Reproductive system

Reproductive system of human

 It is a natural phenomenon by which organism reproduce young ones of their  own kinds for continuation of race. Human beings are unisexual or dioecious i.e. male and female reproductive system is separated in separate individual.

                Male reproductive organs

        1. Testes (one pair)

        2.  Epididymis (one pair)

        3. Vasa deferens (one pair)

        4.  Ejaculatory duct (one pair)

        5.  Urethra.

        6.   Penis.

        7.   Accessory glands.

fig:male reproductive organs

1. Testes: These are pinkish-oval lie inside the scrotum. The scrotum lies outside the abdominal cavity. So that temperature of testes remains 2.3⁰c below than temperature of body. Which is needed to produces sperm.

i. Microscopic structure: There are three layers to cover testis. These are Outer-tunica vaginalis, Middle-tunica albugania and Inner-layer-tunica vasculosa.

fig:T.S. of testis

     fig; T.S. of testis http://images.tutorvista.com/content/reproduction-in-animals/human--testis-top-section.jpeg

There are 200-300 testicular lobules in testis. Each lobule is composed of 1 to 4 coiled seminiferous tubules. The tubules are lined with germinal epithelial cells (spermatogonia).These epithelial cells produce sperms by the process of spermatogenesis. Sertoli cells supply nourishment to develop sperms.

There are interstitial cells (cells of leydig) in between seminiferous tubules and connective tissue. The interstitial cells produce androgens, which promotes development of male accessory glands and controls male sex features (moustache, beard, change of voice)

ii. Epididymis: it is funnel like convoluted about 6 meters long tube. Board part of anterior epididymis is called caput epididymis. Middle narrow part is corpus epididymis posterior end is cauda epididymis.

Function: store the sperm and secrets fluid to nourish sperm.

iii. Vasa deferens: It arises from cauda. It forms a loop around urinary bladder and joins with duct of seminal vesicle. It form ejaculatory duct with seminal vesicle.

Function: carry sperm from testis to seminal vesicles.

iii. ejaculatory duct: There  are two short formed by the union of duct from a seminal vesicle and vasa deferens, there carry the mixture of sperm and secretion of seminal vesicle.

v. Urethra:  it is 20 cm long arises from urinary bladder. It discharges urine and semen both.

vi. Penis: it is copulatory organ of human. It is made up of three columns of spongy tissues (two dorsal cavernosa and one ventral corpora spongiosum). Enlarged-tip of penis is called glans penis which is highly sensitive. Penis deposits the semen in vagina with spermatozoa.

vii. Accessory glands:

a. Seminal vesicles: these are two pouches like below-posteriorly of urinary bladder and opens into ejaculatory duct.  These secret and expel a viscous fluid which keep sperms alive.

b. Prostate gland: It lies behind urinary bladder. It is secretes thin milky substance occupy about 30% volume of semen.

c. Cowper’s glands: The paired glands lie below the prostate glands. Their alkaline secretion lubricates the semen flow.

d. Eretion of penis: Erection is caused by dilation of blood vessel of blood vessel resulting collection of more blood spaces of spongy tissue. About 3ml of semen is discharged by penis in each ejaculation during copulation.

Female reproductive organs

FIG: female reproductive organs

1.  Ovaries: There is one pair of about 3.5cm long, pink, almond shaped and situated in abdominal cavity on either side of vertebral column. Each kidney is attached with ovarian ligament and body wall with mesovarian fold with ovaries. Internally each ovary is differentiate with

                                i. Outer germinal epithelium (cubical)

                                ii. Tunica albunginea: connective tissue below germinal epithelium.

                                iii. Stroma: Inner mass of connective tissues made up of cortex medulla.

        When Graafian follicle liberates ovum it is called corpus luteum. The corpus luteum secrete progesterone hormone in the influence of luteinizing hormone. The hormones thicken the endometrium wall and activate the mammary gland for their development.

fig; T.S of ovary

2.       Fallopian tubes (oviducts): these are ciliated tubes of 10-20cm long arise from uterus.

          It has four parts:

a.        Funnel like infundibulum near ovary with finger like structure fimbriae

b.       Wide curved part ampulla.

c.        Narrow part isthmus.

d.       Part near uterus (uterine).

3.  Uterus:  it is a pear shaped hollow muscular organ. Upper dome shaped part is called fundus. Main part is called body of uterus. Lower portion of uterus is called cervix.

4.  Vagina: It is female copulatory organ. It is tubular, about 10cm long. It passage for menstrual flow and receptor of spermatozoa. In virgins the vaginal orifice is partially covered by hymen membrane.

5.  Vulva: It is external genitalia it is consists of mons pubis (hair part) clitoris (erectile organ) labia major a (inner fold of vulva). Libia minora have in more number.

6.   Accessory glands: Bartholin’s glands and mammary glands. Bartholin glands are two bean-shaped lie on either of side of vaginal orifice. These glands secret viscid fluid for lubricant of vulva during sexual intercourse and sexual excitement.

            Mammary glands: these are pair rounded with median nipple. Each gland made up of 15-25 lobules of milky glands. Each gland sends a lactiferous duct toward nipple. Milk gland produce milk under the control of prolactin and ejection of milk is controlled by pituitary gland.

Menstruation (ovarian) cycle: It is cyclic changes occur in reproductive tract of human female on a period of 28 days. It is confirmed by loss of vaginal blood. It occurs at about 13 years of age till the age of 50-55 years. The menstruation is seen in human monkeys, gorilla etc.

The menstrual cycle is categorized into three phases

A.     Menstrual phase; it is the phase of blood flow. It last for 3-5 days. It is caused due to cast off epithelia lining of endometrium. Oestrogen and progesterone is very law in the blood. Menstruation is observed only when ovum remains unfertilized.

B.      Proliferative or follicle phase:

i.         Number of endometrium phase. It is last of endometrium in the phase. It last for 9-10 days( 5^th -14^th ) day.

ii.        The release of FSH from pituitary stimulates the development of follicles of ovary.

iii.     Ovarian follicle matured into griffin follicle and secrete oestrogen hormone which increases up to 12^th days.

iv.                Oestrogen enhances proliferation of cells of endometrium of uterus and fallopian tubes (up to 2-3mm thickens). The wall is highly supply with blood vessels and ready for implantation.

C.     Secretory or luteal or ovulatory phase

i.                    It last for about 12-14 days (14^th- 28^th day of menstrual cycle).

ii.                  LH (lutening hormone) is secreted by pituitary gland called luteal phase.

iii.                LH and FSH stimulate the ovulation (releases of ova).so that LH and FSH concentration become high at this time.

iv.                After ovulation follicles of ova (corpus luteum) secret progesterone hormone.

v.                   Progesterone inhabits maturation of any follicle and ovulation.

vi.                Progesterone stimulates thickening of endometrium for implantation of zygote. It also stimulates to secret water mucus and also affects mammary glands.

What is menopause?

It is phase of women’s life. It occurs between 50 to 55 years. At that age ovaries are less responsive to FSH and LH. Ovulation and menstrual cycle becomes irregular and stop. After the menopause female loses the ability to reproduce progesterone and oestrogen hormone becomes imbalance.

If ovum is not fertilized	If ovum is fertilized.
Corpus luteum starts degenerate. Levels of progesterone and oestrogen decreases. The blood vessels of endometrium wall constrict and blood supplying endometrium stop Wall of endometrium shedding occur It is a menstrual phase.	Corpus luteum don’t degenerate and growing. Corpus luteum do not degenerate and growing. Levels of progesterone increases Endometrium wall is highly supplied with blood vessels. Menstrual cycle stop during pregnancy. Zygote implants in uterus Other changes can be seen in body Zygote is implanted within 9 days after fertilization.