Reproductive system

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Human
Anatomy
& Physiology
SEVENTH EDITION
Elaine N. Marieb
Katja Hoehn
PowerPoint® Lecture Slides
prepared by Vince Austin,
Bluegrass Technical
and Community College
CHAPTER
27The
Reproductive
System
P A R T B

Brain-Testicular Axis
 Hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis and
testicular androgen production involving the
hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and the
testes

Brain-Testicular Axis
 Testicular regulation involves three sets of
hormones:
 GnRH, which indirectly stimulates the testes
through:
 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
 Luteinizing hormone (LH)
 Gonadotropins, which directly stimulate the testes
 Testicular hormones, which exert negative
feedback controls

Hormonal Regulation of Testicular Function
 The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH)
 GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete
FSH and LH
 FSH causes sustentacular cells (sertoli cells) to
release androgen-binding protein (ABP)
 LH stimulates interstitial cells to release
testosterone
 ABP binding of testosterone enhances
spermatogenesis

Hormonal Regulation of Testicular Function
 Feedback inhibition on
the hypothalamus and
pituitary results from:
 Rising levels of
testosterone
 Increased inhibin
Figure 27.10

Mechanism and Effects of Testosterone
Activity
 Testosterone is synthesized from cholesterol
 It must be transformed to exert its effects on some
target cells
 Prostate – it is converted into dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) before it can bind within the nucleus
 Neurons – it is converted into estrogen to bring
about stimulatory effects
 Testosterone targets all accessory organs and its
deficiency causes these organs to atrophy

Male Secondary Sex Characteristics
 Male hormones make their appearance at puberty
and induce changes in nonreproductive organs,
including
 Appearance of pubic, axillary, and facial hair
 Enhanced growth of the chest and deepening of the
voice
 Skin thickens and becomes oily
 Bones grow and increase in density
 Skeletal muscles increase in size and mass

Male Secondary Sex Characteristics
 Testosterone is the basis of libido (increase sexual
drive) in both males and females

Reproductive System
 Primary sex organs (gonads) – testes in males,
ovaries in females
 Gonads produce sex cells called gametes and
secrete sex hormones
 Accessory reproductive organs – ducts, glands, and
external genitalia
 Sex hormones – androgens (males), and estrogens
and progesterone (females)

Reproductive System
 Sex hormones play roles in:
 The development and function of the reproductive
organs
 Sexual behavior and drives
 The growth and development of many other organs
and tissues

Male Reproductive System
 The male gonads (testes) produce sperm and lie within the
scrotum
 Sperm are delivered to the exterior through a system of
ducts: epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, and
the urethra
 Accessory sex glands:
 Empty their secretions into the ducts during ejaculation
 Include the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and
bulbourethral glands

Male Reproductive System
Figure 27.1

The Scrotum
 Sac of skin and superficial fascia that hangs
outside the abdominopelvic cavity at the root of
the penis
 Contains paired testicles separated by a midline
septum
 Its external positioning keeps the testes 3C lower
than core body temperature (needed for sperm
production)

The Testes
 Seminiferous tubules:
 Produce the sperm
The sperm:
 Leave the testis via efferent ductules
 Enter the epididymis
 Surrounding the seminiferous tubules are
interstitial cells that produce androgens

The Penis
 A copulatory organ designed to deliver sperm into
the female reproductive tract
 Consists of an attached root and a free shaft that
ends in the glans penis
 Prepuce, or foreskin – cuff of skin covering the
distal end of the penis
 Circumcision – surgical removal of the foreskin
after birth

The Penis
 Internal penis – the urethra and three cylindrical
bodies of erectile tissue
 Erectile tissue – spongy network of connective
tissue and smooth muscle riddled with vascular
spaces

The Penis
 Erection – during sexual excitement, the erectile
tissue fills with blood causing the penis to enlarge
and become rigid
 Corpus spongiosum – surrounds the urethra and
expands to form the glans and bulb of the penis

Epididymis
 Its head joins the efferent ductules and caps the
superior aspect of the testis
 The duct of the epididymis has stereocilia that:
 Absorb testicular fluid
 Pass nutrients to the sperm
 Nonmotile sperm enter, pass through its tubes and
become motile
 Upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts,
expelling sperm into the ductus deferens

Urethra
 Conveys both urine and semen (at different times)
 Consists of three regions
 Prostatic – portion surrounded by the prostate
 Membranous – lies in the urogenital diaphragm
 Spongy, or penile – runs through the penis and
opens to the outside at the external urethral orifice

Accessory Glands: Seminal Vesicles
 Lie on the posterior wall of the bladder and secrete
60% of the volume of semen
 Semen – viscous alkaline fluid containing fructose,
ascorbic acid, coagulating enzyme (vesiculase),
and prostaglandins
 Join the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory
duct
 Sperm and seminal fluid mix in the ejaculatory
duct and enter the prostatic urethra during
ejaculation

Accessory Glands: Prostate Gland
 Doughnut-shaped gland that encircles part of the
urethra inferior to the bladder
 Its milky, slightly acid fluid, which contains
citrate, enzymes, and prostate-specific antigen
(PSA), accounts for one-third of the semen volume
 Plays a role in the activation of sperm
 Enters the prostatic urethra during ejaculation

Accessory Glands: Bulbourethral Glands
(Cowper’s Glands)
 Pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate
 Produce thick, clear mucus prior to ejaculation that
neutralizes traces of acidic urine in the urethra

Male Sexual Response: Erection
 Enlargement and stiffening of the penis from engorgement
of erectile tissue with blood
 During sexual arousal, a PNS reflex promotes the release
of nitric oxide
 Nitric oxide causes erectile tissue to fill with blood
 The corpus spongiosum functions in keeping the urethra
open during ejaculation

Male Sexual Response
 Erection is initiated by sexual stimuli including:
 Touch and mechanical stimulation of the penis
 Erotic sights, sounds, and smells
 Erection can be induced or inhibited solely by
emotional or higher mental activity
 Impotence – inability to attain erection
 Ejaculation:The propulsion of semen from the
male duct system

Female Reproductive Anatomy
 Ovaries are the primary female reproductive
organs
 Make female gametes (ova)
 Secrete female sex hormones (estrogen and
progesterone)
 Accessory ducts include uterine tubes, uterus, and
vagina
 Internal genitalia – ovaries and the internal ducts
 External genitalia – external sex organs

Female Reproductive Anatomy
Figure 27.11

The Ovaries
 Paired organs on each side of the uterus held in
place by several ligaments
 Ovarian – anchors the ovary medially to the uterus
 Suspensory – anchors the ovary laterally to the
pelvic wall
 Mesovarium – suspends the ovary in between
 Broad ligament – contains the suspensory ligament
and the mesovarium

The Ovaries
Figure 27.14a

Ovaries
 Each follicle consists of an immature egg called an
oocyte
 Cells around the oocyte are called:
 Follicle cells (one cell layer thick)
 Granulosa cells (when more than one layer is
present)

Ovaries
 Primordial follicle – one layer of squamouslike
follicle cells surrounds the oocyte
 Primary follicle – two or more layers of cuboidal
granulosa cells enclose the oocyte
 Secondary follicle – has a fluid-filled space
between granulosa cells that coalesces (fuse) to
form a central antrum

Ovaries
 Graafian follicle – secondary follicle at its most
mature stage that bulges from the surface of the
ovary
 Ovulation – ejection of the oocyte from the
ripening follicle
 Corpus luteum – ruptured follicle after ovulation

Ovaries
Figure 27.12

Uterine Tubes (Fallopian Tubes) and Oviducts
 Receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a site for
fertilization
 Empty into the superolateral region of the uterus
via the isthmus
 Expand distally around the ovary forming the
ampulla
 The ampulla ends in the funnel-shaped, ciliated
infundibulum containing fingerlike projections
called fimbriae

Uterine Tubes
 The uterine tubes have no contact with the ovaries
and the ovulated oocyte is cast into the peritoneal
cavity
 Beating cilia on the fimbriae create currents to
carry the oocyte into the uterine tube
 The oocyte is carried toward the uterus by
peristalsis and ciliary action
 Nonciliated cells keep the oocyte and the sperm
nourished and moist

Uterus
 Hollow, thick-walled organ located in the pelvis
anterior to the rectum and posterosuperior to the
bladder
 Body – major portion of the uterus
 Fundus – rounded region superior to the entrance
of the uterine tubes
 Isthmus – narrowed region between the body and
cervix

Uterus
 Cervix – narrow neck which projects into the
vagina inferiorly
 Cervical canal – cavity of the cervix that
communicates with:
 The vagina via the external os
 The uterine body via the internal os
 Cervical glands secrete mucus that covers the
external os and blocks sperm entry except during
midcycle

Uterine Wall
 Composed of three layers
 Perimetrium – outermost serous layer; the visceral
peritoneum
 Myometrium – middle layer; interlacing layers of
smooth muscle
 Endometrium – mucosal lining of the uterine
cavity

Endometrium
 Has numerous uterine glands that change in length
as the endometrial thickness changes
 Stratum functionalis:
 Undergoes cyclic changes in response to ovarian
hormones
 Is shed during menstruation
 Stratum basalis:
 Forms a new functionalis after menstruation ends
 Does not respond to ovarian hormones

Vagina
 Thin-walled tube lying between the bladder and
the rectum, extending from the cervix to the
exterior of the body
 The urethra is embedded in the anterior wall
 Provides a passageway for birth, menstrual flow,
and is the organ of copulation

Vagina
 Wall consists of three coats: fibroelastic adventitia,
smooth muscle muscularis, and a stratified
squamous mucosa
 Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an
incomplete partition called the hymen
 Vaginal fornix – upper end of the vagina
surrounding the cervix

Hormonal Interactions During the Ovarian
Cycle
 Day 1 – GnRH stimulates the release of FSH and
LH
 FSH and LH stimulate follicle growth and
maturation, and low-level estrogen release
 Rising estrogen levels:
 Inhibit the release of FSH and LH
 Prod the pituitary to synthesize and accumulate
these gonadotropins

Cycle
 Estrogen levels increase and high estrogen levels
have a positive feedback effect on the pituitary,
causing a sudden surge of LH

Cycle
 The LH spike stimulates the primary oocyte to
complete meiosis I, and the secondary oocyte
continues on to metaphase II
 Day 14 – LH triggers ovulation
 LH transforms the ruptured follicle into a corpus
luteum, which produces inhibin, progesterone, and
estrogen

Cycle
 These hormones shut off FSH and LH release and
declining LH ends luteal activity
 Days 26-28 – decline of the ovarian hormones
 Ends the blockade of FSH and LH
 The cycle starts anew

Feedback Mechanisms in Ovarian Function
Figure 27.21

Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle
 Series of cyclic changes that the uterine
endometrium goes through each month in response
to ovarian hormones in the blood
 Days 1-5: Menstrual phase – uterus sheds all but
the deepest part of the endometrium
 Days 6-14: Proliferative (preovulatory) phase –
endometrium rebuilds itself
 Days 15-28: Secretory (postovulatory) phase –
endometrium prepares for implantation of the
embryo

Menses
 If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels
fall, depriving the endometrium of hormonal
support
 Spiral arteries kink and go into spasms and
endometrial cells begin to die
 The functional layer begins to digest itself
 Spiral arteries constrict one final time then
suddenly relax and open wide
 The rush of blood fragments weakened capillary
beds and the functional layer sloughs

Gonadotropins, Hormones, and the Ovarian
and Uterine Cycles
Figure 27.22a, b

Gonadotropins, Hormones, and the Ovarian
and Uterine Cycles
Figure 27.22c, d

Extrauterine Effects of Estrogens and
Progesterone
 Estrogen levels rise during puberty
 Promote oogenesis and follicle growth in the ovary
 Exert anabolic effects on the female reproductive
tract
 Uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina grow larger and
become functional
 Uterine tubes and uterus exhibit enhanced motility
 Vaginal mucosa thickens and external genitalia
mature

Estrogen-Induced Secondary Sex
Characteristics
 Growth of the breasts
 Increased deposition of subcutaneous fat,
especially in the hips and breasts
 Widening and lightening of the pelvis
 Growth of axillary and pubic hair

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