Lecture 24: Reproductive System and COVID-19

Anatomy of the Reproductive System

• Gonads: Organs producing gametes (sperms and ova) and hormones.
• Ducts: Structures receiving and transporting gametes.
• Accessory Glands: Secreting fluids into ducts.
• External Genitalia: Includes perineal structures.

Male Reproductive System

Major Structures

• Gonads: Testes
• Ducts: Epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, urethra.
• Accessory Glands: Seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands.
• External Genitalia: Scrotum, penis.

Anatomy and Functions

• Testes: Egg-shaped, producing sperm and androgens, requiring temperatures slightly below body temperature.
• Spermatic Cord: Contains vas deferens, vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.
• Spermatogenesis: Process involving mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis to produce sperm.
• Hormonal Regulation: Involves LH, FSH, testosterone, and feedback mechanisms.

Structures

• Ductus Deferens: Long tube for sperm transport, involved in vasectomy.
• Ejaculatory Duct and Urethra: Pathway for sperm.
• Penis: Contains erectile tissues and urethra.

Accessory Glands

• Seminal Vesicles: Produce seminal fluid, activate sperm.
• Prostate Gland: Produces fluid aiding sperm motility.
• Bulbourethral Glands: Secrete mucus that neutralizes acids.

Female Reproductive System

Major Structures

• Gonads: Ovaries
• Ducts: Uterine tubes, uterus, vagina.
• Accessory Glands: Mammary glands, various glands in the vulva.
• External Genitalia: Vulva

Anatomy and Functions

• Ovaries: Produce ova, secrete hormones.
• Oogenesis: Produces ova through mitosis and meiosis, regulated by hormones.
• Uterine Cycle: Involves menses, proliferative phase, and secretory phase.

Structures

• Uterine Tubes: Transport ova, site of fertilization.
• Uterus: Supports embryo/fetus, undergoes cyclical changes.
• Vagina: Birth canal, accommodates intercourse.

Hormonal Regulation

• Ovarian Cycle: Involves follicular and luteal phases.
• Estrogen and Progesterone: Regulate uterine cycles and secondary sexual characteristics.

Interactions and Aging

• Male System: Gradual changes over time, including andropause.
• Female System: Menopause leads to hormonal shifts, affects various systems.

Impact of Covid-19 on Reproductive Health

• General Effects: Virus may impact reproductive health, though specific details were not extensively covered in this transcript.

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of human reproductive anatomy and physiological processes, highlighting both male and female systems, their hormonal regulation, and potential implications of diseases like COVID-19.