8.
1: The
Reproductive
System
Science II – General Biology
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you (student) should be able to:
1. Describe the male and female reproductive systems in
terms of their parts and functions
2. Explain how hormones are involved in the functions of
the male and female reproductive systems
Word Mess
Try to arrange the following jumbled letters properly to
form the correct word:
1. What were the correct words from the eight sets of
jumbled letters given in the previous activity?
2. Based on your previous knowledge, which of the
words represent parts that are found in a male’s body?
How about in a female’s body?
Introduction to the
Reproductive System
The Reproductive System consists of structures that
produce reproductive cells (gametes) and secrete sex
hormones.
Sperm Cells (male gametes)
Zygote >Embryo >Fetus >Baby
(Fertilization)
Egg Cells (female gametes)
• Sex hormones are chemical messengers that control
sexual development and reproduction.
• These sex hormones are responsible for certain body
changes during puberty
The Male Reproductive System
• The male reproductive system is composed of
structures that allow it to perform the following
functions:
1. production of sperms,
2. transport and transfer of these sperms, and
3. secretion of the male sex hormone testosterone
1. Testes or testicles (sing. testis) – the primary male
reproductive organs, these are two oval-shaped
organs that hang between the thighs.
• Each testis contains more than 30 meters of tiny,
tightly packed tubules called seminiferous tubules
that are the functional units of the testes, producing
sperm and secreting testosterone.
• Sperm production only begins when males have
reached the adolescent stage known as puberty.
2. Scrotum – a sac of skin that encloses the testes. The
scrotum hangs loosely outside the body because
sperm production requires a slightly lower
temperature (about 3O˚C) compared to the normal
body temperature.
3. Epididymis – a coiled tube about 6 meters long that
lies at the top of the testis inside the scrotum. Sperm
cells from the seminiferous tubules are transported
here to be stored until they mature (capable of
swimming and moving)
4. Vas deferens – a tube that carries the sperm from the
epididymis to the urethra (a tube that leads to the
outside of the body, this is the same tube connected
to the urinary bladder)
When the sperm cells are transported to the urethra, it is
mixed with fluids produced by neighboring glands:
• Seminal vesicles – a pair of glands that secretes fluids rich
in sugars (fructose), providing energy for the sperm cells
• Prostate gland – a single gland that secretes a thick,
alkaline (basic) fluid to activate the sperms and counteract
(neutralize) the acidic environment in the female
reproductive system (specifically in the vagina)
• Bulbourethral glands or Cowper’s glands – two tiny glands
that secrete alkaline fluids to neutralize traces of acidic
urine in the urethra.
• The combination of sperms and the secretions from the
previously mentioned glands is called semen.
• The semen is expelled through the urethral opening
during the process of ejaculation. To deposit the semen
into the female reproductive system, another organ is
involved.
• Penis – an external sex organ that becomes erect,
allowing transfer of the semen to the female
reproductive system during sexual intercourse
• After the semen is deposited into the female
reproductive system, the sperms swim until they
encounter an egg cell.
• Out of the 200-500 million sperms released during
ejaculation, only less than 1% of them will make it to the
egg cell. If there is no egg cell, fertilization will obviously
not take place
Review Questions
• What are the different parts of the male reproductive
system and their functions?
• What are the three glands responsible for producing
fluid secretions for the semen?
Think About This
• What might happen to sperm production if a male has a
high fever?
• If there are so many sperms released during ejaculation,
why are there only a few sperms making it to the egg
cell?
The Female Reproductive
System
The functions performed by the female reproductive
system are the
1. production of egg cells,
2. receiving of sperm cells,
3. protection and nourishment of the growing embryo,
and
4. secretion of female sex hormones
1. Ovaries – a pair of small, oval-shaped organs located
in the lower abdomen that produce egg cells and the
female sex hormone estrogen.
• When a female is born, her ovaries already contain all
the eggs she will ever produce. However, these eggs
will only mature during puberty.
• Each egg is enclosed within a sac-like structure
inside the ovary called a follicle. Cells in the follicle
protect the egg and help it mature.
2. Fallopian tubes or oviducts – two tubes that transport
the egg cell from the ovaries to the uterus.
• It ends in finger-like projections called fimbriae that
sweep the egg cell from the ovary into the tubes.
• The fallopian tube is also the site of fertilization,
producing the zygote.
3. Uterus – a muscular organ where the zygote implants
itself and develops to a fetus until birth. It has an inner
lining of tissues called the endometrium, which
thickens in preparation for a possible pregnancy.
• In a pregnant woman, the uterus expands greatly to
make room for the growing baby. During birth, the
muscular walls of the uterus push the baby through
its lower, narrower end (called the cervix) to the
vagina then out of the body.
4. Vagina – an elastic, muscular canal about 9
centimeters long that receives the sperms during
sexual intercourse and provides a passageway for the
baby to leave the mother’s body during birth.
• There is a membrane that surrounds and partially
covers the opening of the vagina called the hymen
5. Vulva – a term that refers to the external female
reproductive structures.
• It includes the two labia (sing. labium) that protect
the vagina and urethra, both of which have openings
in the vulva.
Review Questions
• What are the different parts of the female reproductive
system and their functions?
• What structures expand during childbirth or delivery of
the baby?
Think About This
• Is it normal for a zygote to implant itself in the fallopian
tube, instead of the uterus? Why?
• After 72 hours since fertilization, a human embryo has
life already. Can it still be taken away by taking pills or
by abortion?
Hormones and the
Reproductive System
What hormones are connected to reproduction?
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
• luteinizing hormone (LH),
• testosterone, and estrogen
are particularly active during puberty, a period when
humans become sexually mature.
Puberty in
Males
• The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to
release two hormones, namely the LH and FSH. These
two hormones are then transported to the testes.
• FSH triggers the production of sperm cells during
puberty
• LH stimulates the secretion of testosterone.
• Testosterone is responsible for the growth and
development of secondary male characteristics, such
as deepening of the voice, maturation of sex organs,
and growth of pubic hair
Puberty in Females
• LH and FSH also cause the start of puberty in females.
In the process, the hormone estrogen is also involved.
• Estrogen is responsible for the secondary female
characteristics, such as broadening of hips,
enlargement of breasts, and growth of pubic hair.
• There is a complex cycle of events in a female’s body
that involves the hormones from the pituitary gland.
This is the menstrual cycle.
• Menstrual cycle - a series of hormone-driven changes in
the female reproductive system that involves egg
production and preparation of the uterus for a possible
pregnancy
• Although it varies from female to female, this cycle
typically occurs about 28 days. It continues for 30-40
years until a female reaches a period when the
menstrual cycle slows down and stops (menopause).
Menstrual Cycle
1. The pituitary gland releases FSH, causing a follicle in
the ovary to mature.
As the follicle develops, it secretes the hormone
estrogen.
The estrogen will signal the pituitary gland to
produce LH, which helps the follicle to fully mature and
triggers ovulation (the release of a mature egg from the
follicle).
Ovulation happens on the 14th day of the cycle.
2. LH converts and sustains the ruptured (broken) follicle
into a yellow mass of cells called the corpus luteum.
This corpus luteum will secrete estrogen and
another female hormone called progesterone.
Progesterone causes the thickening of the
endometrium in the uterus to prepare for possible
fertilization and pregnancy.
• Because of the corpus luteum, estrogen and
progesterone levels rise.
This feedbacks to the pituitary gland to slow down
the production of LH and FSH. As a result, LH and FSH
levels decrease.
3. Meanwhile, the released egg will move through the
fallopian tube to the uterus.
If there is no sperm present, the egg will not be
fertilized, and it will not attach to the uterus.
If this happens, the corpus luteum will degenerate,
decreasing the production of progesterone and estrogen.
4. The decreasing levels of progesterone and estrogen
will cause the thick endometrium in the uterus to
break off and flow out of the vagina, with the
unfertilized egg and some blood.
That process is what we call menstruation, which
marks the beginning of another round of the menstrual
cycle. The endometrium tissues will regrow, replacing
what previously degenerated.
• Menarche - refers to a female’s first menstrual
discharge
• Hormones influence the
changes in the uterus
and ovary during the
menstrual cycle.
Review Questions
• What are the hormones involved in the functions of the
male and female reproductive systems?
• What are the major events occurring during the
menstrual cycle of a female?
Think About This
• Is reproduction possible without the involvement of
hormones?
• Assuming that a female is healthy, what does it mean if
she stops having menstruation?
Thank you!
