Defining the male and female reproductive tracts

Question 1

What are the functions of the reproductive organs?

Answer 1

production, storage and delivery of germ cells.

female: sustain and support developing embryo.

Question 2

What does the reproductive system of a female consist of?

Answer 2

Gonads - ovaries
Internal ducts - fallopian tube, uterus, cervix, vagina
External genitalia - vulva (clitoris, vestibule, labia)

Question 3

What is the location, appearance, functions, blood supply and innervation of the ovaries?

Answer 3

Lateral wall of pelvis, inferior to pelvic inlet
‘Greek olive’ shape
Egg production and hormone secretion
Gonadal arteries and veins
Ovarian plexus (abdomen)

Question 4

What are the contents of the ovaries?

Answer 4

Ovarian cortex:
ovarian follicles – germ cells to become ova 
smooth muscle cells
corpus luteum – secretes progesterone
theca - secrete androgens 
granulosa - converts to oestrogen
Ovarian medulla: 
blood/lymph vessels and nerves

Question 5

Outline the female internal duct system

Answer 5

Ova travel – exiting the ovaries, within the abdomen:

fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina

Question 6

What are the three areas of the fallopian tubes?

Answer 6

infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus

Question 7

What is the function of the fallopian tubes?

Answer 7

inner wall contain cilia that propel ovum, normally the site of fertilisation. fimbriae capture released ovum.

Question 8

Which veins, arteries and nerves supply the fallopian tubes?

Answer 8

branches from uterine and ovarian arteries and veins

innervation: symp from ovarian and parasymp from pelvic splanchnic nerve

Question 9

What is the shape and function of the uterus?

Answer 9

Body – cone shaped, upper 2/3rd
Cervix – cylindrical, lower 1/3rd
Site of implantation of fertilized egg and foetus development

Question 10

What are the walls of the uterus?

Answer 10

Perimetrium – outer serous wall covering uterus
Myometrium – thick muscular layer, responsible for parturition
Endometrium – inner mucous layer; site of implantation; thickness changes through menstrual cycle.

Question 11

What is the innervation to the uterus?

Answer 11

symp from hypogastric plexus; parasymp via pelvic splanchnic nerve.
touch and pain (birth): via somatic afferents to S2-S4.

Question 12

What is the function of the cervix?

Answer 12

Thick muscular layer supports development of foetus
Lumen – cervical canal
internal os – communicates with uterus
external os – communicates with vagina

Question 13

What is the function of the vagina?

Answer 13

canal for menstruation, receives penis during copulation (semen), forms part of birth canal

Question 14

Which structures make up the external genitalia in females and what are their functions?

Answer 14

Mons pubis
Labia minora - encloses vestibule (openings for vagina and urethra) and clitoris
Labia – copulatory organ
Urethra – outflow of urine
Clitoris – arousal (erectile tissue)
Bartholin (vestibular glands) – lubrication of vestibule

Question 15

What is the blood supply, drainage and innervation of the female external genitalia?

Answer 15

pudendal artery and vein

branches of genitofemoral and pudendal nerve (e.g. dorsal nerve of clitoris)

Question 16

What does the reproductive system of a male consist of?

Answer 16

Gonads - testis
Internal ducts - efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens, accessory glands, urethra
External genitalia - penis, scrotum

Question 17

What is the location, appearance, function, blood and innervation of the testis?

Answer 17

housed in scrotum
small egg-shaped
sperm production and hormone secretion
gonadal arteries and veins
spermatic plexus (abdomen)

Question 18

What are the contents of the testis?

Answer 18

lobules each have 4 seminiferous tubules:
spermatogenic – generate sperm cells
sertoli – support germ cell production.
Leidig cells (interstitial): secrete testosterone

Question 19

Sperm travels through which structures?

Answer 19

Seminiferous tubules – coiled tubules, sperm is produced
Rete testis – straight tubules
Efferent ductules – ducts leaving testis
Epididymis – transport and storage of sperm
Vas deferens – thin muscular tube

Question 20

What is the function of the spermatic cord and which structures does it contain and how does it enter the abdomen?

Answer 20

suspends testes in scrotum.
contains vas deferens, blood (testicular) and lymphatic vessels, cremaster muscle and nerves (e.g. branch of genitofemoral).
Enter abdomen via superficial inguinal ring (then canal)

Question 21

What is the blood supply and innervation to the pelvic viscera?

Answer 21

those that primarily supply the lower bladder – inferior vesical
rectum – middle rectal
symp innervation from splanchnic and hypogastric plexus, parasympathetic from pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-3)

Question 22

What are the male accessory glands?

Answer 22

Deferens duct is joined by accessory glands:
Seminal vesicles – secretes alkaline fluid, fructose and coagulate.
Prostate – located at base of bladder; secretes prostatic fluid.
Bulbourethral glands – located inferior to prostate, secretion assists lubrication of ducts.

Question 23

Which structure does the male urethra lead into and what does it become?

Answer 23

Leads into prostatic urethra, becomes membranous, then penile/spongy urethra