OVERVIEW OF THE MALE AND

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS

By Dr Aiah Lebbie
MB.Ch.B. FCS (ECSA)
THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 The Scrotum
• The scrotum is a sac-like organ with 2 pouches made
of skin and smooth muscles that houses the testes
• The smooth muscles that make up the scrotum allow
it to regulate the distance between the testes and
the rest of the body
• When the testes become too warm to support
spermatogenesis, the scrotum relaxes to move the
testes away from the body’s heat
• the scrotum contracts to move the testes closer to
the body’s core heat when temperatures drop below
the ideal range for spermatogenesis.
 The Testes
• male gonads responsible for the production of sperm and
testosterone
• ellipsoid glandular organs around 3.5 to 5 cm long and 1 cm in
diameter
• connected to the abdomen by a spermatic cord and cremaster
muscle
• The cremaster muscles contract and relax along with the
scrotum to regulate the temperature of the testes
• The inside of the testes is divided into small compartments
known as lobules
• Each lobule contains a section of seminiferous tubule lined with
epithelial cells
• These epithelial cells contain many stem cells that divide and
form sperm cells through the process of spermatogenesis
 Epididymis
• sperm storage area that wraps around the
superior and posterior edge of the testis
• made up of thin tubules that are tightly coiled
into a small mass
• Sperm produced in the testes moves into the
epididymis to mature
• The length of the epididymis delays the release
of the sperm and allows them time to mature
 Spermatic Cords and Ductus Deferens

• connects the testes to the abdominal cavity

• contain the ductus deferens along with
nerves, veins, arteries, and lymphatic vessels
that support the function of the testes
 The ductus (Vas) deferens
• is a muscular tube that carries sperm from the
epididymis to the ejaculatory duct
• The ductus deferens is wider in diameter than
the epididymis and uses its internal space to
store mature sperm
• The smooth muscles of the walls of the ductus
deferens are used to move sperm towards the
ejaculatory duct through peristalsis
 Seminal Vesicles
• The seminal vesicles are a pair of lumpy exocrine glands
that produce and store some of the liquid portion of semen
• The seminal vesicles are about 5cm in length and located
posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum
• The liquid produced by the seminal vesicles contains
proteins and mucus and has an alkaline pH to help sperm
survive in the acidic environment of the vagina.
• The liquid also contains fructose to feed sperm cells so that
they survive long enough to fertilize the oocyte
 Ejaculatory Duct
• The ductus deferens passes through the
prostate and joins with the urethra at a
structure known as the ejaculatory duct
• The ejaculatory duct contains the ducts from
the seminal vesicles as well
• During ejaculation, the ejaculatory duct opens
and expels sperm from the ductus (Vas
Deferens) and the secretions from the seminal
vesicles into the urethra
 Urethra
• Is a 20 to 25 cm long muscular tube
• Semen passes from the ejaculatory duct to the
exterior of the body via the urethra
• The urethra passes through the prostate and
ends at the external urethral orifice located at
the tip of the penis
• Urine exiting the body from the urinary
bladder also passes through the urethra
 Prostate
•
The prostate is an exocrine gland that borders
the inferior end of the urinary bladder and
surrounds the proximal urethra
• The prostate produces a large portion of the
fluid that makes up semen
• This fluid is milky white in color and contains
enzymes, proteins, and other chemicals to
support and protect sperm during ejaculation
 Cowper’s Glands
• also known as the bulbourethral glands
• are a pair of pea-sized exocrine glands located
inferior to the prostate a
• secrete a thin alkaline fluid into the urethra that
lubricates the urethra and neutralizes acid from
urine remaining in the urethra after urination
• This fluid enters the urethra during sexual
arousal prior to ejaculation to prepare the
urethra for the flow of semen
 Penis
• is the male external sexual organ
• The penis is roughly cylindrical in shape and contains
the urethra and the external opening of the urethra
• Large pockets of erectile tissue in the penis allow it to
fill with blood and become erect
• The erection of the penis causes it to increase in size
and become turgid
• The function of the penis is to deliver semen into
the vagina during sexual intercourse and excretion of
urine through the urethra to the exterior of the body
 Semen
• Semen is the fluid produced by males for sexual
reproduction and is ejaculated out of the body
during sexual intercourse
• Semen contains sperm, the male reproductive
gametes, along with a number of chemicals
suspended in a liquid medium
• The chemical composition of semen gives it a
thick, sticky consistency and a slightly alkaline
pH
• These traits help semen to support
reproduction by helping sperm to remain
within the vagina after intercourse and to
neutralize the acidic environment of the vagina
• In healthy adult males, semen contains around
100 million sperm cells per milliliter
• These sperm cells fertilize oocytes inside the
female fallopian tubes
 The Composition of Semen
• Spermatozoa produced in the testes
• Fluid from the seminal vesicles accounts for
approximately 70% of semen volume
• The seminal vesicles are the source of fructose
in semen
• Fructose is used by the spermatozoa as an
energy source
• The prostate gland supplies about 20% of the
volume of semen
• Prostatic fluid contains acid phosphatase and
proteolytic enzymes that lead to coagulation
and subsequent liquefaction of semen as well
as IgA found in semen.
• The bulbourethral gland produces
mucoproteins that make up about 5% of the
volume of semen
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 The Female Reproductive System
• Ovary
• fallopian tubes
• Uterus
• vagina
• external genitalia
• breasts
• Female reproductive system is located in the
pelvis
• Divided into primary sex organs and secondary
sex organs
• Primary sex organs are the ovaries which
produce the oocyte and hormones (estrogen
and progesterone)
• Secondary sex organs are all other organs
which support the ova and include
– Fallopian tubes
• Uterus
• Vagina
• Accessory genital glands or vestibular glands
• Clitoris
• Mammary gland
• The secondary sex organs support the process
from conception to birth
• The fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina are
together known as accessory ducts
• The two female accessory glands are the
paraurethral gland and Bartholin’s glands
• The female reproductive organs are classified
according to location as
• External → vulva and mammary glands
• Internal → ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and
vagina
 Ovaries
• are a pair of small glands about the size and
shape of almonds, located on the left and right
sides of the pelvis
• produce female sex hormones such as estrogen
and progesterone
• Produce ova (commonly called "eggs"), the
female gametes
• Ova are produced from oocyte cells that
slowly develop throughout a woman’s early
life and reach maturity after puberty
• Each month during ovulation, a mature ovum
is released
• The ovum travels from the ovary to the
fallopian tube where it may be fertilized
before reaching the uterus
 Fallopian Tubes
• are a pair of muscular tubes that extend from the left and
right superior corners of the uterus to the edge of the ovaries
• The fallopian tubes end in a funnel-shaped structure called
the infundibulum, which is covered with small finger-like
projections called fimbriae
• The fimbriae swipe over the outside of the ovaries to pick up
released ova and carry them into the infundibulum for
transport to the uterus
• The inside of each fallopian tube is covered in cilia that work
with the smooth muscle of the tube to carry the ovum to the
uterus.
 Uterus
• is a hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ located
posterior and superior to the urinary bladder
• Connected to the two fallopian tubes on its superior
end and to the vagina (via the cervix on its inferior end
• The inner lining of the uterus, known as
the endometrium, provides support to the embryo
during early development
• The visceral muscles (myometrium) of the uterus
contract during childbirth to push the fetus through
the birth canal
 Vagina
• is an elastic, muscular tube that connects
the cervix to the exterior of the body
• The vagina functions as the receptacle for
the penis during sexual intercourse and carries
sperm to the uterus and fallopian tubes
• It also serves as the birth canal by stretching to
allow delivery of the fetus during childbirth
• During menstruation, the menstrual flow exits
the body via the vagina
 Vulva
• is the collective name for the external female genitalia located in the
pubic region of the body
• The vulva surrounds the external ends of the urethral opening and
the vagina and includes the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora,
and clitoris
• The mons pubis, or pubic mound, is a raised layer of adipose tissue
between the skin and the bone  that provides cushioning to the
vulvapubic bone
• The inferior portion of the mons pubis splits into left and right labia
majora
• Inside of the labia majora are smaller, hairless folds of skin called
the labia minora that surround the vaginal and urethral openings
• On the superior end of the labia minora is a small mass of erectile
tissue known as the clitoris that contains many nerve endings for
sensing sexual pleasure
 Breasts and Mammary Glands
• are specialized organs of the female body that
contain mammary glands, milk ducts, and
adipose tissue
• In the center of each breast is a highly
pigmented nipple that releases milk when
stimulated
• The areola, a thickened, highly pigmented band
of skin that surrounds the nipple