Physiology of Reproductive System

INTRO
Sexual Differentiation – The Duct System
Sexual Differentiation – External Genitalia
Sexual Differentiation
Pseudo-hermaphroditism: Hormonal Abnormalities

Pseudohermaphrodite
 individualwith the genetic constitution and gonad of one
sex, and the genitalia of the other
Female pseudohermaphroditism
 male genital development in genetic female
 androgens exposure during 8th-13th week of gestation
congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia
androgens administered to the mother
Pseudo-hermaphroditism: Hormonal Abnormalities
Male pseudohermaphroditism
The embryonic testes are defective
 development of female external genitalia in genetic males
 deficient in MIS  female internal genitalia

Androgen resistance
 male hormones can not exert their full effects on the tissue
 5alpha-reductase deficiency  dihydrotestosterone
decreased  female external genitalia
 mutation in the androgen receptor gene
Female Reproductive System
Preovulatory follicle

Corpus luteum

Greenspan
 Fertilization
• Ejaculation 300 million
sperm, 100 reach
(uterine) fallopian tube.
• Fertilization occurs in the
uterine tubes
• Acrosomal reaction:
– Acrosome of sperm
contains hyaluronidase, an
enzyme that digests a
channel through zona
pellucida.
• Sperm fuses with ovum
cell membrane.
 Blastocyct Formation
• Cleavage:
– 30-36 hrs. after
fertilization the zygote
divides by mitosis.
• Blastocyst develops:
– Inner cell mass: fetus.
– Surrounding chorion:
trophoblasts form
placenta.
Figure 82–5
Organization of the mature
placenta. Below, Relation of the
fetal blood in the villus
capillaries to the mother’s blood
in the intervillous spaces.
(Modified from Gray H, Goss
CM: Anatomy of the Human
Body, 25th ed. Philadelphia: Lea
& Febiger, 1948; and
from Arey LB: Developmental
Anatomy:
Guyton &AHall Textbook andOf
Textbook
Laboratory
PhysiologyManual
11 ed,
th of2006
Embryology, 7th ed.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders,
1974.)
 Placenta Function
• Gas exchange:
– 02 and C02.
• Nutrient exchange.
• Waste exchange.
• Synthesis of proteins and enzymes.
Sherwood, Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems;2010
Male Reproductive System
Spermatogenesis
in the seminiferous
tubules
FSH and testosteron are essential for
spermatogenesis
The actions of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone