Science reproductive system

• The reproductive system is also called the genital system and is made up of anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction
• There are two types of reproductive systems in humans: male and female
• The male reproductive system produces sperm cells and transfers them to the female, while the female reproductive system produces egg cells and carries the baby throughout its development
• Male Reproductive System:

  • Vas deferens: transports mature sperm to the urethra for ejaculation
  • Urethra: passageway for urine and semen
  • Penis: deposits sperm into the vagina during mating
  • Scrotum: regulates the temperature of the testes
  • Testis: produces testosterone and sperm cells
  • Epididymis: carries, stores, and matures sperm
  • Ejaculatory duct: formed by the fusion of vas deferens and seminal vesicles
  • Seminal vesicle: produces fructose to nourish sperm
  • Prostate gland: gives additional fluid to nourish sperm
  • Cowper's gland: produces fluid for lubrication
• Female Reproductive System:

  • Ovary: site of egg cell production and hormone production (estrogen and progesterone)
  • Fimbriae: picks up the egg cell from the ovary
  • Fallopian tube: passage from ovary to uterus, site of fertilization
  • Endometrium: nourishes the embryo and sheds during menstruation
  • Uterus: site of egg implantation
  • Cervix: muscular opening of the uterus
  • Vagina: entrance of the penis and birth canal
• Important Information:

  • Females have two ovaries that alternate monthly to produce egg cells
  • Ovaries contain around 400,000 egg cells, but only around 400 mature
  • Egg cell pathway: ovary -> fimbriae -> fallopian tube -> uterus
  • Sperm cell pathway: vagina -> cervix -> uterus -> fallopian tube
  • Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) are chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system
  • Pituitary gland is the master gland that directs the endocrine system
  • FSH and LH are hormones produced by the pituitary gland that signal sperm and egg cell development
• • Testosterone is the most important male hormone, responsible for male sex characteristics, spermatogenesis, and fertility
  • Estrogen prepares the female body for potential pregnancy, while progesterone maintains the uterine lining