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Histology & Dissection of The

Human Reproductive Systems

Laboratory Objectives After completing this lab, you should be able to:

1. Identify sections of the testis and ovary microscopically.

2. To identify the major features and cells of the testis and ovary microscopically.

3. Locate and identify the main organs and structures of the male and female reproductive

system by viewing a cadaver from your Anatomy & Physiology Revealed, Version 2.0

CD and to describe functions of each.

Materials Compound microscope

Prepared slides of the mammalian testis and ovary

Color pencils

Anatomy & Physiology Revealed, Version 2.0 CD

Your A&P textbook

INTRODUCTION The main function of the male and female reproductive system is sexual reproduction of

offsprings. Fusion of the male and female gametes, or sex cells, is required for sexual

reproduction. The male gamete, or sperm, and the female gamete, or ovum, are produced

by the cellular reproduction called meiosis that occurs at the gonads (testes or ovaries).

Meiosis produces gametes, each with 23 total chromosomes. When a sperm and an ovum

unite, a cell called zygote, with 46 chromosomes, is formed. The zygote formed has a

unique mixture of DNA coming from both parents.

In this laboratory exercise, you will review the structures and functions of the male and

female reproductive systems, both microscopically and anatomically. The anatomical

structures of the human reproductive systems will be studied by viewing a cadaver from

your Anatomy & Physiology Revealed, Version 2.0 CD.

Main Organs of The Male Reproductive System

BIOL 2402

PART 1

Male Reproductive System

2

A. Label the main organs of the male reproductive system (figure on next page) using the

terms provided.

B. Label the male reproductive organs in this posterior view. Use the terms provided to

do your labelings.

Terms:

Epididymis

Scrotum

Vas Deferens

Testis

Urethra

Penis

Bulbourethral Gland

Prostate Gland

Seminal Vesicles

Urinary Bladder

Large

Intestine

Anus

Terms:

Epididymis

Vas Deferens

Testis

Urethra

Penis

Bulbourethral Gland

Prostate Gland

Seminal Vesicles

Seminiferous tubules

Urinary Bladder

Testis = singular

Testes = plural

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C. Label the figure of a sagittal section of the testis and cross section of the seminiferous

tubule. Use the terms provided to do your labelings.

Microscopic Structure of the Testis

A. Obtained a prepared slide of the mammalian testis and examine it under the 10X

objective lens. Locate the cells and structures in the slide using in the following

micrograph of a human testis:

Terms:

Epididymis

Ductus or Vas Deferens

Testis

Seminiferous tubules

Sperms

Interstitial cells

Spermatogonia

PART 2

Lumen

Spermatogenic

cells

Sperms

Seminiferous

tubule

Interstitial cells

Micrograph of the

testis (100X).

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B. Draw & label a sketch of a representative section of the testis. Use the previous figure

as your guide to do your labelings.

C. View the interstitial cells using the 40X lens.

Switch your objective lens from 10X to 40X lens (remember to use the revolving

nosepiece to rotate the lens) and locate the interstitial cells in the spaces between

adjacent seminiferous tubules. Draw and label your observation in the following space:

Testis

Seminiferous

Tubule

Use the 10X obj. lens to

view the testis slide.

Your Sketch of the testis ( ____X )

Label in your diagram:

Seminiferous tubules

Sperms

Spermatogenic cells

Lumen of seminiferous tubule

Interstitial cells

Label in your diagram:

Seminiferous tubules

Sperms

Interstitial cells

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Animation: Male Reproductive System Overview

A. To access the animation “Male Reproductive System Overview”, click at the

ANIMATIONS icon located at the top center of the Reproductive System screen.

B. From the ANIMATION LIST, click at the down arrow and select “Male

Reproductive System Overview”.

Click at this button to star the animation

Click at this button to pause the animation

To rewind or forward the animation, click and draw the round, red button.

Answer the following questions after viewing the animation:

1. The primary male sex organs or _______________ are called _________________

2. Trace the pathway of sperms from testes through the penis.

Testis ( ______X ) Dissection Of The Human Male Reproductive System

PART 1

From the Home Screen of Anatomy & Physiology / Revealed CD, click the down arrow on the SYSTEM button and choose the Reproductive System. You will then see the opening screen for the Reproductive System.

6

Use the figure below to label the structures and organs that sperms travel through until

they arrive to the penis.

3. Where is the location of testes? __________________________________________

4. What is the scrotum? __________________________________________________

5. What is the temperature within testes? _____________________________________

WHY?

6. Describe the effects of cold temperature and warm temperature in testes. Include in

your description what muscles are involved in regulating temperature at testes.

Cold Temperature:

Warm Temperature:

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7. a) What is another name for sperm development? ______________________________

b) Where does spermatogenesis occur? ______________________________________

c) What else is produced at testes? _________________________________________

8. Internally each testis is divided into about 250-300 lobules. Each lobule contains 2-3

tubules called ___________________________________________

a) About how long is each seminiferous tubule? _______ inches long.

b) What occurs at seminiferous tubules? ____________________________________

9. The total length of seminiferous tubules of the two testes is equivalent to almost

________________________________!

10. Describe the epithelium that lines the seminiferous tubules.

11. What do interstitial cells produce and release? _____________________________

12. Where are interstitial cells located? _____________________________________

Label in the diagram to the right:

Interstitial cells

Seminiferous tubule

Sustentacular cells

Germ cells

Sperms

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13. Choose One. The sperms produced at seminiferous tubules are mature/immature.

14. Where do sperms mature? _______________________________________________

15. Where are sperms stored until ejaculation? __________________________________

16. How many sperms are produced in testes each day? ___________________________

17. The tail of the epididymis is continuous with the _____________________________

18. The vas deferens joins to the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ______________

____________________________________________________________________

19. The ejaculatory duct passes through the __________________________ to empty

into the _________________________________________________________________

20. The accessory glands secrete fluids that contribute to the formation of semen. List

the percent of semen volume that each one secretes:

Seminal vesicles secrete: _____% of the semen volume

Prostate gland secretes: ______% of the semen volume

Bulbourethral glands secrete: ______% of semen volume

21. List the two functions for the male penis.

22. List the three divisions of the penis: _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Male Reproductive Organs – Sagittal View

A. After viewing the “Male Reproductive System Overview” animation, click at the

DISSECTION icon

PART 2

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B. From the Select Topic, select “Pelvis-Male” and then from the Select view select

“Sagittal”. Click then at the blinking green GO button.

C. Click at LAYER 1 in the LAYER

CONTROLS window, and the following

image appears:

D. Mouse-over the pins on the screen

and name only the labeled parts that you

see in this figure.

Label:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

1. Label the following structures of

human testis.

A. __________________________

B. __________________________

C. __________________________

2.

3.

1. 2.

3.

5.

6. 7.

4.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17

Review Exercises

A

B

C

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2. Complete the table below:

Male Reproductive Organs Function/s

Scrotum

Testis

Epididymis

Vas Deferens

Penis

Interstitial Cells

Seminiferous Tubules

Sustentacular Cells

Spermatogenic Cells

Main Organs of The Female Reproductive System

A. Label the main organs and structures of the female reproductive system using the

terms provided.

Female Reproductive System

PART 1

Terms:

Uterus

Cervix

Body of uterus

Uterine tubes or

Fallopian tubes

Ovary

Vagina

Cervical orifice

Infundibulum

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B. Label the organs and structures of the female reproductive system in this sagittal

section. Use the provided terms to do your labelings.

Microscopic Structure of the Ovaries

A. Obtained a prepared slide of the mammalian ovary and examine it under the 10X

objective lens. Locate the cells and structures in the slide using in the following

micrograph of a human ovary:

Terms:

Uterus

Cervix

Uterine tubes or

Fallopian tubes

Ovary

Vagina

Vaginal orifice

Sacrum

Coccyx

Rectum

Anus

Urethra

Urinary

Bladder

PART 2

Primordial follicles

Ovum: to be ovulated

Graafian follicle or mature follicle

Developing

follicle

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B. Draw a labeled sketch of a representative section of the ovary. Use the above figure as

your guide to do your labeling.

Ovary ( _____X )

C. Draw a labeled sketch of a representation of the Graafian follicle under the

microscope.

Graafian Follicle ( _____X)

Use the 10X obj. lens to

view the ovary slide.

Label the following

Graafian follicle

Ovum or secondary oocyte

Granulosa cells

Fluid-filled antrum

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Animation: Female Reproductive System Overview

A. To access the animation “Female Reproductive System Overview”, click at the

ANIMATIONS icon located at the top center of the Reproductive System screen.

B. From the ANIMATION LIST, click at the down arrow and select “Female

Reproductive System Overview”.

Click at this button to star the animation

Click at this button to pause the animation

To rewind or forward the animation, click and draw the round, red button.

Answer the following questions after viewing the animation:

1. List the internal organs of the female reproductive system.

2. Name 2 other organs of the female reproductive system.

Dissection Of The Human Female Reproductive System

PART 1

From the Home Screen of Anatomy & Physiology / Revealed CD, click the down arrow on the SYSTEM button and choose the Reproductive System. You will then see the opening screen for the Reproductive System.

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3. Ovaries attach to the uterus via the:

________________________________

and _____________________________

Label the ovarian ligament and

suspensory ligament.

4. List the three structures found in each suspensory ligament.

5. Name the two regions of the ovary and label them in the figure below.

Which regions contains

the ovarian follicles?

6. What does each follicle contain?

7. The remnant of the ruptured follicle is the _____________________________, which

Later degenerates into the __________________________________________________

8. List the four parts of the uterine tube or fallopian tube.

9. What is the function of fimbriae?

10. In which part of the uterine tube does fertilization normally occurs?

?

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11. Describe the three (3) functions of the uterus.

12. List and label the three regions of the uterus.

13. List the three layers of the uterus. _________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

14. Which layer is shed off during menstruation? ________________________________

15. List the three functions of the vagina. ______________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

16. Describe how bacteria at the vagina help inhibit the growth of pathogens at the

vagina.

Female Reproductive Organs – Sagittal View

A. After viewing the “Female Reproductive System Overview” animation, click at the

DISSECTION icon

PART 2

16

B. From the Select Topic, select “Pelvis-Female” and then from the Select view select

“Sagittal”. Click then at the blinking green GO button.

C. Click at LAYER 1 in the LAYER

CONTROLS window, and the following

image appears:

D. Mouse-over the pins on the screen

and name only the labeled parts that you

see in this figure.

Label:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

1. Identify the structure to the left.

2. Label in the structure to the left:

-granulosa cells

-graafian follicle

-Ovum (secondary oocyte)

2.

3.

1.

12.

11.

13.

4.

8.

8.

6.

4.

1. 15.

16.

7.

17.

9

2.

5.

10.

14.

Review Exercises

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3. Label the cortex and medulla of the ovary.

4. Label the organs of the female reproductive system using the terms provided.

Terms:

Uterus

Cervix

Body of uterus

Uterine tubes or

Fallopian tubes

Ovary

Ovarian ligament

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5. Complete the following table.

Female Reproductive Organs Function/s

Uterus

Body of Uterus

Ovaries

Fallopian Tubes (oviducts or

uterine tubes)

Cervix

Vagina

Granulosa Cells

Graafian Follicle

Oocyte

Fimbriae

Primordial Follicle Describe what it is:

Corpus Luteum