Reproductive System

The Body’s Reproductive
System
Male Reproductive System
External Structures
• Penis: external male sex organ
- Circumcised: removes some or all of foreskin
- Uncircumcised: foreskin not removed
• Scrotum: sac of skin and muscle containing testicles
Uncircumcised Circumcised
Internal Structures
• Prostate: exocrine gland of male reproductive system
• Vas Deferens: tubes connecting epididymis to ejaculatory ducts
• Epididymis: organ where sperm matures
• Testicles: organ where sperm is created
• Urethra: tube that connects bladder to outside of body
• Cowper’s Gland: secretes lubricating fluid
• Seminal Vesicle: make semen (seminal fluid)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPH4bVKaU4Y
The Sperm Pathway
Seminal vesicles
Testes
Ejaculatory duct
Sperm
Prostate gland
Epididymis
Urethra
Vas deferens Expulsion

from the body
The Male Semen
Sperm Morphology (Size and Shape)
• Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape and
appearance of a man’s sperm, which when abnormal can
decrease fertility and make it more difficult to fertilize the
woman’s egg.
• Sperm can be misshaped based on the size of the head,
having an extra head, and having no head or tail. Other
sperm defects include bent tail, coiled-tail, stump-tail and
not having the tail attached at the correct location.
• For a sperm sample to be considered to have fertility
potential, it only needs 4 percent or more of the sperm
population to be considered normal, using the “strict”
morphology criteria.
Normal sperm densities range from 15 million to greater
than 200 million sperm per milliliter of semen.
Kruger Strict Criteria to evaluate sperm
morphology, which is used by most
doctors. Below are the Kruger Strict
Criteria scores and their explanations:
Over 14 percent of sperm have normal

morphology – high probability of fertility
4-14 percent – fertility slightly decreased
0-3 percent – fertility extremely impaired.
Types of sperm morphology
A normal sperm will have an oval-shaped head, an intact

midpiece and an uncoiled single tail. Sperm with normal
morphology are able to swim well and in a straight line.
Normal sperm will also contain healthy genetic information
rather than having too many or too few chromosomes,
which are common in abnormally shaped sperm.
Macrocephaly refers to when the sperm
has a giant head. These types of sperm
often carry extra chromosomes and have
problems fertilizing the woman’s egg.
Microcephaly is when the sperm’s head

is smaller than normal, also known as
small-head sperm. Small-head sperm
may have defective acrosome (a pocket
of enzymes in the sperm head used to
enter the egg) or reduced genetic
material.
Tapered head sperm are sperm with
“cigar-shaped” heads that may indicate the
presence of varicocele in the male or
constant exposure of the scrotum to high
temperature locations such as daily hot
sauna.
Headless sperm have no head at all

and are called acephalic sperm or
decapitated sperm syndrome. They do
not have genetic material or
chromosomes.
Multiple parts sperm can have multiple heads
or tails. When the sperm has two heads, it is
called a duplicate sperm, a condition linked to
exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy metals like
cesium, smoke or high prolactin hormone in the
male.
Tail-less Coiled-tail Short-tail

Male Reproductive Disorders
Testicular Torsion
 Testicular torsion is
the twisting of the
spermatic cord, which
cuts off the blood supply
to the testicle and
surrounding structures
within the scrotum.
Testicular Torsion
Prostate Cancer
 Cancer of the Prostate
 Most Common in African

American men over the
age of 50
Testicular Cancer
 most common cancer
in males between the ages of
15 and 34
 highly treatable when

diagnosed early
Signs include…
 collection of fluid in the scrotum
 lump or enlargement in either testicle
 Unexplained fatigue
Performing Testicular Self-Exams
 Step 1: Draw a warm bath to relax the scrotum
 Step 2: Get familiar with your body
 Step 3: Place one leg on an elevated surface
 Step 4: Use one hand to support testicle
 Step 5: Use the other hand to gently roll testicle
between thumb and index finger
Look for: Hard lumps, tenderness,
hardness of testicle or discharge of
the penis
Impotence
Impotence is a common
problem among men
characterized by the
consistent inability to
sustain an erection or the
inability to achieve
ejaculation, or both.
Cause of Impotence
Inguinal Hernia
 Inguinal hernias occur
when part of the intestine
protrudes through a weak
spot in the abdomen —
often along the inguinal
canal, which carries the
spermatic cord in men
Urologist
 Medical professional
 Specializes in the urinary tract of males and
females and in the reproductive system of males
Female Reproductive
system
Female Reproductive System
External Structures
 Mons Pubis: soft mound of flesh above genitals
 Labia: lip-like structures on the outside of the vagina
 Clitoris: sex organ whose sole function is pleasure

External Organs
Female Reproductive System
Internal Structures
Vagina: tract from uterus to exterior

Hymen: mucous membrane around vaginal opening
Cervix: lower, narrow portion of uterus
Uterus: pear-shaped organ containing growing fetus
Fallopian Tubes: pathway for egg travel during ovulation
Ovaries: egg-producing organs
Internal Female Reproductive Organs
Female Reproductive
Systems Disorders
• Progressive infection—gets worse over time
• Affects fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix or ovaries
• Can lead to long term reproductive problems
• Symptoms include: foul-smelling discharge, heavier
than normal periods, painful urination
• Causes: bacteria move upward from a woman's vagina
or cervix (opening to the uterus) into her reproductive
organs. Many different organisms can cause PID, but
many cases are associated with gonorrhea and
chlamydia, two very common bacterial STDs
Systemic illness: it affects the whole body
Caused by toxic bacterial
Ways to get it…
Using superabsorbent tampons
Wearing a diaphragm or contraceptive sponge
Having a staph or strep infection, especially if
you have skin wounds or healing surgical
incisions
Symptoms include: high fever, rapid drop in
blood pressure, sun burn like rash, weakness,
headaches and even kidney failure
• In Endometriosis, the tissue begins to grow on the outside of the uterus
• Causes: menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back

through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out
of the body. These displaced endometrial cells stick to the pelvic
walls and surfaces of pelvic organs, where they grow
• Symptoms include: severe pelvic pain, constipation, diarrhea

Pain when having intercourse, can cause infertility
The Facts About Breast Cancer
•Second Leading cause of cancer among women

(232,340 new cases a year)
•Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with
breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in
their lifetime.
•Approximately 2,150 men will be diagnosed each
year.
•There are 2.8 million breast cancer survivors
today.
•Early detection is the best way to protect yourself
Performing A Breast Self Exam
First, look for changes…Then, feel for
changes
Step 1: Lie down and raise right arm
above head
Step 2: Examine area from underarm to
lower bra line; across to breast bone; up to
collar bone; back to armpit
Step 3: Use pads of three middle fingers
of the left hand to check the right breast,
in dime-sized circles

Reproductive System

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What are the main external structures of the male reproductive system?

What are the main external structures of the male reproductive system?

What are the main internal structures of the male reproductive system?

What are the main internal structures of the male reproductive system?

The Body’s Reproductive

Vas deferens Expulsion

Over 14 percent of sperm have normal

A normal sperm will have an oval-shaped head, an intact

Microcephaly is when the sperm’s head

Headless sperm have no head at all

Tail-less Coiled-tail Short-tail

 Cancer of the Prostate

 Most Common in African

 highly treatable when

 Mons Pubis: soft mound of flesh above genitals

 Labia: lip-like structures on the outside of the vagina

 Clitoris: sex organ whose sole function is pleasure

Vagina: tract from uterus to exterior

• Causes: menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back

• Symptoms include: severe pelvic pain, constipation, diarrhea

•Second Leading cause of cancer among women

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