REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM
PRESENTED BY
SONIYA
STRUCTURAL OUTLINE
 Female reproductive system-
 External genitalia (valva)

 Internal genitalia-
 vagina
 Uterus
 Uterine tubes
 Overies
 The reproductive cycle
 Menopause

 Breast
 Male reproductive system-
 Scrotum
 Testes
 Seminal vesicles
 Ejeculatory ducts
 Prostate gland
 Urethra and Penis
 Ejeculation
INTRODUCTION

 The reproductive system is the human organ

system responsible for the production and
fertilization of gametes (sperm or eggs) and, in
females, the carrying of a fetus. Both male and
female reproductive systems have organs called
gonads that produce gametes.

The male gametes are called spermatozoa

And the female gametes are called ova
FUNCTIONS OF THE FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM -
 Formation of ova
 Recption of spermatozoa
 Provision of suitable environment

fertilization and fetal development

 Parturition ( childbirth)
 Lactation, the production of breast

milk,which provides completenourishment

for the baby in its early life
External genitalia (valva)
 The external genitalia are known collectively as the
valva,and consist of [Link] vulva is the global term that
describes all of the structures that make the female
external genitalia. The components of the vulva are –

 mons pubis
 labia majora and labia minora
 The Clitoris
 The vaginal orifice,
 vestibular bulbs
 The vestibule, the hymen and the vestibular
glands(Bartholin's glands)
 urethra, and vaginal opening
v
Labia majora

 These are the two large folds forming the

boundary of the vulva. They are composed of
skin, fibrous tissue and fat and contain large
numbers of sebaceous glands.
 Anteriorly the folds join in front of the

symphysis pubis, and posteriorly they merge

with the skin of the perineum.
 At puberty, hair grows on the mons pubis and

on the lateral surfaces of the labia majora.

Labia minora

 These are two smaller folds of skin between

the labia majora, containing numerous
sebaceous glands.
 The cleft between the labia minora is

the vestibule.
 The vagina, urethra and ducts of the greater

vestibular glands open into the vestibule.

 Clitoris
 The clitoris corresponds to the penis in the

male and contains sensory nerve endings

and erectile tissue, but it has no
reproductive significance.
 The clitoris is a small pea-shaped

[Link] plays an important part in

sexual excitement in females.
 Hymen
 The hymen is a thin layer of mucous

membrane that partially occludes the

opening of the vagina.
 It is normally incomplete to allow for

passage of menstrual flow.

Vestibular glands
The vestibular glands (Bartholin’s glands) are
situated one on each side near the vaginal
opening.
They are about the size of a small pea and
have ducts, opening into the vestibule
immediately lateral to the attachment of the
hymen. They secrete mucus that keeps the
vulva moist.
Blood supply, lymph drainage and nerve supply

 Arterial supply-
 This is by branches from the internal pudendal
arteries that branch from the internal iliac arteries
and by external pudendal arteries that branch from
the femoral arteries.
 Venous drainage-
 This forms a large plexus which eventually drains
into the internal iliac veins.
 Lymph drainage-
 This is through the superficial inguinal nodes.
 Nerve supply-
 This is by branches from pudendal nerves.
 Perineum
 The perineum is the area extending from

the base of the labia minora to the anal

canal. It is roughly triangular and consists of
connective tissue, muscle and fat. It gives
attachment to the muscles of the pelvic
floor .
Internal genitalia
 Vagina
 Uterus
 Two uterine tubes
 Two overies
vagina

 The vagina is a fibromuscular tube lined with

stratified squamous epithelium , connecting the
external and internal organs of reproduction.
 It runs obliquely upwards and backwards at an
angle of about 45° between the bladder in front
and rectum and anus behind.
 In the adult, the anterior wall is about 7.5 cm
long and the posterior wall about 9 cm long.
The difference is due to the angle of insertion of
the cervix through the anterior wall.
Structure of vagina
The vagina has three layers:

 an outer covering of areolar tissue,

 a middle layer of smooth muscle and
 an inner lining of stratified squamous epithelium that
forms ridges or rugae. It has no secretory glands but the
surface is kept moist by cervical secretions. Between
puberty and the menopause.
 Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria are normally present,
which secrete lactic acid, maintaining the pH between 4.9
and 3.5. The acidity inhibits the growth of most other
micro-organisms that may enter the vagina from the
perineum or during sexual intercourse.
Blood supply, lymph drainage and
nerve supply

 Arterial supply
 An arterial plexus is formed round the vagina,
derived from the uterine and vaginal arteries, which
are branches of the internal iliac arteries.

 Venous drainage
 A venous plexus, situated in the muscular wall,
drains into the internal iliac veins.

 Lymph drainage
This is through the deep and superficial iliac glands.
Function of the vagina

The vagina acts as the receptacle for

the penis during sexual intercourse
(coitus), and provides an elastic
passageway through which the baby
passes during childbirth.
Uterus

 The uterus is a hollow muscular pear-shaped

organ, that is located anteroposteriorly in the
pelvic cavity between the urinary bladder and the
rectum
 It is about 7.5 cm long, 5 cm wide and its walls are
about 2.5 cm thick.
 It weighs from 30 to 40 grams.

 The parts of the uterus are-

 1. the fundus [Link] [Link]
cervix
 Fundus
 This is the dome-shaped part of the uterus
above the openings of the uterine tubes.
 Body
 This is the main part. It is narrowest inferiorly
at the internal os where it is continuous with
the cervix.
 Cervix (‘neck’ of the uterus)
 This protrudes through the anterior wall of
the vagina, opening into it at the external os.
 Layers of the uterus
 Perimetrium
 This is peritoneum, which is distributed differently on the
various surfaces of the uterus .
 Anteriorly it lies over the fundus and the body where it is
folded on to the upper surface of the urinary bladder. This fold
of peritoneum forms the vesicouterine pouch.
 Posteriorly the peritoneum covers the fundus, the body and
the cervix, then it folds back on to the rectum to form
the rectouterine pouch (of Douglas).
 Myometrium
 This is the thickest layer of tissue in the uterine wall.
 It is a mass of smooth muscle fibres interlaced with areolar
tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
 Endometrium
 This consists of columnar epithelium cell.
 Consist mucus-secreting tubular glands
Blood supply, lymph drainage and
nerve supply

 Arterial supply-
 This is by the uterine arteries, branches of the

internal iliac arteries.

 Venous drainage-internal iliac veins.
 Lymph drainage-
 Deep and superficial lymph vessels drain

lymph from the uterus and the uterine tubes

to the aortic lymph nodes and groups of nodes
associated with the iliac blood vessels.
Supporting structures
 The uterus is supported in the pelvic cavity by
surrounding organs, muscles of the pelvic floor and
ligaments that suspend it from the walls of the pelvis

 Broad ligaments
 These are formed by a double fold of peritoneum,
one on each side of the uterus.

 Round ligaments
These are formed by a double fold of
peritoneum,one on each side of the uterus
 Uterosacral ligaments
 These originate from the posterior walls of

the cervix and vagina and extend

backwards, one on each side of the rectum,
to the sacrum.
 Transverse cervical (cardinal)

ligaments
 These extend one from each side of the

cervix and vagina to the side walls of the

pelvis.
Functions of the uterus

 After puberty, the endometrium of the uterus goes through

a regular monthly cycle of changes, the menstrual cycle,
under the control of hypothalamic and anterior pituitary
hormones.
 The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the uterus
to receive, nourish and protect a fertilised ovum. The cycle
is usually regular, lasting between 26 and 30 days. If the
ovum is not fertilised a new cycle begins with a short period
of bleeding (menstruation).
 If the ovum is fertilised the zygote embeds itself in the
uterine wall. The uterine muscle grows to accommodate the
developing baby, which is called an embryo during its first 8
weeks, and a fetus for the remainder of the pregnancy.
Uterine tubes
 The uterine (Fallopian) tubes are about 10 cm long
and extend from the sides of the uterus between
the body and the fundus.
 They lie in the upper free border of the broad
ligament and their trumpet-shaped lateral ends
penetrate the posterior wall, opening into the
peritoneal cavity close to the ovaries.
 The end of each tube has fingerlike projections
called fimbriae.
 The longest of these is the ovarian fimbria, which is
in close association with the ovary.
 Structure
 The uterine tubes have an outer covering of

peritoneum (broad ligament),

 a middle layer of smooth muscle and are

lined with ciliated epithelium

 Blood and nerve supply and lymphatic

drainage are as for the uterus.

Functions-

 The uterine tubes move the ovum from the

ovary to the uterus by peristalsis and ciliary
movement.
 The mucus secreted by the mucosa

provides ideal conditions for movement of

ova and spermatozoa.
 Fertilisation of the ovum usually takes

place in the uterine tube, and the zygote is

propelled into the uterus for implantation.
Ovaries

 The ovaries are the female gonads (glands producing

sex hormones and the ova), and they lie in a shallow
fossa on the lateral walls of the pelvis.
 They are 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, 2 cm wide and 1 cm
thick. Each is attached to the upper part of the
uterus by the ovarian ligament and to the back of the
broad ligament by a broad band of tissue,
the mesovarium.
 Blood vessels and nerves pass to the ovary through
the mesovarium .
 Structure-
 The ovaries have two layers of tissue.
 Medulla
 This lies in the centre and consists of fibrous
tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
 Cortex
 This surrounds the medulla. It has a framework
of connective tissue, or stroma, covered
by germinal epithelium.
 It contains ovarian follicles in various stages of
maturity, each of which contains an ovum.
Functions

 The ovary is the organ in which the female

gametes are stored and develop prior to
ovulation.
 Their maturation is controlled by the

hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary

gland, which releases gonadotrophins
(follicle stimulating hormone, FSH, and
luteinising hormone, LH), both of which act
on the ovary.