Reproductive Organs and

Hormones
Unit 2
 What you should know
• The structure and function of reproductive
organs and gametes and their role in
fertilisation.
• Gamete production in the testes. The roles of
seminiferous tubules, interstitial cells,
testosterone, prostate gland and seminal
vesicles.
• Gamete production in the ovaries to include
maturation of ova and the development of a
follicle. Site of fertilisation in the oviduct and
zygote formation.
Reproductive Organs and Gametes
• Prior Knowledge
– Reproductive organs produce gametes
– Male gamete- sperm
– Female gamete- egg/ova
– Male reproductive organ- testes
– Female reproductive organ-ovary
 Production of Gametes
• A germ line is the sex cells (eggs and
sperm) that are used by sexually
reproducing organisms to pass on genes
from generation to generation.

• Gametes are produced by germline cells

 MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

BLADDER

URETER
PUBIC BONE
SEMINAL VESICLE
PROSTATE GLAND RECTUM
URETHRA

ERECTILE TISSUE
COWPER’S GLAND
PENIS VAS DEFERENS
EPIDIDYMIS
SCROTUM
TESTIS
TESTES

SEMINIFEROUS
TUBULE

INTERSTITIAL
CELLS
 TESTES
• Seminiferous tubules – produce sperm
• Interstitial cells– secrete testosterone

Interstitial
cells
 Accessory Glands
• Seminal vesicles and the prostate gland

• Semen consists of 10% sperm and 90% fluid and as sperm pass
down the ducts from testis to penis, (accessory) glands add various
secretion

• The prostate gland and seminal vesicles secrete fluids that maintain
the mobility and viability of the sperm. This fluid is called semen

– Seminal vesicles secrete a fructose rich liquid, which provides energy for
the mobility of the sperm

– The liquid also contains hormone like compounds (Prostaglandins) which

stimulate contractions of the female reproductive tract

– Prostate gland secretes a thin lubricating liquid containing enzymes which

regulate the viscosity of semen
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM

OVIDUCT

ENDOMETRIUM
OVARY
UTERUS
CERVIX
VAGINA
 THE OVARIES
• The ovaries contain
immature ova in various
stages of development

• Each ova is surrounded

by a follicle that protects
the developing ovum
and secretes hormones

• Mature ova are released

into the oviduct where
they may be fertilised by
sperm to form a zygote
GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE
 You should know
• The structure and function of reproductive
organs and gametes and their role in
fertilisation.
• Gamete production in the testes. The roles of
seminiferous tubules, interstitial cells,
testosterone, prostate gland and seminal
vesicles.
• Gamete production in the ovaries to include
maturation of ova and the development of a
follicle. Site of fertilisation in the oviduct and
zygote formation.
Hormonal Control
 What You Should Know
• Hormonal onset of puberty. Pituitary gland releases follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) or interstitial
cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) via the hypothalamus
• Hormonal control of sperm production. FSH promotes sperm
production and ICSH stimulates the production of testosterone.
Testosterone also stimulates sperm production and activates the
prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Negative feedback control of
testosterone by FSH and ICSH.
• Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle. Development of a follicle
and the endometrium in the uterus. Roles of FSH, LH, oestrogen
and progesterone in the menstrual cycle. Development of a follicle,
the corpus luteum and the endometrium. Follicular and luteal
phases. Blastocyst implantation. Negative feedback control through
pituitary gland, FSH and progesterone, leading to menstruation.
•
 Hormones
• Hormones are chemical messengers produced by cells that bind to
receptors on the plasma membrane of other cells or enter other cells
and alter the metabolic function of these cells.

• In response to a signal from the brain, hormones are secreted

directly into the blood by the glands that produce and store them.
These glands make up what is known as the endocrine system

• The testes and ovaries, or "gonads", are endocrine glands.

– In males, testes produce sperm and secrete the male sex hormone
testosterone;
– in females, ovaries produce eggs and the female hormone oestrogen.
– It is these hormones that determine secondary sex characteristics like
muscle mass and facial hair. They also help to orchestrate sperm
production, menstruation and pregnancy.
 Hormonal Onset of Puberty
• At puberty the hypothalamus
secretes a releaser hormone that
targets the pituitary gland

• Releaser hormones cause the

release of other hormones to start
and stop

• The pituitary gland is stimulated to

release
– follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
– Luteinising hormone (LH) in women
– Or interstitial cell stimulating hormone
(ICSH) in men
– These hormones control the onset of
puberty
Hormonal Control of Sperm
Production
 Male Hormones
• FSH (follicles stimulating hormones)
promotes spermatogenesis in
seminiferous tubules

• ICSH (Interstitial cell-stimulating

hormone) stimulates interstitial cells to
produce male hormones (eg
testosterone)

• Testosterone also stimulates sperm

production and activates the prostate
gland and seminal vesicles

• FSH and ICSH exhibit negative

feedback control on the pituitary gland
decreasing the level of testosterone
produced by the interstitial cells
 NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
CONTROL
• High levels of testosterone have an inhibitory effect on
the pituitary gland

• Inhibits secretion of FSH and ICSH

• Thus, levels of testosterone fall

• Inhibitory effect on pituitary ceases

• FSH and ICSH secretion increases

• Levels of testosterone increase

 SELF REGULATION OF
TESTOSTERONE
PITUITUARY GLAND
Stimulates
Inhibits

Testosterone
FSH ICSH

SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES INTERSTITIAL CELLS

Hormonal Control of the Menstrual
Cycle
 MENSTRUAL CYCLE
• Takes on average 28 days
• Menstruation is day 1 to 5 of
the cycle
• Endometrium starts to repair
• Ovulation day 14
• Endometrium thick and
spongy
• Menstruation in absence of
fertilised egg
• Consists of 32 phases-
Follicular phase & Luteal
phase
 Follicular Phase

• FSH
– Causes development of follicles in ovary
– Stimulates secretion of oestrogen by the
follicle

• oestrogen stimulates proliferation of the

endometrium preparing it for implantation and
affects the consistency of cervical mucus
making it easier for sperm to penetrate
 Luteal Phase
• LH
– Peak levels of oestrogen stimulate a surge in
the secretion of LH which triggers ovulation
– Causes Graafian follicle to rupture (ovulation)
– Causes development of the corpus luteum
from the follicle
– Stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete
progesterone
• Progesterone promotes further
development and vascularisation of the
endometrium preparing it to receive a
blastocyst if fertilisation occurs
• Ovum dies after 36 hours
 Negative Feedback Effect of
Ovarian Hormones on the Pituitary
• High levels of oestrogen and
progesterone have an
inhibitory effect on the pituitary
gland
• Decrease the levels of FSH
and LH which prevents further
follicles from developing
• The lack of LH leads to
degeneration of the corpus
luteum
• A drop in progesterone leads
to menstruation
Menstrual Cycle
FERTILISATION
FERTILISATION