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A. External structure
1. Scrotum
Rugated and skin covered muscular pouch suspended from the perinuim
Function: support the testes and help regulate the temperature of sperm
2. Testes
2 ovoid glands, 2-3cm and lie in the scrotum
Encases by a protective white fibrous connective capsule composed of number of
lobules
Function: it produces gametes, or sperm and they secrete hormones especially
testosterone
3. Glans penis
4. Prepuce or foreskin
5. Shaft
B. Internal structure
1. Epididymis
A highly coiled tube about 6m long
Function: It transports and stores sperm cells that are produced in the testes and
also bring the sperm to maturity
2. Vas deferens
is a long, muscular tube that travels from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity, to just
behind the bladder
Function: it propel live sperm from their sites, the epididymis and distal part of the
ductus deferens into the urethra
3. Seminal vesicles
Located at the base of the bladder
Function: It prroduce about 60% of fluid volume of the semen which contain sugar,
vit C, protein prostaglandin and is alkaline that makes the perm motile.
4. Ejaculatory duct
Pass through the prostate glands and join the seminal vesicles with the urethra
Function: delivers sperm into the urethra
5. Prostate gland
a chestnut size gland that lies below the bladder
Function: secretes thin alkaline fluid
A. External Structure
5. Clitoris
It is a small protruding structure that correspond to male penis
Function: It is the center for arousal and orgasm in female
8. Perineum
A muscular area stretch during childbirth
Function: it play an important role in micturition, defecation, sexual intercourse and
childbirth
9. Hymen
It is tough elastic semi-circle tissue that covers the opening to the vagina in childhood
Function: It serves as a protection because it helps to prevent things from being pushed
into the vagina and it also protect the vagina from germs and dirt
B. Internal structure
1. Ovaries
It is approximately 4cm long by 2 cm diameter almond in shape and located close to the
both side of the uterus
Function: It produces mature and discharge ova and they also produce the reproductive
hormones, oestrogen and progesterone
2. Fallopian Tube
It arises from the upper corner of the uterine body and extend outward and backward until
each opens at the distal end
Function: It convey the ovum from the ovaries to the uterus and provide a place for
fertilization
3. Uterus
It is a hollow muscular organ, pear shape organ located in the lower pelvis poster to the
bladder and anterior to the rectum
Function: it provide a place for implantation and nourishment during fetal growth.
Dimensions
a) Corpus- the body which form the bulk and expand during pregnancy
b) Fundus- portion of the uterus between the point of attachments of the fallopian
tube and its main function is to force uterine contraction
4. Cervix
It is the lower portion
Function: it allows flow of menstrual blood from the uterus into the vagina and direct
sperms into the uterus during intercourse
Uterine walls
a) Endometrium-innermost lining layer of the uterus which prevent adhesion
between the opposed walls of the myometrium
b) Myometrium-middle layer of the uterine wall which induce uterine contraction
c) Perimetrium-outermost layer of the uterus which provides added strength and
support the uterus
5. Vagina
it is a hollow muscular membrane and located posterior to the bladder and anterior to the
rectum
Function: it is an organ of intercourse and it conveys sperm to the cervix so that sperm
can meet with the ovum to the fallopian tube
Breast
Located anterior to the pectoral muscle
Contains acinar cells that produce milk
a) Nipples- composed of smooth muscle that is capable of erection during
breastfeeding
b) Areola-provide lubrication for the nipple during nursing.
Menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in
preparation for the possibility of pregnancy.
Purpose
Bring ovum to maturity
Renew the uterine tissue bed
Phases of Menstrual cycle
Fetal Circulation
It is the blood circulation in the fetus. Before birth, blood from the fetal heart that is
destined for the lungs is shunted away from the lungs through a short vessel called the
ductus arteriosus and returned to the aorta
Three shunts in the fetal circulation
1. Ductus arteriosus
- protects lungs against circulatory overload
- allows the right ventricle to strengthen
- hi pulmonary vascular resistance, low pulmonary blood flow
- carries mostly med oxygen saturated blood
2. Ductus venosus
- fetal blood vessel connecting the umbilical vein to the IVC
- blood flow regulated via sphincter
- carries mostly hi oxygenated blood
3. Foramen ovale
-shunts highly oxygenated blood from right atrium to left atrium
The fetus is connected by the umbilical cord to the placenta. This is the organ that
develops and implants in the mother's uterus during pregnancy.
Through the blood vessels in the umbilical cord, the fetus gets all needed nutrition
and oxygen. The fetus gets life support from the mother through the placenta.
Waste products and carbon dioxide from the fetus are sent back through the umbilical
cord and placenta to the mother's circulation to be removed.
The fetal circulatory system uses 3 shunts. These are small passages that direct blood that
needs to be oxygenated. The purpose of these shunts is to bypass the lungs and liver. That's
because these organs will not work fully until after birth. The shunt that bypasses the lungs is
called the foramen ovale. This shunt moves blood from the right atrium of the heart to the left
atrium. The ductus arteriosus moves blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta.
Oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood are sent across the placenta to the fetus.
The enriched blood flows through the umbilical cord to the liver and splits into 3 branches. The
blood then reaches the inferior vena cava. This is a major vein connected to the heart. Most of
this blood is sent through the ductus venosus. This is also a shunt that lets highly oxygenated
blood bypass the liver to the inferior vena cava and then to the right atrium of the heart. A small
amount of this blood goes straight to the liver to give it the oxygen and nutrients it needs . Waste
products from the fetal blood are transferred back across the placenta to the mother's blood.
Blood enters the right atrium. This is the chamber on the upper right side of the heart.
When the blood enters the right atrium, most of it flows through the foramen ovale into the
left atrium.
Blood then passes into the left ventricle. This is the lower chamber of the heart. Blood then
passes to the aorta. This is the large artery coming from the heart.
From the aorta, blood is sent to the heart muscle itself and to the brain and arms. After
circulating there, the blood returns to the right atrium of the heart through the superior vena
cava. Very little of this less oxygenated blood mixes with the oxygenated blood. Instead of
going back through the foramen ovale, it goes into the right ventricle.
This less oxygenated blood is pumped from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. A
small amount of the blood continues on to the lungs. Most of this blood is shunted through the
ductus arteriosus to the descending aorta. This blood then enters the umbilical arteries and
flows into the placenta. In the placenta, carbon dioxide and waste products are released into
the mother's circulatory system. Oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood are released
into the fetus' blood.
At birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and the baby no longer gets oxygen and nutrients
from the mother. With the first breaths of life, the lungs start to expand. As the lungs expand, the
alveoli in the lungs are cleared of fluid. An increase in the baby's blood pressure and a major
reduction in the pulmonary pressures reduce the need for the ductus arteriosus to shunt blood.
These changes help the shunt close. These changes raise the pressure in the left atrium of the
heart. They also lower the pressure in the right atrium. The shift in pressure stimulates the
foramen ovale to close.
Blood circulation after birth
The closure of the ductus arteriosus, ductus venosus, and foramen ovale completes the change
of fetal circulation to newborn circulation.
Maternal/ Placental Circulation
Umbilical Cord
Provides a circulatory pathway that connects the embryo to the chorionic villi of the
placenta which transports nutrients and oxygen to the fetus from the placenta and return
waste products from the fetus to the placenta.
53 cm (21in.) in length at term and about 2 cm (0.75in.) thick.
Wharton jelly forms the bulk of the umbilical cord that prevents pressure on the vein and
arteries.
Rate of Blood Flow= 350ml/min at term
Amniotic Membrane
A dual walled-sac with the chorion as the outermost part and the amnion as the
innermost part. The two fuses together as the pregnancy progresses and by term, appears
as a single sac.
Amniotic fluid serves as a shock observer for the unborn to protect it from any harmful
or outside factors.
Amniotic membrane does not only support amniotic fluid but also actually produces
amniotic fluid
Chorionic membrane outer membrane that supports the amnion, the embryo and other
entities in the womb. It is considered as the support platform of the fetus and the amnion.
Placenta
Unique vascular organ that receives blood supplies from both maternal and the fetal
systems and thus has two separate circulatory systems for blood. Fetomaternal organ
Chorionic plate the fetal surface of the placenta that gives rise to the chorionic villi.
Chorionic villi resembling probing fingers that contains capillaries for blood to flow through. It
serves as a fence between the fetal blood and maternal blood during the time of fetal
development.
2 Layers of Throphoblast
Syncytiothrophoblast –responsible for the production of various fetal
Cytothropoblast (Langhan’s Layer)- use to protect the growing embryo from certain
organism
*Embryonic blood is carried to the villi by the various branches of the umbilical arteries. The blood
circulates through the capillaries of the villi and is the returned to the fetus through the umbilical
vein. Oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood diffuse through the walls of the villi and
provide nourishment for the growing fetus. Carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus
circulate through the villi back into the mother’s blood.
Intervillous spaces grows larger and larger as the chorionic villi increases, becoming
separated by 30 or more partitions or septa. These compartments are known as
cotyledons which makes the side of the placenta looks rough and uneven.
Basal plate
the peripheral region of the placenta on the maternal side that is in contact with the uterine
wall.
Part of the endometrium which casts off during menstruation but will continue to grow in
thickness and vascularity during pregnancy and will be discarded off after birth.
Umbilical Arteries
Umbilical Chorionic Chorionic Intervillous
cord Umbilical Vein
plate Villi space
Basal plate
*Where diffusion of
Oxygen and nutrients
takes place from Maternal
maternal to fetal and vessels
diffusion of Carbon
dioxide from fetal to
maternal
Mechanism by which Nutrients cross the placenta
Mechanism Description
Diffusion Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, sodium and
Chloride
Facilitated Diffusion Glucose
Active Transport Essential Amino acid and water-
soluble vitamins
Pinocytosis Gamma globin, lipoproteins and
phospholipids