Reproductive system Flashcards
Spermatic cord
- Contains blood vessels, nerves, ductus deferent
- Blood vessels: Testicular artery, testicular vein
- Ductus deferens: transports sperm to ejaculatory duct
- Nerves= testicular nerve
Superior portion of ductus deferens - Runs through inguinal canal
Inguinal canal
Deep inguinal ring: entrance to the inguinal canal. They descend to the deep ring by the 3rd month of development
Superficial inguinal ring= exit from the inguinal canal. Provides exit for testis to scrotum
The testes complete their descent into the scrotum through the inguinal canal in the 7th to 9th testes month
Scrotum
- Temperature regulator
- A scrotal septum divides the scrotum into 2 compartments
- Wall of scrotum: External (skin); smooth muscle
- Involuntary contraction of dartos muscle cause wrinkles on the scrotal surface to prevent heat loss
- Cremaster muscle: elevation of testes in cold environments
- The dartos muscles contracts the shin of the testes; the cremaster muscle controls the distance of the testes from the body
Testes
- The testes produce sperm and testosterone
- The testes are suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic cord
- Each testis is covered by a visceral layer of tunica vaginalis testis and tunica albuginea
- The testes have 2 main cell types: Sertoli cells produce sperm and Leydig cells produce testosterone
- Epididymis: stores matures and stores sperm for ejaculation
Visceral and parietal layers of Tunica Vaginalis testis
Tunica vaginalis
- A serous membrane derived from the peritoneum of the ab cavity
- It has an outer parietal layer and an inner visceral layer separated by serous fluid
Tunica albuginea
- A thick fibrous capsule that covers the testis
- Lies immediately deep to the visceral layer of tunica vaginalis
- It projects internally into the testis forming a septa, which divides the internal space into lobules
Testes - A tubular system
Seminiferous Tubules
- Hundreds of highly coiled tubes packed into tunica albuginea
- Site of spermatogenesis
Straight tubules
- Collect sperm from seminiferous tubules
Rate testis
- Collect sperm from straight tubules
Efferent ducts
- Carry sperm to epididymis
Epididymis
- Coiled tube along side of testis
- Sperm storage and maturation
Ductus deferens and Ejaculatory ducts
- Muscular tube that transports the sperm from epididymis to the ejaculatory duct
- Its wall contains an inner Mosa, a middle muscularis and an outer adventitia
- Muscular contains smooth muscle
Ejaculatory ducts - Each of the 2 ejaculatory ducts is formed by the merge of the ductus deferens and the seminal vesicles
- Both ejaculatory ducts pass through the prostate gland and empty into the urethra
Accessory glands
- The seminal vesicle, prostate gland and bulbourethral glands are accessory glands that secrete seminal fluid
- Seminal fluid is alkaline and mixes with sperms transported up the ductus deferens to form semen
Seminal vesicle - Paired, posterior surface of the bladder
- Secretes a viscous fluid of fructose prostaglandin
- Sugars nourish sperm
- Prostaglandin dilate the cervix
Bulbourethral glands - Paired, inferior to prostrate
- Secrete a viscous mucus that protects the urethra and serves as a lubricant during sexual intercourse
Postrate gland
- Encircles the prostatic urethra
- Consists of 20-30 compound tubuloalveolar glands
- The prostate secretes a slightly alkaline (pH 7.3) semen fluid which neutralizes the acidity of the vagina
- The prostate secretes a milky appearing fluid that 25-30% of the volume of the semen
The penis
External: Body, glans penis- distal expanded end, prepuce
- foreskin
Internal= 3 spongy erectile bodies which contain large amounts of vascular space
One corpus spongiosum:
- Surrounds surface of the flaccid penis, expanded distal end is known as the glans penis
2 corpora cavernosa:
- Paired masses, anterior surface of flaccid penis, make up most of the penis
Female reproduction system
Functions
- Produce gametes (oocytes)
- Protects and supports the developing embryo
- Facilitates birth
- Nourishes the newborn infant
Organs
- Primary - ovaries
- Accessory - uterine tubes, uterus and vagina
Male urethra
- Carries sperm from ejaculatory ducts to ‘‘outside’’
- 3 or 4 parts of male urethra
1. Prostatic urethra
2. Membrane or intermediate
3. Spongy urethra - 2 urethral spinsters
In males internal urethral sphincter stop semen from back flowing into bladder and prevents the simultaneous passage of sperm and urine through the male urethra
Ovary
- Pained oval-organs; site of oocyte development
- Do not anchor to the fallopian tubes directly
- The only intraperitoneal organ
- Anchored to body wall via broad ligament
- Anchored to the outer layer of the uterus via the ovarian ligaments
- Suspensory ligament attaches to the lateral edge of each ovary and projects superolateral to the pelvic wall
- Mesovarium: The part of the broad ligament covering the ovary at the hilum
Pouches the parietal peritoneum and perineum
2 pouches
- Vesico-uterine pouch: Between uterus and bladder
- Recto- uterine pouch: Between uterus and rectum
Perineum
- Diamond shape extending from the pubis anteriorly to the coccyx posteriorly
Urogenital
- Females: Clitoris and urethral and vaginal orifices
- Males: The base of penis and the scrotum
- House the muscle that surrounds external genitalia
Anal triangle
- The location of the anus in both sexes
- Surrounding the anus is the external and sphincter
Ovary- Microscopic Anatomy
- The outermost layer is called the ovarian epithelium
- The connective tissue below the ovarian epithelium is called tunica albuginea
- The ovarian cortex consists of ovarian follicles whereas the medulla consists blood vessels and nerves
- Release of the ovum is called ovulation
