FEMALE AND MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS Vagina –muscular canal from the cervix to the vulva.
The entrance
of the penis during sexual intercourse; a passageway of the birth of a
Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel in your baby.
bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly, over time and affect
many different processes including growth and development, PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
metabolism, sexual function, reproduction and mood.
Testes – an oval organ
PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE within the scrotum. It is
SYSTEM the site of sperm cell
production.
Epididymis –a coiled
tube located adjacent to
the testes. It transports
and stores sperm cell.
Vas Deferens – a narrow
tube which runs into the
lower abdomen and then
loops back around down
into the penis.
Prostate Gland–located below the urinary bladder. It nourishes
Ovary - located in the lower abdomen. It produces egg cell (ova), the sperm cells and adds additional fluid to semen.
estrogen, and progesterone.
Seminal Vesicle – a sac-shaped gland located on the side of the
Fallopian Tubes - a long ducts that open up into the uterus. It is the site bladder. It provides energy for sperm through the production of sugar
of fertilization of egg by the sperm cell. (fructose).
Uterus - a pear-shaped, thick-walled muscular organ. It supports Penis – composed of spongy erectile tissue. It is the organ for sexual
pregnancy; when its lining is shed, menstruation happens. intercourse.
Cervix - a narrow muscular region located between the vagina and Urethra – a tube-like structure that starts from the lower opening of the
uterus. It allows the flow of menstrual blood from the uterus into the bladder and traverses the entire length of the penis.
vagina and directs the sperms into the uterus during intercourse.
Scrotum –a bag of skin suspended outside the body.It protects the
testes.
THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND THE MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Menstruation is a sign that a girl is capable of producing offspring. The
menstrual cycle is a series of changes during which an egg matures,
and the uterus is prepared for possible pregnancy. It entails biological
feedback system that regulates the activities of the structures involved
in the processes.
The menstrual cycle is influenced by the endocrine system through the
complex interaction of the hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads
(reproductive or sex organs, specifically the ovaries and testes). The
length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman but the
average cycle is 28 days.
Follicular phase - starts on day 1 of menstruation and ends with
ovulation (day 14). The brain (anterior pituitary) sends the Follicle
Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to the ovaries to signal follicles to grow
and mature. These follicles produce estrogen. Estrogen acts on the
uterus to stimulate the thickening of the endometrium (uterine lining).
When estrogen peaks, it signals the brain to release Luteinizing
Hormone (LH). This triggers ovulation.
Ovulation occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or so before
menstruation starts. On this day, the mature egg from the follicle travles
from the ovary down to the fallopian tube and into the uterus. At any
time during the egg’s journey, sperm can fertilize it. If fertilization does
not occur during this phase, the egg continues to the uterus and dies
within 6 to 24 hours.
Luteal Phase - includes the day after ovulation to the day before your
next period. During the luteal phase, LH and FSH levels decrease. Once How feedback loops happen in menstrual cycle
it releases its egg, the empty follicle develops into a new structure called
the corpus luteum which produces progesterone. If the egg isn’t
fertilized, the corpus luteum denegrates and estrogen level decreases.
The hormonal changes of this phase are associated with symptoms of
premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as pimples, headaches, fatigue,
dizziness, mood changes, bloating, pain, swelling of the breasts, and
food cravings.
Menstrual cycle can continue in a woman for about 40 years stopping
temporarily during pregnancy and resumes after giving birth.
Feedback loops are biological processes that maintain homeostasis or
body balance.
Positive feedback - intensifies a response
Negative feedback - reduces the effect of a stimulus.
Negative feedback affects the production and release of hormones in
the menstrual cycle. During the cycle, negative feedback mechanism
keeps the levels of hormones relatively stable.
