Made up of:
1. Primary sex organs
2. Ducts
3. Accessory glands
4. External genitalia
Scrotum
Functions:
1. Temperature regulator → testis 2º-3º cooler than body for formation of fertile sperm
2. Protects testis
Testis
- 2 oval structures suspended outside body
● Consist of compartments/ lobules containing tubules (250m)
● Germinal epithelium lines tubules
● Endocrine cells between tubules
Functions:
Produce:
1. Sperm → by germinal layer
2. Testosterone → by interstitial cells
Ducts
a. Epididymis
b. Sperm duct
c. Urethra
Epididymis
- Seminiferous tubules join to form epididymis (5m)
Functions:
Immature sperm enter and:
1. Mature → motile and fertile
2. Stored for months
Sperm ducts (vas deferens)
- Continuation of epididymis
- Leaves scrotum → passes through prostate gland → enters urethra
Function:
1. Pushes mature sperm forward → by peristaltic waves from epididymis to urethra (ejaculation)
Peristaltic waves = contraction of smooth muscle in walls of duct
, Urethra
- Duct at end of uro-genital system leading to exterior
Function:
1. Transports semen and urine (not together)
Prostate gland
- Plum sized gland surrounding urethra
- At base of bladder
Function:
1. Secretes fluid that aids transport of sperm → contains enzymes making sperm active (⅓ of semen)
Cowper’s gland
- 2 glands at base of penis
Functions:
1. Neutralizes acidic urine
2. Lubricates urethra and opening → protect sperm from damage during ejaculation
Penis
● Consists of spongy tissue (erectile tissue):
- 2 dorsal side → corpus cavernosa
- 1 ventral side → corpus spongiosum
1. Dilation of arteries supplying blood to penis
2. Blood fills spongy erectile tissue chambers (lengthens and stiffens) = erection
Function:
1. Deposits semen with sperm into vagina during copulation
Distinct factors:
- Only mammal with no erectile bone in penis
- Penis not attached to abdominal wall (hangs free)
Semen
Consists of:
1. Sperm → from testis
2. Seminal fluid → from sperm duct and accessory glands
FEMALE HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
Made up of:
1. Ovaries
2. Accessory glands
3. External genitalia
Ovaries
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