Reproductive Systen

• Sexual Reproduction - creation of an offspring by fusion of haploid gametes, male sperm and female eggs, to form a diploid zygote
• Asexual Reproduction - creation of an offspring without the fusion of egg and sperm
• Budding - new individuals arise from outgrowths of existing ones
• Fragmentation - breaking of the body into pieces, some or all of which develop into adults
• Parthenogenesis - development of a new individual from an unfertilized egg
• Hermaphroditism - individuals have both male and female reproductive systems
• Ovulation - release of mature eggs at the midpoint of a female cycle
• Fertilization - the union of sperm and egg
• External Fertilization - individuals release their gametes unto the wet environment
• Internal Fertilization - an adaptation that enables the sperm to reach the egg even when the environment is dry
• Gonads - organs that produce gametes
• In many insects, the female has a spermatheca in which sperm is stored during copulation.
• Testes - a pair of ovoid glandular organs that are responsible for the production of sperm cells
• Sperm Cells - motile flagellated haploid gamete
• Seminiferous Tubules - where the sperm cells mature to spermatids
• Spermatogonia -> spermatocyte -> 2 sperma -> spermatids -> spermatozoa
• Epididymis - a mass of tightly coiled thin tubes that carries the spermatids into the vas deferens while it matures into a flagellated spermatozoa
• Vas Deferens - carries the sperm into the ejaculatory ducts
• Ejaculatory Ducts - where the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles meet
• Seminal Vesicles - small sacs where the semen is produced (partly) and stored
• Semen - is a fluid containing the sperms and other liquid or seminal plasma
• Prostate Gland - walnut-sized organ found below the bladder that secretes the largest portion of the semen
• Cowper's Gland - pea-sized gland inferior of the prostate which protects the sperm prior to ejaculation
• When sexually stimulated, the Cowper's gland produces an alkaline mucous secretion called the pre-ejaculate; neutralizing the acidic condition in the urethra while lubricating it.
• Glans - the head of the penis; sensitive tissue at the distal end of the penis
• Penis - external male organ whose function is to deliver the sperm during copulation
• Corpus Cavernosum - two columns of tissue that runs along side the penis. It is filled with blood during sexual stimulation
• Corpus Spongiosum - column of tissue that is filled with blood during sexual stimulation. It prevents the urethra from closing
• Ovaries - produce oocytes for fertilization and produce reproductive hormones
• Fallopian Tubes - long narrow tube connecting the ovaries to the uterus
• The egg from the ovary is released forcefully into the fallopian tube and is caught by tiny projection called fimbriae.
• Upon the contact of sperm and egg, the secondary oocyte undergoes meiosis II, creating a mature female gamete called the ovum.
• Uterus - a hollow muscular organ located at the pelvic region between the bladder and the rectum
• Myometrium - smooth muscles which makes up the uterus
• Endometrium - epithelial lining of the myometrium
• Cervix - the tapered inferior part of the uterus which separated the uterus from the vagina
• Sperm passes through the cervical canal upon the introduction of semen.
• However, upon fertilization, the cervix will produce a cervical mucus plug, preventing the entry of sperms in subsequent ejaculation.
• Vaginal Canal - an elastic, muscular tube connecting the cervix of the uterus to the vulva and exterior of the body
• Vaginal Opening - serves as the entry point for the penis upon copulation