Human reproductive system

Introduction to reproduction in human

beings.
• Human beings are unisexual and the human reproduction is highly
evolved. There is a distinct sexual dimorphism i.e males are visibly
different from females in physical build up, external genital organs
and external sex characters .
• The structure associated with male reproduction is called as male
reproductive system and with female reproduction is called female
reproductive system. The reproductive systems of males and females
consist of many organs which are distinguishable into primary and
secondary sex organs.
Primary and secondary sex organs
• The primary sex organs are gonads, which produces gametes ( or sex cells)
and secrete sex hormones.
• The gonads of the male are called testes which produce male
gametes sperms and the male hormones- Testosterone.
• The gonads of the female are called ovaries which produce female
gametes ova and female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
• The secondary sex organs include the genital ducts and glands which
help in transportation of gametes and reproductive process. They do
no produce gametes or secrete hormones.
Primary and secondary sexual characters
• Primary sexual characters like external genitalia are those present at
birth, whereas secondary sexual characters are those that develop at
puberty.
 What is puberty ?
• Puberty is the age of human males and females at which the
reproductive organs become functional, gonads start producing
gametes and sex hormones and boys and girls become sexually mature.
• It is attained between the age of 13 to 14 years in males and between 10 to
12 years in females.
• In males, puberty is triggered by the secretion of hormone- testosterone
from the testes. The hormones brings about the development of secondary
sexual characters during puberty and maintains these throughout adult life.
• In females, puberty is triggered by the production of the hormone- estrogen
from the ovaries. This hormone brings about the growth and maturation of
the reproductive tract and the development of secondary sexual characters
 (i) Secondary sexual characters in human
males.
1.Enlargement of penis and scrotum.
2.Broadening of the shoulders and increased muscle
development .
3.Enlargement of larynx and thickening of vocal cords
producing deepening of the voice.
4.Growth of pubic hair and extra hair on the face, in the
armpits and on the chest
5.Changes in behaviour associated with courtship and
mating
6.Increase in height.
(ii) Secondary sexual characters in human
femlaes.
1.Growth of breasts and external genitalia (vulva).
2.Growth of pubic hair and extra hair in the armpits
3.Hair on beard, moustache and chest are lacking
4.Broadening of pelvis
5.Initiation of menstruation and ovulation
6.Increase in fat particularly in thighs, shoulders, buttocks and face
Male reproductive system.
• Human male reproductive system consists of following organs
1. Testes
2. Scrotum
3. Vas deferens
4. Epididymis
5. Urethra
6. Penis
1. Testes
• The human male posses two testes, Which are the primary
reproductive organs , lying outside abdominal cavity. The two testes
are the male gonads, which are the sites where sperms are made.
• The sperms formed in testes come out and go into coiled tube called
epididymis. From epididymis the sperms carried by a long tube called
vas deferens
• The testes also produce the male sex hormone- testosterone. The
testes of man produces sperms from puberty onwards. Throughout his
life
 2. Scrotum

• The scrotum is a pouch of skin that hangs between the legs divided internally
into right and left scrotal sacs by a muscular partition. The two testes lie in the
respective scrotal sacs.
• The scrotum acts as a thermo regulator and provides an optimal temperature
for the formation of sperms. The sperm develops at a temperature 1-30C lower
than the normal body temperature.
• So during winters, the scrotum shrinks to bring the testes close to the body to
get warmth.
• During summers when the temperature rises the scrotum becomes relaxed to
lose heat.
3.Vas deferens
• This is a straight tube about 40 cm long which carries the sperms to
the seminal vesicles.
• The sperms are stored temporarily in the seminal vesicle where
mucus and a watery alkaline fluid containing the sugar-fructose mix
with the sperms.
4. Epididymis
• The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that rests on the backside of each testicle. It
transports and stores sperm cells that are produced in the testes.
• It also is the job of the epididymis to bring the sperm to maturity, since the sperm
that emerge from the testes are immature and incapable of fertilization.
5.Penis
• Penis is a long and thick muscular organ made up of mostly erectile tissue. The
Tip of penis consists of a soft and highly sensitive GLANS PENIS, which is covered
by a loose retractable fold of skin, called foreskin.
• In human males, there is only one opening for the urine and sperms to pass out
of body.
Female reproductive system
• The female reproductive system is more complex as compared to that
of the males due to following reasons.
• Supporting sperms accepted from males
• assisting in movement upto egg.
• Fertilisation
• And post fertilisation changes,
Parts of Female reproductive system.
• ovaries
• Fallopian tube (Oviducts)
• Uterus
• Vagina
1.Ovaries
• Each human female contains two almond shaped ovaries located in the lower
part of abdominal cavity near the kidney. Each ovary is connected by a
ligament to the uterus.
• The ovaries are primary sex organs which perform dual function
• Production of female gametes (eggs or ova)
• Secretion of female sex hormones ( estrogen and progesterone ).
• Each ovary is composed of ovarian follicles at various stages of development.
Each follicle contains a large ovum surrounded by many layers of follicle cells.
• The production of ova starts at the age of puberty. Usually one ovum is
produced during every month during the fertile years of a woman
 2.Fallopian tubes ( Oviducts )
• A fallopian tube is about 10-12 cm long muscular tube which carries egg from
the ovary to the uterus and also provides the appropriate environment for its
feritlisation.
• The funnel shaped opening end of each fallopian tube lies near the posterior
ends of each ovary.
• The other ends of the long narrow tubes open into the uterus.
 3. Uterus
• The uterus is the large inverted pear shaped muscular structure that lies
behind the bladder.
• If fertilisation takes place the embryo gets attached to the walls of uterus and
grows there until birth.
 4. Vagina
• This is a muscular tube about 7-1 cm long whose walls contain elastic tissue.
• It is well adapted to receive the male’s penis during copulation.
• The vagina is also called “birth canal”, as it allows passage of the baby at the
time of child birth.
• In human females, the urinary opening( i.e., external opening of urethra)
and vaginal openings are separate.
Sexual cycle in females
• The fertility period of human female begins at the age of puberty (
about 10-12 years of age), when one of the two ovaries stats
releasing ovum ( female gamete). They alternatively release their ova
one after the other and the period of release of ova is 28-30 days.(
each cycle lasts about 28-30 days i.e one ovum is released per cycle.)
• Menstrual cycle: The cycle of events taking place in female
reproductive organs i.e. in ovaries and uterus, under the control of
sex hormones in every 28 days and marked by bleeding or menstrual
flow is called menstrual cycle.
Menarche and Menopause
• At puberty, the commencement of menstruation is termed as
menarche. It marks the beginning of reproductive life of a human
female. The reproductive cycles continue to occur till the age of 50.
• Cessation of cycle of events in ovary and uterus around the age of
50yeas and stoppage of menstrual flow is termed as menopause
Fertilization
Population control
• The regulation of conception by preventive measures or
devices to control the number of offsprings is called birth
control.
• The devices used for birth control is called as contraceptives
The methods to avoid unwanted pregnancies
• Barrier method
• Chemical method
• Intrauterine Contraceptive devices
• Natural methods
• Surgical methods
 Barrier method
• 1. Condoms: These are thin strong rubber sheaths used by man to
cover the erect penis. It is simple but effective and widely used
contraceptive that has no side effects. It checks pregnancy by
preventing deposition of semen in the Vagina
• 2. Femidom: It is no common contraceptive method. A femidom is
a thin rubber or polyutherane tube which fits inside vagina. It is
used by female before starting coital activities
• 3. Diaphagram (cervical cap) It is a flexible rubber/plastic cover
that is fitted over the cervix in the female’s vagina. It checks the
entry into uterus. These are smeared with a spermicidal jelly or
cream and must be kept fitted for atleast six hours after sexual
intercourse.
 Chemical methods
• Foam tablets, jellies pastes, creams and spermicides are
some common chemicals used by females. These are placed
in vagina. These chemicals adhere to the mucous membrane
and immobilise and kill the sperms
• Oral pills: These pills are used to check ovulation. These are
mainly hormonal preparations and contain oestrogen and
progesterone. These prevent development of egg and
ovulation by stopping the secretion of FSH.
• Vaginal pills: These are drug preparations which contain
spermicides. They are used before copulation.
 IUCD
• These are contraceptive devices made of
copper, plastic or stainless steel. A copper-T is
inserted into uterus by a practising doctor or a
skilled nurse and left in place. It prevents
implantation in uterus. The other IUCD are
loop, spiral, ring bow and shield. These can be
placed for long periods Upto 5 years
• The side effects are bleeding and discomfort.
IUCD may come out even without the women’s
knowledge.
Natural methods

• Abstinence ( avoid copulation)

• Rhythm method ( avoid copulation around
the time of ovulation )
• Coitus interruptus ( withdrawal of penis
before ejaculation )
 Surgical methods
• Surgical methods are safe in the long run but they may cause infection
and other problems if not done properly
• Vasectomy: This is a small surgical operation performed in males. It
involves removal of a small portion of sperm duct or vas deferens by
surgical operation the two cut end are then tied with threads.This
prevents the sperms from coming out.
• Tubectomy: this is a surgical operation performed in females. It involves
removal of a small portion of the fallopian tube by surgical operation.
The cut ends are then litigated with threads. It prevents the egg or
ovum to enter the fallopian tube
• Abortion is the medical termination of pregnancy before the foetus
becomes viable. However this method is widely misused by people who
do not want a female child. It is illegal.
Reproductive health and sexually transmitted
diseases
• Reproduction is an important biological process like nutrition,
respiration, transportation excretion etc. The reproductive life of
human begins at puberty and continues throughout life in males and
menopause in females. Like physical fitness, mental fitness and social
fitness, the human beings need fitness of reproductive life this is
called reproductive life.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• The infectious diseases, which are spread from an infected person to a healthy
person by sexual contact, are called sexually transmitted dieseas
1.Gonorrhoea: Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacterium Nisseria gonorrhoea. The
victim feels burning sensation and pain during urination. The diseases causes
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urinogenital tract, rectum, throat
and eye. There may be pus from the penis and excessive secretion of vagina. It
spreads by sexual contact and through infested clothes. The disease is easily
curable with antibiotics.