The Reproductive System

• Fertilization


  Union of gametes
• Gametes


  Sperm cells and egg cells
• Gonads


  Organs that produce the gametes and hormones
• Puberty


  The time when secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop
• Puberty for girls


  • Begins between the ages of 9-14
• Puberty for boys


  • Begins around age 10-17
• Gonads


  Organs that produce gametes; produced through the process of meiosis
• Testosterone


  Production of sperm, development of masculine secondary sexual characteristics, increases muscular strength and endurance

  
• Testes


  A pair of oval-shaped glands that produce sperm
• Scrotum


  The pouch of skin that contains the testes
• Seminiferous tubules


  Tightly coiled lobules inside the testes which provides large amount of surface area for sperm development
• Epididymis


  Small organ in which sperm mature and are stored
• Vas deferens


  Two ducts that transfer sperm from the epididymis to the urethra
• Seminal vesicles


  Secrete a thick, viscous fluid containing fructose for possible use by the sperm; also contains prostaglandins that stimulate smooth muscle contraction
• Bulbourethral gland/Cowper's gland


  A single, doughnut-shaped gland that secretes a milky alkaline fluid to increase the motility of sperm
• Prostate gland


  Pea-sized organ that produces a clear, viscous secretion; secretes enzymes that help activate the sperm
• Semen


  The fluid consisting the sperm and secretions from the three glands
• Penis


  The male reproductive organ, through which urine and semen pass
• Ovary


  Two organs on either side of the lower abdomen that release an egg cell
• Follicles


  Contains a developing egg cell; has the potential to release an egg for fertilization
• Fallopian tube


  Also known as "oviducts"; connects the ovary to the uterus; site of fertilization
• Uterus


  Houses developing embryo and fetus
• Cervix


  Narrow end of the uterus; acts as a gateway between the uterus and vagina
• Vagina


  A muscular tube through which sperm travel on their way to fertilize the egg, and through which a baby passes during childbirth
• Menstrual Cycle


  Periodical event that a female body undergoes; involves the shedding of blood from the uterine wall; last an average of 28 days
• Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  Start of the menstrual cycle; the endometrium is shed off as blood via the vaginal canal; indicates that no fertilization occurred; last for five to seven days on the average; the corpus luteum disintegrates hence less amount of estrogen and progesterone are released
• Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  Prompted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that stimulates the ovary to produce around five to 20 follicles (tiny nodules or cysts); Only one follicle will mature into an egg, while the others die; This can occur around day 10 of a 28-day cycle; The growth of the follicles stimulates the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for possible pregnancy
• Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  Usually occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or so before menstruation starts; the shortest phase in the menstrual cycle (life span of the typical egg is only around 24 hours); egg is released from the egg follicle to the ovaries and into the fallopian tube for possible fertilization
• Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  Begins after ovulation, the remaining cells undergo a change and become corpus luteum (gland like structure) that releases estrogen and progesterone for the development of egg and uterine lining; first two days of this phase that fertilization is at its highest; occurs during 10 to 14 days of menstrual cycle
• Fertilization


  Union of the egg cell and sperm cell