Ch 28 - The Reproductive System

Male Reproductive Anatomy

• Scrotum - holds the testes away from the body for proper sex cell production
• Testes - produces the sperm, or male sex cell
• Male Duct System
• Epididymis - storage site for the sex cells
• Vas deferens - a tube carrying the sperm from the epidiymis to the urethra
• Urethra - it carries semen and urine out of the body
• Accessory glands - add chemicals to the sex cells
• Seminal vescicles - contribute fructose
• Prostate gland - contributes activating fluid
• Bulbourethral glands - mucus
• Penis - tissue that becomes engorged with blood so that it becomes rigid for copulation; it contains the urethra
• Semen - the combination of sex cells and materials from the accessory glands

Male Reproductive Physiology

• Spermatogenesis is the production of sperm ... male sex cells.
• Testosterone stimulates the maturation of the male reproductive organs and triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics such as body hair, a deeper voice, and broader shoulders. It also helps to develop muscles, stimulates production of sex cells, and is responsible for sex drive.

Female Reproductive Anatomy

• Ovaries - there is one on each side of the uterus. They produce hormones as well as the eggs.
• Female Duct System
• Uterine tube - carries the egg from the ovary to the uterus
• Uterus - a fertilized egg embeds itself in the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus; the egg develops into an embryo, and then into a fetus
• Vagina - the passageway for sperm (to enter the body) and the baby (upon leaving the body)
• External Genitalia - includes the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, and clitoris
• Mammary glands - contain lobules which hold the milk-producing alveoli

Female Resproductive Physiology

• Oogenesis is the production of eggs ... female sex cells.
• Estrogen stimulates the maturation of the female reproductive organs and triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics such as body hair, wider hips, and larger breasts.
• Progesterone stimulates breast maturation and regulates the uterine cycle.
• Ovarian Cycle
• Follicular phase (day 1-14): Follicles begin to mature. One follicle per month matures and is released. This release is called ovulation and occurs about day 14.
• Luteal phase (day 15-28): The ruptured follicle is converted to corpus luteum and produces progesterone and estrogen. If fertilization doesn’t occur, the corpus luteum degenerates in about 10 days.
• Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle
  The uterine cycle is controlled by ovarian hormones in the blood. It is divide into 3 phases.
• Menstrual phase (day 1-5): The endometrium that had thickened is sloughed off if a fertilized egg is not received.
• Proliferative phase (day 6-14): Estrogen levels rise to get the body ready to accept a fertilized egg.
• Secretory phase (day 15-28): The uterine glands secrete glycogen and endometrial vascularity increases.

Sexually transmitted deseases (STDs) are infectious diseases apread via sexual contaxt. Examples include gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and herpes.

Genetic sex is determined by the sex chromosomes. The offspring gets one (an X) from the mother and another (an X or Y) from the father. If the fertilized egg is XX then it results in a female. If it is an XY, it will be a male.

Puberty is the time span where reproductive organs mature and become functional.

Menopause is when women stop menstruating. Ovulation ceases and ovarian function declines.