The Reproductive System

Describe the location and structure of the testes, penis,

epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, seminal
vesicles and prostate gland
Testes
- Primary reproductive organs
- Both exocrine (sperm producing) and endocrine function (testosterone
producing)
Location: located within the scrotum a loose pouch of skin which hangs outside the
body behind the penis
Structure
- Approximately 4cm long and 2.5cm wide
- Surrounded by two tunics
o Outer tunic: two layered, tunica vaginalis (outer pocketing of
peritoneum)
o Serous layer: tunica albuginea (fibrous capsule of the testes)
- Septa extending inward from tunica albuginea divide testes into lobules
- Each contains 1-4 seminiferous tubules (thick stratified epithelium with
central fluid filled lumen) Empty sperm into another set of tubules the rete
testis located at one side of the testis. Sperm travel through the rete testis
to enter the first part of the duct system  epididymis
- Lying in soft connective tissue surrounding emineferous tubules are
interstitial cells (functionally distinct cells) produce androgens:
testosterone
Penis
- Deliver sperm into female reproductive tract
Location: Hangs outside the abdominal cavity between legs anterior to scrotum
Structure:
- Attached root and a free body (shaft)
- Skin covered penis consists of a shaft which end in an enlarged tip: glans
penis
- Skin covering the penis is loose and it folds downward to form a cuff of skin
the prepuce (foreskin) around the proximal end of the glans.
- Initially 3 elongated areas of erectile tissue, a spongy tissue that fills with
blood during sexual excitement, surround the urethra. This causes the
penis to enlarge and become rigid (erection)
Epididymis
Location: hugs posterior side of the testes
Structure
- About 3.8cm long
- Head contains the efferent ductules caps superior aspect of the testis
- Its body and tail are on the posterolateral area of the testis
- Duct of the epididymis (6m)
- Provides temporary storage site for immature sperm (sperm mature whilst
making their way along the epididymis)

Ductus deferens (vas deferens)

- Propels live sperm from storage sites into the urethra
Location: runs upward from the epididymis through the inguinal canal into the
pelvic cavity and arches over the superior aspect of the urinary bladder.
Enclosed with blood vessels and nerves in a connective tissue sheath called the
spermatic cord which travels upward through inguinal canal Loops medially
over ureter and descends along posterior bladder wall. End expands as the
ampulla and empties into the ejaculatory duct. Part lies in the scrotum
Structure
- About 45cm long
- Pseudo-stratified epithelium
- Thick muscular layer

Ejaculatory duct
Location: passes through the prostate gland to merge with the urethra
Structure

Seminal Vesicles
- Thick yellowish secretion (fructose, vitamin C, prostaglandins) Activate and
nourish sperm passing through the tract
Location: lie on the base of the posterior bladder surface
Structure
- Large hollow glands each 6-7cm (uncoiled length 15cm) produce about
660% of the seminal fluid
- Duct of each seminal vesicle joins that of the ductus deferens on same side
to form the ejaculatory duct
- Sperm and seminal fluid enter urethra together during ejaculation
- Fibrous capsule encloses thick layer of smooth muscle
- Mucosa: secretory pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium

Prostate gland
Location: immediately anterior to rectum. Encircles the upper part of the urethra
just below the urinary bladder
Structure
- Single doughnut shaped gland about size of a peach pit
- Secretion is milky plays a role in activating sperm
- Enclosed by a thick connective tissue capsule made up of 20-30 compound
tubulo-alveolar glands embedded in a mass of smooth muscle and dense
connective tissue
Describe the location and structure of the ovaries, uterine
tubes, uterus and vagina
Ovaries
Location: Secured to the lateral walls of the pelvis by the suspensory ligaments.
They flank the uterus laterally and anchor to it medially by ovarian ligaments. In
between they are enclosed and held in place by a fold of peritoneum: broad
ligament = (mesovarium: suspends it in between + suspensory ligament)
Structure
- Paired, shape of almonds but twice as large
- Internal view: many tiny saclike structures: ovarian follicles
- Each follicle consists of an immature egg: oocyte, surrounded by one or
more layers of very different cells called follicle cells
- As egg matures, follicle enlarges and develops a fluid-filled central region:
antrum (at this stage follicle called: Graafian follicle) Egg is ready to be
ejected from ovary (ovulation)
- After ovulation the rupture follicle: corpus luteum which eventually
degenerates
- Surrounded externally by a fibrous tunica albuginea which in turn is
covered by a layer of cuboidal epithelial cells called germinal epithelium
(continuation of the peritoneum)
- Outer cortex: houses forming gametes
- Inner medulla containing the largest blood vessels and nerves

Uterine tubes
Location: extends medially from ovary to empty into the supero-lateral region of
the uterus via a constricted region called the isthmus
Structure
- Form initial part of the duct system
- Receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a site where fertilization can
occur
 - Each tube is about 10cm long
- Externally the uterine tubes are covered by peritoneum and supported
along their length by a short mesentery (forms part of the the broad
ligament) called the mesosalpinx
- No actual contact between uterine tubes and the ovaries
- Distal end of each uterine tube expands forming the ampulla and ends as
infundibulum with fimbriae projections (partially surround the ovary)
- Contain sheets of smooth muscle and thick highly folded mucosa contains
both ciliated and non-ciliated cells.

Uterus
Location: in pelvis between the urinary bladder (postero-superior) and rectum
(anterior)
Structure
- Hollow organ functions to receive, retain and nourish fertilized egg
- Before pregnancy about the shape of an inverted pear
- Increases tremendously during pregnancy
- Flexes anteriorly where joins the vagina, anteverted (often retroverted in
older women)
- Suspended in the pelvis by the broad ligament and anchored anteriorly
and posteriorly by the round and uterosacral ligaments respectively
- Major portion referred to as the body
- Superior rounded region above entrance of the uterine tubes is the fundus
- Narrow outlet, which protrudes into the vagina: cervix (cavity called the
cervical canal)
- Wall of uterus is thick and composed of three layers: inner layer or mucosa
is endometrium (where implantation occurs), myometrium (intercalating
bundles of smooth muscle) is the bulky middle part of the uterus, outermost
serous layer of the uterus is the perimetrium (visceral peritoneum)

Vagina
Location: lies between bladder and rectum and extends from the cervix to the
body exterior (often called the birth canal)
Structure
- Thin walled tube 8-10cm long
- Distal end is partially closed by thin fold of mucosa called hymen (very
vascular)
- Upper end of the vaginal canal loosely surrounds the cervix of the uterus
producing a vaginal recess called the vaginal fornix (posterior part much
deeper than the anterior and lateral parts)
- Distensible wall consists of three coats: outer fibroelastic adventitia, a
smooth muscle muscularis and an inner mucosa (stratified squamous
epithelium) marked by transverse ridges (rugae)
Name the components of the female external genitalia
(vulva)
- Mons pubis
- Labia majora
- Clitoris
- Urethral orifice
- Vaginal orifice
- Opening of duct of greater vestibular gland
- Labia minora
Describe the histology of the ovary and endometrium
with reference to the changes that occur during the
female reproductive cycle
Ovary
Follicular phase
Primordial follicle is activated the squamous cells surrounding the primary oocyte
grow becoming cuboidal cells and the oocyte enlarges. The follicle is now called
the primary follicle
Follicular cells proliferate, forming stratified epithelium around the oocyte. As
soon as more than one cell layer is present the follicle is called the secondary
follicle and the follicle cells take on the name: granulosa cells. Granulosa cells
connected to developing oocyte by gap junctions. The oocyte grows
tremendously in this stage and FSH receptors begin to appear on granulosa cells.
A layer of connective tissue and epithelial cells condenses around the follicle
forming the theca folliculi. As the follicle grows the thecal and granulosa cells
cooperate to produce estrogens? In response to LH the inner thecal cells produce
androgens which the granulosa cells convert to estrogens. At the same time the
oocyte secretes a glycoprotein rich substance that forms a thick transparent
extracellular layer or membrane called the zona pellucida that encapsulates it. At
the end os this stage clear liquid begins to accumulate between granulosa cells
producing the late secondary follicle. The follicle reaches the critical
preovulatory stage and all granulosa cells bear FSH receptors. When six to seven
layers of granulosa cell layers are present, the fluid between the granulosa cells
coalesces to form a large fluid-filled cavity called the antrum, an event that
distinguishes the early vesicular follicle from the late secondary follicle and all
prior follicles (preantral follicles). The antrum continues to expand with fluid until
it isolates the oocyte, along with its surrounding capsule of granulosa cells called
a corona radiata, so the oocyte is on a stalk on one side of the follicle. When a
follicle is full size (about 2.5 cm in diameter), it bulges from the external ovarian
surface. This usually occurs by day 14.
Ovulation
Ovulation occurs when the ovary wall ruptures and expels the secondary oocyte,
still surrounded by its corona radiata, into the peritoneal cavity.
Luteal Phase of the Ovarian Cycle
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle collapses and the antrum fills with clotted
blood. The remaining granulosa cells enlarge, and along with the internal thecal
cells they form a new, quite different endocrine structure, the corpus luteum.
If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum starts degenerating in about 10
days and its hormonal output ends. In this case, all that ultimately remains is a scar
called the corpus albicans. The last two or three days of the luteal phase, when the
endometrium is just beginning to erode, is sometimes called the luteolytic or
ischemic phase.
If the oocyte is fertilized and pregnancy ensues, the corpus luteum persists until
the placenta is ready to take over its hormone-producing duties in about three
months.
Endometrium
The uterine (menstrual cycle)
The uterine, or menstrual, cycle is a series of cyclic changes that the uterine
endometrium goes through each month as it responds to the waxing and waning
of ovarian hormones in the blood. These endometrial changes are coordinated
with the phases of the ovarian cycle, which are dictated by gonadotropins
released by the anterior pituitary.
1. Days 1–5: Menstrual phase. In this phase, menstruation or menses, the uterus
sheds all but the deepest part of its endometrium. The thick, hormone-dependent
functional layer of the endometrium detaches from the uterine wall, a process
accompanied by bleeding for 3–5 days. By day 5, the growing ovarian follicles
start to produce more oestrogen.
2. Days 6–14: Proliferative (pre-ovulatory) phase. In this phase, the
endometrium rebuilds itself: Under the influence of rising blood levels of
oestrogens, the basal layer of the endometrium generates a new functional layer.
As this new layer thickens, its glands enlarge and its spiral arteries increase in
number. Consequently, the endometrium once again becomes velvety, thick, and
well vascularized. During this phase, oestrogens also induce the endometrial cells
to synthesize progesterone receptors, readying them for interaction with
progesterone. Normally, cervical mucus is thick and sticky, but rising oestrogen
levels cause it to thin and form channels that facilitate sperm passage into the
uterus. Ovulation, which takes less than five minutes, occurs in the ovary at the
end of the proliferative stage (day 14) in response to the sudden release of LH
from the anterior pituitary.
3. Days 15–28: Secretory (postovulatory) phase. This 14-day phase is the most
constant time wise. During the secretory phase the endometrium prepares for an
embryo to implant. Rising levels of progesterone from the corpus luteum act on
the oestrogen-primed endometrium, causing the spiral arteries to elaborate and
converting the functional layer to a secretory mucosa. The endometrial glands
enlarge, coil, and begin secreting nutrients into the uterine cavity that will sustain
the embryo until it has implanted in the blood-rich endometrial lining. As
progesterone levels rise, the cervical mucus becomes viscous again, forming the
cervical plug, which helps to block entry of sperm and pathogens or other foreign
materials. Progesterone also plays an important role in keeping the uterus
“private” in the event an embryo has begun to implant. Rising progesterone (and
oestrogen) levels inhibit LH release by the anterior pituitary. Progesterone levels
fall, depriving the endometrium of hormonal support, and the spiral arteries kink
and go into spasms. Denied oxygen and nutrients, the ischemic endometrial cells
die and the glands regress, setting the stage for menstruation to begin on day 28.
The spiral arteries constrict one final time and then suddenly relax and open
wide. As blood gushes into the weakened capillary beds, they fragment, causing
the functional layer to slough off. The uterine cycle starts over again on this first
day of menstrual flow. Notice that the menstrual and proliferative phases overlap
the follicular phase and ovulation in the ovarian cycle, and that the uterine
secretory phase corresponds to the ovarian luteal phase.