Humans are sexually reproducing and viviparous. The reproductive events in humans include formation of gametes (gametogenesis), i.e., sperms in males and ovum in females, transfer of sperms into the female genital tract (insemination) and fusion of male and female gametes (fertilisation) leading to formation of zygote. This is followed by formation and development of blastocyst and its attachment to the uterine wall (implantation), embryonic development (gestation) and delivery of the baby (parturition)
The Male Reproductive System: It consists of:
a) Primary sex organs i.e. a pair of testes suspended in a scrotum.
b) Secondary sex organs i.e. a pair of ducts each differentiated into rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis and vas deferens, ejaculatory duct and the associated glands
c) External genitalia
• The testes are situated outside the abdominal cavity in a pouch called scrotum, which help in maintaining the low temperature of testes necessary for spermatogenesis.
• Each testis has about 250 testicular lobules and each lobule contain highly coiled seminiferous tubules in which sperms are produced. Each seminiferous tubules is lined by two types of cells, spermatogonia (male germ cell) and Sertoli cells.
• Leydig cells or interstitial cells present around the seminiferous tubules synthesize and secrete androgen hormone.
Ejaculatory duct store and transport the sperm from testes to outside through urethra which originate from urinary bladder and extend through penis to its external opening urethral meatus.
• The penis is male external genitalia. The enlarged end of penis is called the glans penis is covered by a loose fold of skin called foreskin.
• Male accessary glands include paired seminal vesicles, prostrate and paired bulbourethral glands. Secretion of these glands forms the seminal plasma which contains fructose, calcium and enzymes. The secretion of bulbourethral glands also helps in lubrication of the penis.
The Female Reproductive System: It consists of:
a)The primary sex organ that is a pair of ovaries
b)Secondary sex organs- the duct system consisting of a pair of fallopian tube, a uterus, cervix and vagina
c)External genitalia
d)Mammary glands
• Ovaries are primary female sex organ that produce the female gamete and several steroid hormones. Each ovary is covered by thin epithelium which encloses the ovarian stroma, which is divided into a peripheral cortex and an inner medulla.
• Fallopian tube extends from periphery of ovary to the uterus. The part closer to ovary is a funnel shaped structure called infundibulum having finger like projection called fimbriae.
• Infundibulum leads to ampulla and join with uterus with isthmus. Uterus is pear shaped structure also called womb.
• Uterus open vagina through a narrow cervix. The cavity of cervix (cervical canal) along with vagina forms the birth canal.
• The wall of uterus has three layers of tissue:
I. Perimetrium- external membrane.
II. Myometrium – middle thick layer of smooth muscles which exhibit strong contraction during delivery of baby.
III. Endometrium – line the uterine wall and undergo cyclic changes during menstrual cycle.
Female external genitalia includes
• Mons pubis-cushion of fatty tissues covered by skin and pubic hair.
• Labia majora- fleshy fold that surround the vaginal opening.
• Labia manora – paired fold of tissue under labia majora.
• The opening of vagina is often partially covered by a membrane called hymen. The tiny finger like projection present at the upper junction of two labia manora above the urethral opening is called clitoris.
Mammary glands are paired structures that contain glandular tissues and variable fats. Each glandular tissue contains 15-20 mammary lobes containing alveoli that secrete milk. Mammary ducts join to form mammary ampulla.
Gametogenesis: The process of formation of male and female gametes in testes and ovary respectively is called gametogenesis.It is of two types:
- Spermatogenesis in males
- Oogenesis in females
Spermatogenesis- in testes immature, male germ cells (spermatogonia) produce sperm by spermatogenesis that begin at puberty.
• The spermatogonia present at the inner side of seminiferous tubules multiply by mitotic division and increase in number. Each spematogonium contain 46 chromosomes.
• Spermatogonia forms spermatocyte that undergo meiotic division to reproduce secondary spermatocytes having 23 chromosomes.
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The spermatids are transformed into spermatozoa by the process called spermiogenesis. The sperm heads remain embedded in Sertoli cells and are released from seminiferous tubules by the process of spermiation.
Hormonal control of spermatogenesis
• Spermatogenesis initiated due to increase in secretion of gonadotropin releasing hormone by hypothalamus
• Increase in GnRH act on anterior pituitary and stimulate secretion of two gonadotropins, LH and FSH
• LH acts on Leydig cells and stimulates them to secrete androgens.
• FSH acts on Sertoli cells, stimulates secretion of some factors which help in spermiogenesis
Structure of sperm- sperm is a microscopic structure composed of a head, neck, a middle piece and a tail. The sperm head contain elongated haploid nucleus, anterior portion of which is covered by cap like structure acrosome.
Human male ejaculates about 200-300 million sperms during a coitus. The seminal plasma along with the sperms constitutes the semen. The function of male sex secondary ducts and glands are maintained by androgen hormones.
Oogenesis: The process of formation of mature female gametes is called oogenesis. It started during embryonic development stage when millions of ogonia (gamete mother cells) are formed in each fetal ovary.
• The gametes mother cells start division and enter into prophase-I of meiotic division and get temporally arrested at that stage called primary oocytes.
• Each primary oocyteget surrounded by a layer of granulosa cell than it is called the primary follicle.
• At puberty, about 60,000-80,000 primary follicles are left in each ovary.
• Primary follicle gets surrounded by more layers of granulosa cells called secondary follicle that transform into tertiary follicle that contain fluid filled cavity called antrum.
• The tertiary follicles further changes into the mature follicle called Graafian follicle, which rapture to release secondary oocytes (ovum) from the ovary by the process of ovulation.
Menstrual cycle: The reproductive cycles in female primates is called menstrual cycle. It start at puberty and is called menarche.
Phases of Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle consists of following four phases:
(1) Menstrual Phase:
(i) In a 28 days menstrual cycle, the menses takes place on cycle days 3-5.
(ii) The production of LH from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is reduced.
(iii) The withdrawal of this hormone causes degeneration of the corpus luteum and, therefore progestrone production is reduced.
(iv) Production of oestrogen is also reduced in this phase.
(v) The endometrium of uterus breaks down & menstruation begins.
(vi) The cells of endometrium secretions, blood & unfertilised ovum constitutes the menstrual flow.
(2) Follicular Phase:
(i) This phase usually includes cycle days 6-13 or 14 in a 28 days cycle.
(ii) The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland stimulates the ovarian follicle to secrete oestrogens.
(iii) Oestrogen stimulates the proliferation of the endometrium of the uterine wall.
(iv) The endometrium becomes thicker by rapid cell multiplication and this is accompanied by an increase in uterine glands & blood vessels.
(3) Ovulatory Phase:
(i) Both LH & FSH attain a peak level in the middle of cycle (about 14th day).
(ii) Oestrogen concentration in blood increases.
(iii) Rapid secretion of LH induces rupturing of graffian follicle and thereby the release of ovum.
(iv) In fact, LH causes ovulation.
