The Reproductive

System
• Reproduction is accomplished when
the egg cell (female gamete) is
fertilized by the sperm cell (male
gamete)
 Female Combining Forms
FORM MEANING EXAMPLE
Cervic/o Neck, cervix Cervicitis
inflammation of
cervix

Colp/o vagina Colporrhaphy

suture of vagina
vagin/o
Vaginitis
inflammation of
vagina
Episi/o vulva episiotomy
Vulv/o vulvectomy
Gynec/o woman gynecologist
female gynecology
Hyster/o uterus hysterectomy
Metr/o
Uter/o uteral (pertaining
to the uterus)
Lapar/o abdomen laparoscopy
Mamm/o mammogram
Mast/o breast mastodynia
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Men/o menses
menstruation menorrhea (flow
of menses)
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Oophor/o oophoritis
Ovari/o ovary ovariocele (hernia of
ovary)
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Salping/o fallopian tube salpingoscopy
eustachian tube (ear)
The female reproductive system is
composed of internal and external
organs of reproduction.
 Internal Organs
• OVARIES
- paired
- function is to produce hormones for
ovulation and pregnancy. These are
estrogen and progesterone.
- store egg cells (oocytes)
- mature the stored eggs until ovulation.
• FALLOPIAN TUBES
- the connection between the ovary and the
uterus.
- also called OVIDUCTS.
- have FIMBRAE to coax the ovulated egg into
the tube.
- once inside the tube, the egg travels toward
the uterus. When sperm is available, fertilization
usually occurs in the oviduct.
• UTERUS
- a muscular, pear-shaped, hollow
organ.
- located between the bladder and
the rectum.
- function is to nourish and protect
the growing fetus until birth.
• VAGINA
- is a muscular tube that extends from
the cervix (neck of the uterus) to the
exterior of the body.
- functions: sexual intercourse, receptor
of semen, discharge of menses, and
passage for delivery of fetus.
• Colpoptosis is a prolapse or dropping
of the vagina. This is usually treated
by suturing the vagina to the
abdominal wall in a procedure known
as a colporrhaphy.
• Many women who have had a vaginal
childbirth suffer from herniation of
the bladder. This condition is known
as a
colp/o/cyst/o/cele

vagina
herniation
bladder
• The vagina is lined by mucus. This mucus is
a lubricant.

• The combining form for mucus is MUC/O

• The suffix ending –OUS is an adjective
that means pertaining to mucus.
• The suffix ending –OID is an adjective
that means resembling.
 Female External Organs
• The external organs are collectively
known as GENITALIA. This is for
both sexes.
• LABIA MAJORA (the larger outer lips of
the vagina)
• LABIA MINORA ( smaller inner lips of the
vagina)
• CLITORIS ( contains many nerve endings.
Similar to the penis in males)
• BARTHOLIN’S GLANDS (for lubrication)
• The CERVIX is a term denoting the
neck of the uterus and the extension
of it into the top portion of the
vagina.
• The combining form cervic/o refers
to this part.
• The word GRAVIDA is used to describe a
woman that is pregnant.
• There is also a suffix, -gravida.

• Gravida may be followed by a number to

denote the number of pregnancies.
• A gravida 4 woman is in her 4th pregnancy.
• The term PARA refers to a woman
who has given birth to an infant,
regardless of whether or not the
baby was alive at birth.
• It is also followed by numbers to
indicated the number of deliveries.
• A para 2 woman gave birth twice.
 Hysterotomy

1. What is it?
- incision of the uterus
2. When would you use it?
- performing a cesarian section
3. What instrument would you use?
- hysterotome
 The Male Reproductive
System
• The organs of the male reproductive
system consist of the testes and a
number of ducts (tubes), and glands.
• In the man, the reproductive role is
to produce viable sperm, and to
deliver the sperm to the female
reproductive system.
• The SPERM are cells that have a tail,
head, and neck.
• The sperm are produced in the
TESTICLES. The testes produce sperm
throughout the life of the male. (Unlike
the female, who are born with all the eggs
they will ever have.)
• The reproductive glands in the male
serve to produce fluids that are
added to the sperm to form SEMEN.
These secretions are vital for
keeping the sperm cells alive and
motile (able to move).
• The glands of the male reproductive
system:
1. seminal vessicles
2. prostate gland
3. bulbourethral glands
Balan/o glans penis (the bulbous tip) balanoplasty
(surgical repair)

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Orch/o testes orchitis

Orchi/o orchiopexy (sx. Fixation)
Orchid/o orchidectomy
Test/o testicle

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Prostat/o prostate gland prostatodynia

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Spermat/o sperm spermatolysis (destruction)

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Vas/o vas deferens, vessel vasectomy
• The testes (singular, testis), also
called testicles are paired oval glands
that descend into the SCROTUM. At
the onset of puberty, the testes
produce TESTOSTERONE. This is
the male sex hormone.
• Testosterone stimulates and
promotes the growth of the
secondary sex characteristics in the
man.
 SPERMATOGENESIS

sperm Producing or
forming

This word means to make or produce sperm.

Spermatogenesis occurs in the testes.

• On the top of the testicle is a comma-
shaped organ called the EPIDIDYMIS.
This structure stores and propels the
sperm toward the urethra during
ejaculation.
• From the epididymis, sperm enters the vas
deferens (ductus deferens). This
structure transports sperm to the
urethra.
• During its trip toward the outside
world, sperm picks up fluids from the
glands.
• When the sperm and fluid join
together, it is then called SEMEN.
• COWPER’S GLANDS add a thick
mucus to the semen that acts as a
lubricant during sexual excitement.
• The PENIS is the male sex organ that
transports the semen into the vagina. A
slightly enlarged region at the tip of the
penis is called the GLANS.
• The glans of the penis is covered by a fold
of skin called the PREPUCE or FORESKIN.
 Additional Pathologies
• CANDIASIS
- vaginal fungal infection caused by
Candida albicans. This is
characterized by a curdy or cheesy
discharge with extreme itching
(purititis)
• CHLAMYDIA
- infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, a
bacteria. This is among the most common
STD. In women it presents with a
mucopurulent cervicitis. In men, it
presents with a whitish discharge from
the penis.
• ENDOMETRIOSIS
- endometrial tissue (found normally
in the wall of the uterus) is found in
various abnormal sites throughout
the pelvis or abdominal wall.
• FIBROIDS
- benign uterine tumors
• GONORRHEA
- STD of inflammation of the mucous
membranes.
• LEUKORRHEA
- white or yellow mucus discharge from
the cervical canal or vagina.
• OLIGOMENORRHEA
- scanty menses
• PYOSALPINX
- pus in the fallopian tubes
• RETROVERSION
- a turning of the uterus
• ANORCHISM
- congenital absence of one or both testes.
• BALANITIS
- inflammation of the foreskin.
• CRYPTORCHIDISM
- failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum.
• IMPOTENCE
- inability of a man to attain or maintain an erection.
Erection is caused by an increase of blood flow to the
erectile tissue of the penis. This is mediated by a nervous
system response to stimuli.
• Vasectomy
- surgery where surgeon cuts the vas
deferens (tube connecting the testis to
the urethra). This blocks mature sperm
from being able to leave the penis.

Ligation-to cut