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CHAPTER 3
Quick Revision Notes
HUMAN REPRODUCTION

Important Terms:
1.

Primary sex organs : Those reproductive/sex organs which produce gametes and sex
hormones, are called primary sex organs.

2.

Secondary sex organs : These reproductive/sex organs which perform important functions
in reproduction but do not form gametes or secrete sex hormones.

3. Gametogenesis : It refers to the process of formation of gametes for sexual

reproduction.
4.
5.

Spermatogenesis : It is the process of formation of spermatozoa in the seminiferous

tubules of the testes.
Spermiogenesis : It is the process of transformation of spermatids into spermatozoa.

6. Spermiation : It is the process of release of the spermatozoa form the seminiferous

tubules.
7. Semen : The fluid mixture of seminal plasma and the spermatoza, is called semen.
8. Oogenesis: Oogenesis is the process of formation of ova in the ovary.
9. Menarche : The beginning of menstruation at puberty in primate females, is called
menarche.
10. Ovulation : It is the process of rupture of a mature Graafian follicle and release of the
ovum (secondary oocyte) from it.
11. LH- surge : LH-surge refers to the maximum level of LH during middle of menstrual
cycle, which results in ovulation.
12. Menopause : Menopause refers to the stoppage of menstruation and the menstrual cycle
in human female at around the age of 45-50.
13. Insemination : It refers to the deposition of sperms (semen) into the female genital
tract.
14. Fertilisation : It is the process of fusion of a male gamete with a female gamete, leading
to the formation of zygote.
15. Implantation : It is the process in which the embryo becomes embedded/attached in/to
the wall of the uterus.
16. Umbilical cord : It is the structure that connects the placenta with the foetus.
17. Cleavage : Cleavage is the first phase of embryonic development where the zygote
undergoes mitotic divisions in quick successions to become a multicellular structure.
18. Foetal Ejection Reflex : The initial mild contractions of the uterus initiated by the fully
developed foetus and the placental hormones constitute the Foetal Ejection reflex.
19. Parturition : Parturition refers to the birth of a baby.
20. Lactation: Lactation is the process of production of milk in the mammary gland,towards
the end of pregnancy.
21. Colostrum: The first milk that comes out of the mammary gland of the mother, immediately
after child birth, is called colostrum

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Human reproductive system

Organ

Male reproductive system

Female reproductive system

Diagrammatic sectional view of male

pelvis showing reproductive system

Diagrammatic sectional view

female reproductive system

of

Diagrammatic view of male

reproductive system
Primary
sex
organ

Testes Produce gametes

Ovary Produce gametes

Accessory
ducts

Rete testis, vas efferentia, epididymis, vas

deferens tubes carrying
gametes.

Oviducts, uterus, cervix, vagina

Fertilization, entry of sperms.

Copulation
organ

Penis

Vagina

Specific
organs
or cells

Sertoli cells nourishment to the

gametes.

Wall of the uterus divided into-

Leydig or interstitial cells produce

androgens (male sex hormones).
Seminal vesicle, prostate gland,
bulbourethral gland secrete seminal
plasma to nourish the gametes.

(i) Endometrium cyclic changes during

menstrual cycle.
(ii) Myometrium-made up of of smooth
muscles - exhibit strong contractions
during delivery
(iii)Perimetrium-Outer
uterus.

layer

of

the

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A diagrammatic sectional view of Mammary gland

Mammary glands are paired structures containing glandular tissue.

Glandular tissue is divided into mammary lobes which contain cluster of milk producing
cells-alveoli.

Alveoli open into mammary tubules which join to form mammary ducts Mammary ducts
form mammary ampulla which are finally connected to lactiferous duct through which
milk is secreted.

GAMETOGENESIS
FORMATION OF SPERMS

FORMATION OF OVUM

Diagrammatic sectional view of ovary

Diagrammatic sectional view of a
seminiferous tubule

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Spermatogenesis

23

Oogenesis

ROLE OF HORMOMES ON THE MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Name and source
of the hormone

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

STIMULATES

ACTION

STIMULATES

ACTION

GnRH(Gonadotropin
Releasing
Hormone)from
Hypothalamus.

Pituitary
gland

Pituitary releases

Pituitary
gland

Pituitary releases

2)

Luteinising
hormone from
Pituitary

Leydig cells

3)

Androgens from
Leydig cells

4)

FSH

5)

Estrogen from
Developing
follicles.

1)

6)

Progesterone

(i)

(ii)

_
Sertoli cells

Luteinising
hormone
(LH) and

(i)

LH

(ii)

FSH

Follicle
Stimulating
Hormone (FSH)

Synthesis and
secretion of
androgens.
Spermatogenesis
Secretion of some
factors which help
in spermiogenesis.
_

Graafian
follicle

Release of Egg cell or

ovulation.

_
Follicles

Corpus
luteum

_
Development of
follicles

Development of
the secondary
sex organs

Development of the
endometrial wall

Maintenance of
Endometrium

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Structure of the Sperm.

Structure of sperm

Sperm can be divided into the following parts - head, neck, middle piece and tail.
(a) Head Consists of nucleus and acrosome which is filled with enzymes that help in
fertilization.
(b) Middle piece Has numerous mitochondria which help in giving energy for the
movement of the sperm.

Menstrual cycle

Various events during a menstrual cycle

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Onset of menstrual cycle is called menarche.

The cycle begins with the menstrual phase in which menstrual flow takes place. Menstrual
flow releases the degenerated egg cell , broken endometrial lining of the uterus and cells
through vagina

The menstrual phase is followed by follicular or proliferative phase which is followed by

finally the luteal or secretory phase.

The changes in the uterus and growth of the follicles is governed by ovarian and pituitary
hormones.

Fertilisation and post fertilization changes

Only one sperm fertilises the ovum as the sperm which comes in contact with the zone
pellucida layer induces a change in the the membrane that blocks the entry of the
additional sperms.

Fertilisation occurs at the ampullary isthmic zone.

As the zygote moves through the oviduct, mitosis or cleavage starts.

It results in formation of daughter cells called blastomeres. Morula is an embryo with

8-16 blastomeres.

The morula divides further to form blastocyst in which rearrangement of cells

trophoblast and inner cell mass takes place.

Inner cell mass get differentiated into ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm and it also
contains stem cells.

The blastocyst becomes embedded in the endometrium and this process is called
implantation.

into

PREGNANCY AND POST PREGNANCY CHANGES

Placenta is a structural and functional unit between the developing embryo and the
maternal body. It is formed by chorionic villi and uterine tissue which become interdigitated
with each other.

The human foetus within the uterus

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Placenta acts as an endocrine tissue and produces hormones such as hCG (human
chorionic gonadotropin) , hPL (human placental lactogen), estrogen, progestogen and in
the later stages relaxin.

Process of delivering of the foetus is called parturition

Oxytocin is the hormone which is responsible for causing uterine contraction and
expulsion of the baby out of the birth canal.