Male & Female

Reproductive System
Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing Theory
3rd Stage / 2023-2022

Dr. Zainab Neamat Al-taee

 Review…
⚫ Mitosis is the type of cell division that occurs in
non-reproductive cells.
⚫ Produces exact copies of the parent cell
⚫ Meiosis is cell division that occurs in reproductive
cells; gametes.
⚫ Produces egg and sperm cells with half the genetic
material of the parent cells.
⚫ 23 chromosomes are contained in gametes; this is so
that when egg and sperm meet, they produce offspring
with 46 chromosomes.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction involves the following processes:
Meiotic divisions of the germ cells produce haploid
gametes (one set of chromosomes) usually ova (eggs)
and sperm.
The ova and sperm fuse to form a diploid (two sets of
chromosomes) zygote (single cell).
This zygote then divides by mitotic divisions to produce
a large number of cells that differentiate to form the
various different types of tissues that make up the new
individual.
The stages of mammalian reproduction include:
• Gamete formation . Fertilization
• Development of the embryo and fetus
The reproductive system becomes active after
puberty. During puberty the reproductive organs
mature to create a fertile individual capable of
reproducing. The primary sex organs produce the sex
cells (egg/sperm) and sex hormones. The accessory
sex organs are all the components involved in
maintaining the sex cell and assisting in the process
of fertilization.
Organs of the Male Reproductive
System
⚫ Penis
⚫ Urethra
⚫ Vas Deferens
⚫ Scrotum
⚫ Testes
External Organs of the Male
Reproductive System
⚫ Penis: the external reproductive organ, urethra
passes through the penis and allows urine and
semen to exit the body.
⚫ Scrotum: a sac or pouch which holds the
testes.
The function of the scrotum is to maintain the proper
temperature of the testes. Sperm is destroyed unless a
temperature of 36.o C is maintained.
⚫ Testes: two glands which produce sperm and hormones
(testosterone)
Internal Organs of the Male
Reproductive System
⚫ Urethra: a tube which allows urine and semen to
exit the body. Connects to the bladder
⚫ Vas deferens: a tube which connects the testes
to the urethra and allows semen to exit the body.
 Male reproductive system:
A. Scrotum: a sac located outside of the abdominal cavity, made
up of a thin layer of smooth and skeletal muscle and skin. It is
divided into left and right by a septum to form different
compartments for the testicles.
The scrotum keeps the testicles
outside the body so they can be
3 degrees cooler than normal core
temperature. The muscles of the
scrotum contract to bring the
testicles closer to the body in
cooler conditions. In warm
conditions they relax to allow the
skin to stretch and maximize cooling.
B. Testes: Oval shape organs made up of thousands of
seminiferous tubules where the sperm is produced. It responds
to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that signals sperm production
When the sperm is in its last stages of maturation it moves to the
epididymus.
about 2.5 x 10 cm, complete surrounded by a fibrous capsule and partially
enclosed by a serous membrane that develop when the testes traveled
outside the body into the scrotum. The fibrous capsule divides the testicles
into wedge-like compartments called lobules that are filled with seminiferous
tubules. They are innervated by an abundant amout of visceral sensory
nerves that make them very sensitive to pain.
2. Seminiferous tubules

The seminiferous
tubules consist of a
thick stratified
epithelium
surrounding a
lumen. The
epithelium has
spermatogenic cells
that mature into
sperm. At puberty
the seminiferous
tubules begin to
produce about 400
million sperm.
Spermatogenesis:
these are the stages involved in sperm formation.
⚫ Stage 1: formation of spermatocytes: spermatogonia
divide by mitosis to produce two daughter cells, one
remains in the germ line (to continue regeneration of more
spermatogonia) and the other one goes on to become
sperm.
⚫ Stage 2: Meiosis: this is a reduction division that takes a
cell through two rounds of division. At the end four
genetically distinctive cells (spermatids) are created which
will each mature into a sperm.
⚫ Stage 3: Spermiogenesis: spermatids mature into sperm,
the cell develops a long flagella, a mid piece with high
mitochondria count, and a “head” filled with DNA
(nucleus)
Other cells in the testicles perform jobs like assisting the
cells to mature and exit the scrotum, produce male
androgen (like testosterone), and muscular cells that
cause tiny contractions to push the sperm out of the
testes. When sperm leaves the seminiferous tubules it
travels down the efferent tubules towards the epididymis.
C. Male Reproductive Ducts:
This section discusses the tubules through which sperm travel
to exit the body.

1. Epididymis: organ that arches over the posterior lateral side of the
testis. If you uncoil the epididymis is can be as long as 6 meters.
During the twenty days the sperm spend here they complete maturation
and gain the ability to swim and fertilize. During ejaculation smooth
muscle contracts to send mature sperm to the ductus deferns.
2. Ductus deferens: also known as the vas deference, it runs superior
to the testicles, enters the abdominopelvic cavity, runs posterior to the
bladder, passes by the seminal vesicle, form the ampulla and
ejaculatory duct, and finally leads into the prostatic urethra.
3. Spermatic cords: a tube of fascia holding blood vessels, nerves, and
the ductus deference.
4. Urethra: urethra in men carries both sperm and urine. During
ejaculation the sphincter muscles close off the bladder so urine is not
released into the semen. The urethra is divided into the prostatic
urethra (section passing through prostrate gland), the membranous
urethra (urogenital diaphragm) and the spongy urethra (penile).
D. Accessory glands:
These glands produce substances that increases the chances of
sperm survival once it is outside the body. These secretions in
addition to sperm form semen.

1. Seminal vesicles: paired glands located posterior to the bladder.

During ejaculation smooth muscle contract to help secrete a fluid that
contains fructose (sugar), nutrients, prostagladins to stimulate the
urethra to contract, substances that suppress the immune system
against sperm in females, enzymes the enhance sperm mobility, and
enzymes that thicken the ejaculate.

2. Prostate gland: the size of a chestnut, also has smooth muscle

that contracts to assist in the release of prostatic secretion. This is a
milky white fluid that has substances to enhance sperm mobility and
thicken ejaculate. It is susceptible to tumors and sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs).
3. Bulbourethral glands: secrete a mucus substances that
lubricates and neutralizes the acid from urine in the male urethra.
E. Penis:
Designed to deliver semen into the female
reproductive tract.
It originates at the root, expends through the body, and
ends at the glans penis.Skin around the glans penis is
called prepuce (circumcision).
The penis contains erectile bodies: corpora spongiosum,
corpora cavernosa, and others consisting of smooth
muscle and connective tissue. It is a spongy network
surrounded by a high amount of blood vessels that dilate
during arousal and engorge the spongy tissues with blood.
The parasymphatetic branch causes the penis to become
erect by stimulating vasodilation. The symphatetic branch
cause ejaculation by stimulating contraction of smooth
muscle along the reproductive tract.
Organs of the internal Female
Reproductive System
⚫ Vagina
⚫ Cervix
⚫ Uterus
⚫ Fallopian Tubes
⚫ Ovary
The internal Female Reproductive
System
The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries
which give rise to egg cells, the fallopian tubes, the uterus,
the cervix and the vagina.
A. The ovaries:
the size of an almond, this paired organ is suspended by
mesenteries and ligaments. It is surrounded by a fibrous
capsule and can be divided into a cortex and medulla.
The cortex houses the developing ova and the medulla
holds vascular tissue.
The ovary is the site of oogenesis and female sex hormone
production.
It responds to follicle-stimulating (FSH) that signals the
maturation of an ovum. Typically only one egg is released
from an ovary every month, the ovaries alternate in
releasing the egg. Every time an egg is released the ovaries
become scarred. Hormones that affect the menstrual cycle
and female sex organs are also released by the ovaries;
estrogen and progesterone.
Ovarian cycle:
this concerns the changes in the ovary during the
menstrual cycle. Females are born with all the potential
ova they can produce in a life time. These are called the
primordial follicles which consist of a single immature
oocyte and a single layer of follicular cells. These cells
respond to FSH and being the maturation of an oocyte.

1. Follicular phase:
during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle one follicle
matures up until the stage when it is able to release an oocyte.
Other primordial follicles may get activated but die out along the
way. The primordial follicle becomes the primary follicle and
continues to develop until it becomes the vesicular follicle. At this
point the oocyte is surrounded by follicle cells that the form a
fluid filled cavity.
2. Ovulation (midpoint) phase:
at about the mid cycle LH is release to signal the
follicle to rupture and release the oocyte from the
ovary. When the egg cell is released it enters the
peritoneal cavity but is swept into the fallopian/uterine
tubes by fimbriae.
3. Luteal phase:
after ovulation and during the last two weeks of the
cycle the follicle that held the oocyte becomes the
corpus luteum, it is now considered an endocrine gland
that releases progesterone. If no implantation occurs it
becomes the corpus albicans (now scar tissue).
B. Uterine tubes:
also called fallopian tubes, they take the oocyte and
provide a site for fertilization. The tube is lined with ciliated
epithelium that gently guides the oocyte towards the
uterus. There are also peristaltic waves caused by smooth
muscle contraction to aide the movement of the oocyte.
sometimes a fertilized egg can implant in a uterine tube and
cause a life threatening ectopic pregnancy.
C. The uterus:
a thick muscular pouch about the size of a pear that
lies in the pelvic cavity superior to the bladder.
The function of the uterus is to receive an embryo and
provide an environment for its development.
During pregnancy it stretches to accommodate the growth
of the fetus. When there is no pregnancy the cavity within
the uterus is small. The opening of the uterus is at the
cervix, during child birth it dilates to allow the child to pass
by.
The cervix tissue may become infected by a virus called
HPV human papilloma virus. It can cause abnormal tissue
growth including cervical caner. The purpose of pap-smears
is to check the cervical tissue for abnormal growth.

➢ Supports of the uterus: The uterus, cervix, and vagina are

supported by ligaments and mesenteries. Most uterine support
is provided by muscles of the pelvic floor. Sometimes these
muscles are torn during child birth and the unsupported uterus
results in a prolapsed uterus.
Uterine wall: composed of three layers:
1.perimetrium (outer membrane)
2.myometrium (middle= layers of smooth muscle),
3.endometrium (inner epithelium). This thick layer (above
myometrium) undergoes most of the changes during the
uterine cycle.
 Uterine cycle:
also called the menstrual cycle, it relates to changes
occurring in the endometrium of the uterus that are
induced by female sex hormones.
1. Menstrual phase: (days 1-5) during this phase the
endometrium is shed
2. Proliferative phase: (days 6-14) during this phase
the endometrium builds a new stratum functionalis as
it responds to rising estrogen levels. As the layer
thickens glands release a clear sticky mucus secretion
that assist the sperm in finding the egg.
3. Secretory phase:
(days 15-28) during this point the endometriom is
highly vascularized and there is secretion of
glycoproteins to support a developing embryo in case
fertilization occur. These changes are a response to
progesterone released by the corpus luteum in the ovary.
If there is no fertilization the progesterone levels drop
signaling changes that cause death of the endometriom.
The arteries constrict cutting out blood supply and
suddenly open again but the weak capillaries fragment
and the menstrual phase begins again.
D. The vagina:
also known as the birth canal. It is the opening that
leads into the cervix and is located anterior to the rectom
but posterior to the bladder.
The vagina is also the site where sperm is deposited. This
canal is very flexible and It also has ruggae to stretch out
during childbirth.
The vaginal mucosa secretes glycogen to maintain healthy
beneficial bacteria that produce lactic acid. This creates an
acidic environment that is not beneficial to other bacteria
or sperm.
E. External genitalia:
also called the vulva and often incorrectly referred to as the vagina
It includes the mons pubis (fatty rounded pad over the pubic symphisis),
the labia majora (thick skin fold analogous to the scrotum),
the clitoris (erectile tissue analogous to the penis), and vestibule
associated structures( the vaginal and urethral orifice and vestibule
glands).The vestibule are protected by the mucus membrane sheathes
called the labia minora.
F. Mammary glands:
modified sweat glands that are active in pregnant females
to produce milk for the infant.
These first appear as rudimentary structures in both men
and women. When females reach puberty the ducts grow
but the glands do no fully develop; the mas of the breast is
mostly adipose.
During pregnancy glandular alveoli form and produce milk
shortly after childbirth.
The breast include the nipple and the areola (ring around
nipple). The glands consist of lobes that drain into the
nipple by lactiferous ducts and lactiferous sinuses where
milk accumulates during breastfeeling.
any….question?