation.

30. Female Reproductive System • Fallopian Tubes- connect the uterus to the ovaries, they are about four inches long and as wide as a piece of spaghetti. Also, place where fertilization occurs. After fertilization occurs, the embryo moves into the uterus and embeds itself into the uterine lining. • Fimbria- fingerlike projections at the end of each fallopian tube used to pick up the egg. • Cervix- entrance to the uterus, also know as the neck of the uterus

31. Female Reproductive System • Uterus- During childbirth, the uterus dilates allowing the passage of the baby. It is shaped like an upside down pear and houses the fetus during pregnancy. It contains some of the strongest muscles in a women’s body. • Embryo- term used to define a baby during the first two months of pregnancy • Fetus- term used to define a baby during the last 7 months of pregnancy

32. Female Reproductive System • Vagina- female organ of intercourse/birth canal. It is a muscular hollow tube that extends from the vaginal opening to the uterus. Because it has muscular walls, it can expand and contract allowing for something as slim as a tampon to something as large as a baby. • Labia- folds of skin outside the vagina • Clitoris- female erectile tissue between the labia • Hymen- a thin membrane just inside the vaginal opening. This membrane stretches across the opening and has no function and is not present in all females.

33. Female Reproductive System • Menarche- female’s first menstrual period. • Menstruation- the shedding if the uterine lining(endometrium) each month if fertilization does not take place. Average length of a female’s menstrual cycle is 28 days. • Menstural cycle typically lasts 4-6 days. • Endometrium- inner lining of the uterus, richly supplied with blood vessels.

34. Female Reproductive System • Pre-menstrual Syndrome- occurs before menstruation and can include: • Nervous tension, Anxeity, Irritability, Bloating, Weight gain, Depression, Mood Swings, Fatigue • Some doctors believe it is caused by a hormonal imbalance, others believe it is caused by a nutritional imbalance.

35. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Dysmenorrhea- menstrual cramps • Some ways to relieve cramps: • Exercise, heating pad, pain relievers such as tylenol/advil • Amenorrhea- when a girl has not started her period by the age of 16 or has stopped menstruating for some reason other than pregnancy, such as: diabetes, tumor, infections, excessive athletic activities, emotional distress, eating disorder, starvation, etc.

36. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS): A rare illness caused by toxins released into the body during a type of bacterial infection. It is more likely to develop if a tampon is used for too long. • Symptoms include: • High fever • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Fainting • Sunburn-like rash In most cases TSS can be treated with antibiotics.

37. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Endometriosis- endometrial tissue appears outside the lining of the uterus, commonly around the ovaries. Usually, in 30-40 year old women and in women who postpone childbearing, but the direct cause is unknown. • Symptoms: • Menstrual cramping • Abdominal pain • Back pain • Treated with hormones or hysterectomy.

38. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Female Infertility- the inability to get pregnant. • Blocking of the fallopian tubes • No ovulation • Endometriosis • Untreated STI’s

39. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Breast Cancer- is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. • Symptoms: • Change in breast appearance • Lump or swelling in the breast • Lump under armpit • Breast self-exam is best to do once a month one week after menstrual cycle. • Mammography- breast x-ray

40. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Cervical Cancer- A pap smear is a test to detect abnormal cervical cells. Development is gradual and begins with pre-cancerous cells called dysplasia. This is very treatable and can take years to develop into cancer, once it develops into cancer it moves very quickly. HPV can lead to cervical cancer.

41. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Ovarian cyst- failure of follicle in ovary to rupture and release an egg; may also be from cancer, but not always. • Symptoms: pain in lower abdomen or pelvis for a month. • Cysts often go away but sometimes require surgery. • Ovarian Cancer-starts in the ovaries. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. Cause is unknown. • Over half of the deaths occur in women ages 55-74 and 25 % of the deaths in women 35-54.

42. Female Reproductive System Concerns • Two of Ovarian Cancer Types: • One in the lining of the ovary • One occurs in the egg-making cells in the ovary and is called the germ cell. Ovarian germ cell tumors usually occur in teenage girls or young women. • Although symptoms are rare, early symptoms are: • Discomfort • Pelvic Pressure • Pain • Unfortunately, by the time many symptoms are noticed the disease is advanced. The only known risk factor is a family history.

43. Female Reproductive System • Menopause- the stoppage of a female’s menstrual cycle. Typically occurs around the age of 50; at this point the female can no longer reproduce.