Human Reproduction
Lisa Michalek
Male Reproductive System
Male Reproductive System
major function:
Production
of sperm
The production of sperm
takes place in a pair of male
gonads called the testes.
The testes are held in a sac called the scrotum.
The
scrotum keeps the temperature of the testes one or two
degrees (C) cooler than normal body temperature.
This lower temperature is necessary for sperm production
and storage.
Male Reproductive System
Sperm leave the testes and pass through tubes
(vas deferens) to the urethra.
As the sperm passes through the tubes to the urethra,
fluids are secreted into the tubes by glands.
The
fluids provide the sperm
with the proper PH, supply
glucose for energy and provide
a liquid environment in which
the sperm can swim.
The mixture of fluid and sperm
is called semen.
Female Reproductive System
The Female Reproductive
System produces eggs (ova)
and is the site of fertilization
and embryonic development.
The production of eggs takes
place in paired gonads called
ovaries.
The ovary produces eggs in structures called follicles.
Follicles
are tiny cavities surrounded by cells.
The release of a mature egg from a follicle is called
ovulation.
Female Reproductive System
Female Reproductive System
Following ovulation, the
egg passes through an
oviduct (fallopian tube).
Then the egg moves to the
uterus.
The uterus, or womb, is
shaped like a pear and has thick walls.
The
embryo develops in the uterus.
The lower end of the uterus, the cervix, opens into a
muscular tube called the vagina.
The vagina is a muscular tube that leads from the
uterus to the outside.
The Menstrual Cycle
Usually begins in females between the ages of 10 and
14.
It is repeated approximately every 28 days.
Hormones control the changes that occur in the
ovaries and uterus.
The menstrual cycle involves the release of a mature
egg from a follicle and the preparation of the uterus for
pregnancy.
The duration of each cycle may vary considerably, and
may be interrupted by illness and other factors.
The cycle stops during pregnancy.
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle has four stages:
follicle
stage
ovulation
corpus luteum stage
menstruation.
The cycle starts at puberty and ends at menopause.
Follicle Stage
This stage lasts10-14 days
FSH from the pituitary gland stimulates
maturation of egg in follicle.
Estrogen from follicle stimulates thickening of
uterine lining.
Ovulation
Mature egg released from follicle.
FSH production inhibited by estrogen, which
stimulates release of LH by the pituitary gland.
Corpus Luteum Stage
This stage lasts10-12 days
Burst follicle develops into corpus luteum,
which produces progesterone.
Progesterone stimulates further thickening of
uterine lining.
Menstruation
If the egg is not fertilized, progesterone secretion
decrease, and uterine lining degenerates.
Tissue and blood are discharged from body.
The Menstrual Cycle
Structure of Sperm
It consists of a head, middle piece and the
tail regions.
The head consists of the nucleus and a
structure called the acrosome at the tip.
The acrosome secretes lytic substances
that break down the walls of the egg for
fertilisation.
The beating of the tail propels the sperm
forward at the rate of 1-4 mm per minute.
Fertilization
Fertilisation can be defined as the fusion of the
sperm nucleus with the egg nucleus to form a
diploid cell known as zygote.
The release of sperms is called ejaculation and
at one ejaculation there may be upto 600
million sperms.
If they meet with an egg in the oviduct, the egg
and sperm cell may unite.
The fusion of a sperm cell nucleus and an egg
cell nucleus is known as fertilization
A fertilized egg is known as a zygote.
Fertilization
Fertilization generally occurs when the egg is in
the upper portion of the oviduct.
If the egg is not fertilized within about 24 hours
after ovulation, it breaks down and disappears.
Cleavage of the fertilized egg begins while the
egg is still in the oviduct.
Six to ten days later, the resulting embryo may
become implanted (attached) in the lining of the
uterus.
Fertilization
Fertilization
If more than one egg is released and fertilized
at the same time, multiple births may occur.
Fraternal twins develop when two eggs are
released at one time and each egg is fertilized
by a different sperm.
Identical twins develop from one zygote that
separates in half early in cleavage.
It is now possible for fertilization to take place
outside the human body (in vitro). The
fertilized egg is then implanted in the uterus so
that development can occur.
The Human Zygote
Fertilization
16 Cells
Two Cells
Morula Stage
Four Cells
Blastocyst Stage
Implantation
Prenatal Development
When the fertilized egg arrives in the uterus, it
implants itself in the thickened, spongy uterine wall.
The gastrula forms, differentiation of cells and growth
occurs.
The developing embryonic membranes become part
of the placenta and umbilical cord.
After eight weeks of development the embryo is called
the fetus.
The period of time between the fertilization of the egg
and the birth of the offspring is called gestation
In
humans the gestation period is nine months or
approximately 266 days.
Human Gestation
3 Weeks
Human Gestation
3 Months
Summary of Human Development
Prenatal Development
During this time, it is essential that the
expectant mother provide good prenatal care
by eating nutritious foods, avoiding alcohol,
tobacco, and drugs, and receiving proper
medical attention regularly.
Using tobacco, alcohol
and drugs may cause
low birth rates,
premature births,
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
as well as other
birth defects.
Postnatal Development
Following birth, the
placenta is discarded
from the mothers body
and the mother begins
producing milk from
mammary glands
located in the breasts.
The mothers breast
milk is normally the
best natural food for
a newborn baby.
