Anatomy and physiology of the

male and female reproductive

system

Ruth V. Tianco , RN
Structure of Male Reproductive Tract
External Structures Internal Structure
• Testes • Epididymis
• Vas deferens
• Scrotum
• Seminal Vesicles
• Penis • Ejaculatory ducts
• Prostate gland
• Bulbourethral glands
• Urethra
 TESTES/TESTICLES
(male gonads)
- Testes are two ovoid glands, 2 to 3
cm wide, that lie in the scrotum.
- Each testes is encased by a
protective white fibrous capsule
and is composed of a number of
lobule containing interstitial cells
(Leydig’s cells) and seminiferous
tubule.
- Leydig’s cells are responsible for
production of the male hormone
testosterone.
 Cont.. TESTES/TESTICLES
Functions:
• Like the ovaries (to which they are homologous), testes
are components of both the reproductive system (being
gonads) and the endocrine system (being endocrine
glands). The respective functions of the testes are:
• producing sperm (spermatozoa)
• producing male sex hormones of which testosterone is
the best-known
 Cont.. TESTES/TESTICLES
Both functions of the testicle, sperm-
forming and endocrine, are under control of
gonadotropic hormones produced by the
anterior pituitary:
• luteinizing hormone (LH)
• follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
 Scrotum
• scrotum is a rugated skin-
covered and muscle containing the
testicles. It is an extension of the
abdomen, and is located between
the penis and anus.
• Its function is to support the testes
and help to regulate the
temperature of sperm.
 Penis
• Is composed of three
cylindrical masses of
erectile tissue in the penis
shaft.
• Penis serves as the outlet
for both the urine and the
reproductive tracts in
men.
 Epididymis
• The seminiferous tubule of each testis
leads to a tightly coiled tube, the
epididymis.
• Approximately 20 ft.
• Responsible for conducting sperm from the
testis to the vas deferens.
• It is narrow along its entire length,
infection of the epididymis can easily lead
to scarring of the lumen that prohibits
passage of sperm beyond the scarred point.
 Vas Deferens
• Is an additional hollow tube surrounded by
arteries and veins and the protected by a
thick fibrous coating.
• It carries sperm from epididymis through
the inguinal canal into the abdominal
cavity where it ends at the seminal vesicles
and the ejaculation ducts.
• Mature sperm pass to the vas deferens.
 Seminal Vesicles
• Two convoluted pouches
that lie along the lower
portion of the posterior
surface of the bladder and
empty into the urethra by
way of the ejaculatory
ducts.
• These glands secrete s
viscous portion of semen.
 Ejaculatory ducts
• Two ejaculatory
ducts pass through
the prostate gland
and join the seminal
vesicles to the
urethra.
 Bulbourethral glands
• Also know as Cowper’s
glands lie beside the
prostate gland.
• Like prostate gland and
seminal vesicles, they
secrete an alkaline fluid
that helps the counteract
the acid secretion of
urethra and ensure the
safe passage of
spermatozoa.
 Urethra
• Is a hollow tube leading
from the bladder, which
after passing through the
prostate gland,
continues to the outside
through the shaft and
glans of the penis.
• Approximately 8 inch
(18 to 20 cm) in long
External Female Genitalia
Internal Female Reproductive
Structures
 Mons Veneris / Pubis
• Is a pad of adipose tissue located over the
symphsis pubis, the pubic bone joint.
• It is covered by a triangle of coarse, curly
hairs.
• The purpose of the mons veneris is to
protect the junction of the pubic bone from
trauma.
 Labia minora
• The labia minora are
two soft folds of skin
between the labia
majora and to either
side of the opening of
the vagina.
• Normally the folds of
the labia minor are
pink.
• The area is abundant
with sebaceous glands.
 Labia Majora
• The labia majora are lip-like
structures comprised mostly of
skin and adipose tissue
covered by loose connective
tissue and epithelium.
• After puberty, it is typically
covered with pubic hair.
• Protection for the external
genitalia and the distal urethra
and vagina.
 Clitoris
• Is approximately 1- 2 cm.
• Rounded organ of erectile
tissue at the forward
junction of the labia
minora.
• Sensitive to touch and
temperature and is the
center of sexual arousal and
orgasm in the female.
 Bartholin's glands
• Called Bartholin glands or
greater vestibular glands) are two
glands located slightly below and to
the left and right of the opening of
the vagina in women.
• Secretions from both of these
glands help to lubricate the external
genitalia.
• The alkaline ph of their secretion
helps to improve sperm survival in
the vagina.
 Fourchette
• Is the ridge of tissue
formed by the posterior
joining of the two labia
minora and labia majora.
• This is the structure that
is sometimes cut
(episiotomy) during child
birth to enlarge the
vaginal opening.
 Hymen
• Is a tough but elastic
semicircle of tissue that
covers the opening of
the vagina during
childhood.
• It is often torn with the
first sexual intercourse.
 Ovaries
• Ovaries are oval shaped
• measure approximately
4cm long by 2 cm in
diameter.
• The ovary is located
close to and on both
sides of the uterus in the
lower abdomen.
 Ovaries
Functions:
1.Produce, mature and discharge of egg/ova
2.Ovulation
3.Hormone production- progesterone and estrogen
4.Initiate and regulate menstrual cycles
5.Development of follicles (Oogenesis- O for ova)
- Oogenesis- is a process by which a primitive
egg is developed to a matured ovum
 Fallopian tube
• There are two Fallopian tubes attached to either
side of the cornual end of the uterus.
• Each terminates at or near one ovary forming a
structure called the fimbria.
• The Fallopian tubes are not directly attached to the
ovaries, but open into the peritoneal cavity
(essentially the inside of the abdomen); they thus
form a direct communication between the
peritoneal cavity and the outside via the vagina.
• the Fallopian tubes are about 10 cm long in mature
woman.
Cont.. Fallopian tube
• The Fallopian tubes or oviducts are two very fine
tubes leading from the ovaries of females into the
uterus.
• On maturity of an ovum, the follicle and the
ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape
and enter the Fallopian tube. This trip takes hours
or days.
There are four regions of the fallopian
tube from the ovary to the uterus:
• Infundibulum - contains fimbria
• Ampulla - usual site of fertilization
• Isthmus -
• Interstitial tube - inside wall of
uterus
Uterus
• Approximately 5 to 7 cm long, 5 cm wide, 2.5 cm deep, wt. 60 g.
in non pregnant state.
• After pregnancy approximately 9 cm long, 6 cm wide, 3 cm
thick and 80 g. in wt.
• The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of
humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina; the other is
connected on both sides to the fallopian tubes.
• The uterus is a pear-shaped muscular organ. Its major function is
to accept a fertilized ovum which becomes implanted into the
endometrium, and derives nourishment from blood vessels
which develop exclusively for this purpose.
 Cont…Uterus
• The fertilized ovum becomes an embryo, develops into a fetus and gestates until
childbirth. If the egg does not embed in the wall of the uterus, a woman gets her
period and the egg is flushed away.
• Three divisions:
1. Corpus
2. Isthmus- between the body and cervix, portion most commonly cut during CS.
3. Cervix- opening canal
• Fundus is the portion that can be palpated abdominally to determine the amount of
uterine growth occurring during pregnancy.
 The layers, from innermost to
outermost, are as follows:
• Endometrium- inner lining of the uterine cavity. endometrium
builds a lining periodically which is shed or reabsorbed if no
pregnancy occurs. Shedding of the functional endometrial lining in
humans is responsible for menstrual bleeding. Myometrium- The
uterus mostly consists of smooth muscle, middle layer. The
innermost layer of myometrium is known as the junctional zone,
which becomes thickened in adenomyosis. Perimetrium- The loose
surrounding tissue, outer of connective tissue.
Vagina
• The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract
leading from the uterus to the exterior of the
body in female.
• The vagina is the place where semen from
the male is deposited into the female's body
at the climax of sexual intercourse,
commonly known as ejaculation.
• Around the vagina, pubic hair protects the
vagina from infection and is a sign of
puberty.
Cervix
• The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the
uterus where it joins with the top end of the
vagina.
• It is cylindrical or conical in shape and
protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal
wall.
• Approximately half its length is visible; the
remainder lies above the vagina beyond
view.