Reproductive System

• Male Reproductive System:

  • Testis: responsible for making testosterone and generating sperm; contains Seminiferous Tubules for sperm production
  • Scrotum: pouch-like sac of skin behind and below the penis, acts as a "climate control system" for the testes
  • Penis: deposits sperm into the vagina during mating
  • Vas deferens: carries sperm from the testes to the urethra
• Glands of the Male Reproductive System:

  • Seminal Vesicle: secretes fluid that makes up most of the components of semen
  • Prostate Gland: secretes a slightly alkaline milky fluid discharged as part of semen
  • Bulbourethral Gland: secretes thick and clear mucus that lubricates and neutralizes acidic urine in the urethra
• Female Reproductive System Functions:

  • Produces female sex cells
  • Receives sperm from the male
  • Nurtures the development of and provides nourishment for the new individual
• Parts and Functions of the Female Reproductive System:

  • Ovary: produces egg cells
  • Oviduct: passageway of eggs from the ovary to the uterus; site of egg fertilization
  • Uterus: site of egg implantation and where the fertilized egg develops
• Role of Hormones in Male Reproductive System:

  • Prostate glands produce hormones to nourish sperm cells and help them mature
  • Hormones or special chemicals from the testis, brain, and pituitary gland regulate the production of sperm cells and release of semen
• Role of Hormones in Female Reproductive System:

  • Follicles produce hormones that control the release of eggs from the ovaries
  • Other hormones prepare the uterus for a baby to grow in it
  • Other hormones control the stretching of the uterus during pregnancy
• Feedback Mechanism:

  • Process through which the level of one substance influences the level of another substance
• Homeostasis:

  • State reached when each part of the body functions in equilibrium with other parts