Human Reproduction

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 Objectives:
To be able to recall the parts of the male and female reproductive systems.
To be able to recall the functions of the parts of the male and female
reproductive system.
To be able to describe the journey of the egg and sperm through the
reproductive system.
Both sexes have reproductive organs
called GENITALS or GENITALIA designed
for the purpose of intercourse and
conception.
 Ovary (Ovaries)
Two solid egg-shaped structures
They are attached to the uterus by ligaments. They are the
counterpart of the male testicles.
Ovaries have two main functions:

#1-store and release the ova or female egg cell.

Some of the ova disappear; others are dormant until
each is ripened and released after puberty.
#2-produce female sex hormones ESTROGEN and
PROGESTERONE

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Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system
The organs of the male reproductive system are specialized for the following
functions:

To produce, maintain and transport sperm (the male reproductive cells) and
protective fluid (semen).

To discharge sperm within the female reproductive tract.

To produce and secrete male sex hormones

The male reproductive anatomy includes both internal and external structures.
The male reproductive
system
It is important to note that humans produce gametes in specialised
reproductive organs known as gonads. Therefore, the male gonads are
the testes (female gonads are the ovaries).
This production of gametes is known as gametogenesis.

The gonads, therefore, will have specialised features that enable it to

carry out this gametogenesis and produce the sperms.

Features include the gonads having cells that produce hormones and
nourishment for the development of the sperm.
The male reproductive system
The Structure and function of the male reproductive system.
The male reproductive system consist of various structures. These include:
Testes
Let’s
Scrotal sacs/ scrotum discuss
Seminiferous tubules these
Epididymis structures
Vas Deferens (singular, vasa deferentia)/sperm ducts and their
Urethra functions
Penis 
Seminal vesicles
Prostate gland
Cowper’s gland
Male Anatomy Click on a button for more information

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Male Reproductive System
Remember the functions of the male reproductive system:

1. Spermatogenesis – production of reproductive cells (sperm)

2. Copulation – transfer of sperm to female.

3. Production of hormones
 Male Reproductive System
Testes
As we know, the two testes are the male gonads and they
serve as the site for sperm production. Importantly, the
testes also secrete the male sex hormone known as
testosterone.
Scrotal sacs and scrotum
◦ The testes are suspended outside the body in a sac of skin called the
scrotum. The scrotum contains the scrotal sacs. As a result, the sperm
develops at a temperature lower than the regular body temperature,
about of 2-3 degrees Celsius.

The testes start developing inside the abdominal cavity in an unborn

male but later descend into the scrotum around 9 months after birth.
If the testes do not descend, it may lead to infertility.
 Male Reproductive System
Seminiferous tubules
 The testes has compartments known as lobules.
These lobules contain seminiferous tubules which are Image shows a section through
tightly coiled with a large surface area. the mammalian testes.
 In fact, each testes contain about 1000 coiled
seminiferous tubules. It is the walls of these tubules
that produce spermatozoa, also called sperm by a
process known as spermatogenesis.
Leydig cells (also called interstitial cells)
 Leydig cells are found between the seminiferous tubules
and function to produce the male sex hormone,
testosterone.
 Male Reproductive System
Epididymis
 The epididymis is a very coiled tube that’s pressed Image showing section through a
against the testes. It is about 6 meters long and so testes.
sperms takes about 20 days to pass through it.
 The concentration of sperm within the
epididymis is very high, about 5000 million per cm3.
This is because this is where sperms mature as the
linings of the tube produces certain chemicals
essential for maturation.
 It is within the epididymis that the sperms also
learn to swim. However, the sperm is prohibited from
swimming until after ejaculation.
 After a short period and maturation, sperm then
passes into the base of the tube where they are
stored for a short period (up to several months)
before being released in the vas deferens.
 Male Reproductive System:
Vas Deferens (also called the sperm Image showing male reproductive
duct) structure
This is a tube or duct that carries
sperm from the epididymis into the
urethra.
It is about 40 cm long and most sperm
are stored here.

Urethra
This is a tube that runs through the
penis. It not only carries urine from the
bladder but it also carries sperm from
the vas deferens.
 Male Reproductive System
The Penis
Image showing an erect penis
The penis is a cylindrical organ that hangs
outside the body. The shaft of the penis is
covered with normal skin while tip is covered
with thin skin sensitive to sexual stimulation.

The penis has columns of spongy erectile

tissue that has blood spaces.

When the male is aroused, the blood spaces

become filled with blood causing the penis
to expand tremendously and stiffen
(erection) to facilitate vaginal insertion and
sexual intercourse.
 Male Reproductive System
The Seminal vesicles
Sac-like pouches that attach to the
vas deferens near the base of the
bladder.

The seminal vesicles secrete mucus and a

watery alkaline fluid containing nutrients
including the sugar, fructose which is
needed to produce energy for the sperm.

The seminal vesicles disperse its

contents into the ejaculatory duct
during the process of ejaculation. This
content mixes with the sperm to produce
semen. Hence, semen is a mixture of
sperm and fluid.
Male Reproductive System
The Seminal vesicles
 Male Reproductive System
The prostate gland
The prostate gland is located below
the bladder and it also secretes an
alkaline fluid along with mucus. This
alkaline fluid also helps to
neutralize the acidity of the vaginal
secretions and urine left over in the
urethra.

The Cowper gland also secretes

fluid that mixed with sperm cells to
make semen.
Urethra
A dual-purpose tube that both semen and urine pass
through to leave the body. Semen and urine never
mix.
Special muscles or sphincters surround the urethra.

During urination, one sphincter will relax so that

the pressure from the bladder will push urine out
from the body.
During ejaculation, another sphincter will relax so
that semen can flow through the urethra to the
outside of the body.

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Vas Deferens
Two long, thin tubes that serve as a passageway for sperm and a place for sperm
storage.
The contraction of the vas deferens along with the action of the cilia help
transport the sperm through the vas deferens.

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Semen
A combination of fluid that is produced in the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and
Cowper's gland.
This fluid nourishes and helps sperm move through the urethra.

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Male Reproductive System
Gametogenesis: Spermatogenesis
As we already know, reproduction broadly involves
three (3) main stages:
I. Gametogenesis [making of gametes: male gamete
(sperm) and female gamete (egg)]

II. Fertilisation (when the gametes meet and fuse

together)

III.Embryo development

To recap, gametogenesis is simply the process by which

gametes are formed. More specifically, gametogenesis
that refers to the formation of sperm is known as
spermatogenesis. (Note that the formation of egg
cells is known as oogenesis).
 Spermatogenesis: the
development of the sperm.
Remember the sertoli cells provide
nourishment to the developing
spermatozoa. This means all the
nutrients (and also waste substances)
pass through the sertoli cells into the
sperm from the vessels surrounding the
sertoli cells.

The sertoli cells also help to remould

the developing sperm.
RECAP:
 Hormonal control of spermatogenesis
The function of Testosterone and the secondary sexual characteristics
Testosterone causes the:
Increased muscle development
Development and enlargement of the testes, penis and gland of the
reproductive set
Enlargement of the larynx which causes the voice to deepen
Growth of the pubic hair and extra hair on the face, armpits and on
chest
Changes in behaviour associated with courting, mating and parental
concern.
Understanding the structure of the
sperm
 Sperm - Parts & Functions
Nucleus – contains chromosomes.

Head – Contains the nucleus & lysosomes

(acrosome).

Mid piece ( neck )- contains lot of mitochondria ,

which makes ATP for the sperms to swim.
 Sperm - Parts & Functions
Tail ( flagellum ) - made from proteins &
microtubules , which ATP to propel the
sperm forwards

Acrosome – A specially modified lysosome

in the sperm’s head . The acrosome swells
and bursts when the sperm comes in contact
with the follicle cells and zona pellucida.
The enzymes in the acrosome digest the
follicle cells and zona pellucida to allow the
cell membranes of the sperm and ovum to
fuse .
 Sperm - Parts & Functions
Cytoplasm – Very little , which means cells are small and therefore can be released
in large numbers .
It also assists motility (movement of sperms).
EJACULATION
The passage of sperm from the penis, a result of a series of
muscular contractions.

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TIMELINE:
Infancy
◦ Erections begin

Ages 11-14
◦ Secondary sex characteristics appear

Ages 13-16
◦ Sperm produced in adult amounts (puberty)

Late teens
◦ Peak sexual urges for boys

Throughout life
◦ If good health is present, there is the sex urge and ability to father children