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Chapter 31

The Reproductive System

Overview of the Reproductive

System
Overview of the Reproductive System
The reproductive system produces specialized cells known as gametes to conceive offspring. The gonads are the primary reproductive organs that produce ...
Testes: Gross Anatomy
Testes: Gross Anatomy
The paired testes are the male gonads. Each testis, weighing 10 to 15 grams, measures about 5 cm long, 3 cm wide, and 2.5 cm thick. The tunica albuginea, ...
Testes: Histology
Testes: Histology
A tough, fibrous membrane, the tunica albuginea, covers the testes, extending inward to form fibrous partitions or septa, dividing them into internal ...
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis begins at puberty and continues late into life, producing sperm in the seminiferous tubules. It has three main stages — mitosis, ...
Accessory Ducts of the Male
Reproductive System
Accessory Ducts of the Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system is a complex network of organs and tissues that work together to produce and transport sperm. The epididymis, vasa deferens, ...
Penis
Penis
The penis, part of the external male genitalia, is involved in both sexual reproduction and urination. Its cylindrical shape has three primary regions ...
Sperm Transport
Sperm Transport
Inside the seminiferous tubule of the testis, fluid from the Sertoli cells pushes the non-motile sperm through a series of straight tubules into the rete ...
Accessory Glands of the Male
Reproductive System
Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System
The accessory ducts involved in sperm maturation and transportation include the epididymides, vasa deferentia, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra. These ducts ...
Sperm Structure and Semen

Composition
Sperm Structure and Semen Composition
Males release 2-5 ml of semen, a mixture of mature sperm and accessory gland fluids. The 60 μm long mature sperm cells consist of the head, neck, ...
Male Sexual Response: Erection &

Ejaculation
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
In response to the sexual stimuli, the parasympathetic neurons stimulate the local release of nitric oxide, or NO, dilating the arterioles in the penis. ...
Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH and luteinizing hormone, ...
External Female Genitals
External Female Genitals
The external female genitalia are structures located outside the vagina. They include the mons pubis, labia, clitoris, and vestibule structures and are ...
Vagina
Vagina
The vaginal canal is a tubular structure averaging about 10 cm in length that acts as the entryway to the female reproductive system and the passageway ...
Ovaries
Ovaries
The ovaries are paired glands fastened on either side of the uterus with the broad, suspensory, and ovarian ligaments. Each ovary features a hilum, where ...
Ovarian Cycle
Ovarian Cycle
The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and ...
Oogenesis
Oogenesis
Oogenesis involves the formation of egg cells, or female gametes, in the ovaries. In fetal development, diploid oogonia in the ovaries divides mitotically ...
Folliculogenesis
Folliculogenesis
Folliculogenesis is the maturation of ovarian follicles in the ovarian cortex, essential sites for oogenesis. During fetal development,  a single ...
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
The ovarian cycle, a monthly event in reproductive-age women, is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis to ensure a mature oocyte is ...
Uterine Tubes
Uterine Tubes
The uterine or fallopian tubes are 10 to 13-cm long passageways on either side of the uterus. Each tube is divided into the infundibulum, ampulla, and ...
Uterus and Cervix
Uterus and Cervix
The uterus, commonly called the womb, is a vital reproductive organ in females designed to provide a nurturing environment for the implantation and growth ...
Histology of the Uterus
Histology of the Uterus
The uterine wall consists of three histological layers: the perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium. The outermost perimetrium is a thin, serous membrane ...
The Menstrual Cycle
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a sequence of monthly changes in the endometrium. The menstrual cycle may last between 21 and 38 days and is typically divided into ...
Menses Phase
Menses Phase
The menstrual cycle starts with the menstrual phase, with its first day considered Day 1 of the cycle. This phase usually lasts for 1 to 5 days and is ...
Proliferative Phase
Proliferative Phase
The proliferative phase is the second phase of the uterine menstrual cycle. It begins after menstruation and lasts approximately 6 to 13 days in a typical ...
Secretory Phase
Secretory Phase
The secretory phase of the menstrual cycle starts after ovulation and spans from day 14 to day 28 in a typical 28-day cycle. During this period, triggered ...
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Testicular cancer, arising from spermatogenic cells, is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 20 and 35. A common symptom is the presence of ...
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a cyclical condition marked by emotional and physical distress during the postovulatory phase of the female reproductive ...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
The gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, GnRH, and the gonadotrophins regulate endometrial changes during the menstrual cycle. Starting at puberty, GnRH ...
The Mammary Glands
The Mammary Glands
The female breast is a hemispheric projection of variable size positioned anterior to the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles. A fascia layer ...
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus
The human embryo is bipotential, allowing the formation of either male or female reproductive organs. During the fifth week of embryonic development, the ...
Signs of Puberty
Signs of Puberty
Puberty typically begins around ages 8 to 13 in females and 9 to 14 in males, signaling the onset of reproductive maturity. Puberty begins with bursts of ...
In Vitro Fertilization
In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a process where eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab and then implanted in the uterus. The process begins with ...
Menopause
Menopause
Women's reproductive ability peaks in their 20s, after which ovarian function gradually declines, marked by a reduced response to gonadotropin ...
Birth Control Methods
Birth Control Methods
Birth control can be achieved by three primary methods — surgical, hormonal control, and barrier methods. Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male ...
Infertility in Males
Infertility in Males
Male infertility impacts millions of couples globally. An endocrine imbalance due to hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can lead ...
Infertility in Females
Infertility in Females
Female infertility is the inability to conceive after at least a year of regular unprotected intercourse, with a global prevalence of around 10%. Most ...
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections
There are several sexually transmitted infections or STIs contracted through unsafe sexual interaction. Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular pathogenic ...
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