Reproductive System – Summary Notes

 Reproduction is the process by which an organism produces its own kind to continue its
existence is called reproduction. There are two types of reproduction: asexual and sexual.
 Asexual reproduction is the type of reproduction in which a new organism develops from
single parent. Offsprings produced by asexual reproduction are genetically identical to the
parent.
 Sexual reproduction is the type of reproduction in which a new organism develops from
the fusion of male and female sex cells, by the formation of a zygote. The fusion of male
and female gametes is called fertilization. The zygote formed develops into an embryo. The
embryo develops into a baby. The baby eventually develops into an adult.
 The organs involved in the process of reproduction constitute a system known as reproductive
system.
 Testis produce gametes or sperm in males and ovaries produce gametes or sex cells. Testes (in
males) and ovary (in females) are primary sex organs.
 Various organs, ducts and glands which are essential for reproduction but do not produce
gametes are called secondary sex organs or accessory reproductive structures.
 Secondary sexual characters of male and female sexes are those which distinguish them in
external appearance but do not have any direct role to play in reproduction. They include beard,
moustaches, body hair, pubic hair, voice in males and breast, body contour and broadening of
pelvic bone in female reproductive organs.

 Female Reproductive Organs

 Ovaries are a pair of small, almond-shaped structures, one on either side of the backbone
attached to the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity behind the kidneys. They produce ova
and female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
 Ovulation is the release of ovum from the ovary.
 The immature ovum surrounded by nutritive cell is called follicle. As the egg grows larger,
the follicle also enlarges and gets filled with a fluid and is now called the Graafian follicle.
When ripe, the follicle bulges over the surface of the ovary.
 Oogenesis is the process in which the ovum producing cells give rise to the mature ovum,
i.e., the formation of gametes in the ovary.
 The leftover follicle mass changes to yellow pigmented body called corpus luteum. It
secretes hormones progesterone and oestrogen that control the length of reproductive cycle
and maintain pregnancy, if fertilization of ovum occurs.
 Oviducts or Fallopian tubes or uterine tubes are a pair of tubes that extend from near the
ovaries to the uterus.
 Uterus is a hollow pear-shaped muscular structure that lies between the urinary bladder
and the rectum in the pelvis region. Its upper broader part is called fundus, middle part is

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 called the body and the lower narrow part is called the cervix, the neck that leads into
vagina.

 Vagina is a narrow muscular canal which is about 10 to 15 cm in length. It opens to the

outside through vaginal opening situated in the vestibule between the folds of labia minora
of the vulva, the female genitalia. At the lower end of the vagina normally there is a fold of
mucus membrane the hymen, in the virginal state, which partially closes the orifice.

 Menstrual cycle is a monthly cycle of events associated with ovulation. The lining of the
uterus becomes progressively thick with more blood vessels in anticipation for the
implantation of the fertilized egg cell. If by chance fertilization does not occurs then the
uterine wall breaks down and gets discharged from the body in the form of blood flow,
which is called menstruation or period. It starts at the puberty age of the female child, i.e.,
13 years and above (45 – 50). In females, the fertile period is 11 to 15 days after the end of
the last menstruation.
 Menarche is the onset of menstruation in young females (13 years). Menopause is the time
in female’s life when menstruation stops (45 – 55 years) completely.

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  The menstrual cycle completes in 28 days, i.e., from onset of menstruation to the next
menstruation cycle. A normal menstruation cycle passes through four phases:
(i) Menstrual phase (ii) Follicular phase
(iii) Ovulatory phase (iv) Luteal phase

 Male Reproduction Organs

 Tests are a pair of small, oval, extra abdominal structures. They are located in a sac called
scrotum.
 This helps in the development of sperms at the temperature a few degrees  2  3 C below
the normal body temperature.
 The testes produce the male gametes known as sperm. They also produce male sex hormone
androgen of which testosterone is the principal one. The main functions of testosterone are
the development of male secondary characteristics and stimulation of protein metabolism.

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 Each testis is covered by a connective tissue covering which is internally partitioned into
lobules. Each lobule contains many seminiferous tubules lined by germinal epithelial cells.
These cells undergo spermatogenesis to produce spermatozoa, which produces sperms.
 Mature sperm moves through the seminiferous tubules and are stored in the epididymis.
 Interstitial cells or Leydig’s cells lie in between seminiferous tubules, which produce male
hormone testosterone. The cells of Sertoli lie between the germinal cells and supply
nourishment to the developing sperms.
 Vasa deferentia travels into the abdomen after passing through the inguinal canal. It is the
passage through which the testis descend down before the birth of a child.
 Urethra is a tube that runs from the urinary bladder, through the penis to the outside of the
body.
 Penis is located in front of the scrotal sac of the body between the groins.
 The tip of the penis is slightly broader and is called glans penis. It is covered by a loose
fold of skin called prepuce.

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 Accessory glands are the glands whose secretion is essential for reproduction but do not
help to produce gametes.

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  Seminal vesicles: These are found between the urinary bladder and the rectum, joined to
vas deferens to form ejaculatory ducts. Seminal vesicles secrete a whitish alkaline fluid,
that constitutes the major part of semen.
Gland Secretion Purpose
1. Seminal vesicle  Fructose Energy for the sperms
 Mucus Lubrication
 Protein Forms clots, which alter consistency
of semen
2. Prostate gland  Clear fluid or lubricant Clean urethra prior to ejaculation
 Prostate gland: It is a single, large, dough-nut shaped gland that surrounds the urethra in
the area where it receives ejaculatory ducts.
 The secretion of this gland is thin and slightly alkaline and it accounts for the mobility and
the viability of sperm.
 Cowper’s glands (Bulbourethral glands): They are a pair of small glands attached to the
middle or membranous part of urethra, about 4 or 5 cm below the prostate gland. Cowper’s
glands open into the urethra by separate ducts. Their secretion contains mucus which
lubricates the urethra.

 Structure of a sperm

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 Structure of an ovum

 Fertilisation is the union of the sperm nucleus and the nucleus of the ovum to form a
zygote. It normally occurs in Fallopian tube, usually within 24 hours after ovulation.

Implantation is the attachment (embedding) of fertilized egg or embryo to the uterine wall
of the mother is called implantation.
 Pregnancy is the period of time in which a female carries a baby in her womb before giving
birth. In humans it last for nine months.

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 Pregnancy is also called gestation period. For most women, gestation lasts for 280 days. In
human pregnancy, the developing baby is called an embryo during the first two months of
the pregnancy. After the second months until birth the developing baby is called a foetus.
 The placenta allows exchange of oxygen, nutrients, glucose, antibodies, proteins, fats, salts
and viruses from maternal blood to foetal blood, CO2 and nitrogenous wastes from foetus
to mother, by diffusion.
 In placenta, the blood of the foetus comes very close to, but never mixes with the blood of
the mother.
 At the end of the gestation period, the strong circular muscles in the wall of the uterus
undergo forceful contraction. This is called labour, which helps to push the baby down
through the cervix and the vagina (birth canal). This whole process is called parturition.

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