Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SYSTEM
What is reproduction?
The primary sex organs (gonads) are
those that produce gametes (sperm
and eggs)
Male: testes Female: ovaries
Sex Organs
Male: Female:
ducts, glands, penis uterine tubes, uterus, vagina
MALE ANATOMY
Male Secondary Characteristics
• Puberty
• Burst of hormones activate maturation of the gonads: testes
• Enlargement of the external and internal genitalia
• Voice changes
• Hair growth
• Mental changes
• Changes in body conformation and skin
• Sebaceous gland secretions thicken/increase acne
Scrotum
Shaft
Foreskin Penis
Glans
Penis
• It has three external parts:
• Shaft – contains the urethra – a passage for urine to
leave the body
• Glans – has opening for urethra, homologous to the
clitoris in females
• Foreskin -– a sheath of skin that covers the tip of the
penis
• It functions to both ability for urination and the transfer
sperm to the vagina.
• During sexual activity, the penis becomes erect or firm
• Ejaculation – occurs when sperm are released from the penis after
sexual excitement
Scrotum
• A sac-like pouch located behind the penis that holds each
testes
• They are tiny, living cells 100 times smaller than a pencil
dot.
• Prostate Gland
• The gland secretes an alkaline fluid that neutralizes the
acid found in the male urethra and the female
reproductive tract.
• Without the fluids of the prostate, many sperm would die
and fertilization of an egg would be impossible.
• 40% of semen volume
Urethra
• A tube that both semen
and urine pass
• Semen and urine never mix.
• During urination
• one sphincter will relax so
that the bladder will push
urine out from the body.
• During ejaculation
• another sphincter will relax
so that semen can flow
through the urethra to the
outside of the body.
Semen, Sperm & Fertilization
• Spermatogenesis
• Development of sperm
• Labia majora
• Rounded folds of adipose tissue and skin
• Protect other external reproductive organs
• Homologous to scrotum
• Labia minora
• Fold of skin between labia majora
• Very vascular
• Merge to form hood over clitoris
Clitoris & Perineum
• Clitoris
• Contains female erectile tissue
• Rich in sensory nerves
• Homologous to glans
• Perineum
• Between vagina and anus
• Area for episiotomy, if needed, during birth
process
Urethra & Vaginal Opening
• Urethra
• The urethra is below the clitoris is the passage for urine
• It is much shorter than the male urethra, can be more
likely to develop a UTI
• Vaginal Opening
• The entrance to the actual vagina
• It is the tube that is used for flow of menstrual fluid,
penetration during sex, and birth
• The hymen is a thin fold of tissue which partially covers
the opening of the vagina.
• Medically it is no longer considered to be a 100% proof of female
virginity.
InternalAnatomy
Ovaries
• Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond.
• It is homologous to testes
• The female baby is born with all the ova she will ever
have (about 200,000 in each ovary).
• About 400-500 ova mature and are released over a lifetime
Ovaries Part II
• Ovaries have two main functions:
• store and release the ova or female egg cell. Some of
the ova disappear; others are dormant until each is
ripened and released after puberty.
• This process is called oogenesis
• produce female sex hormones estrogen and
progesterone
Progesterone
• Progesterone builds up the lining of the uterus called the
endometrium in preparation for the fertilized ovum
Fallopian Tubes
• Stretch from the uterus to the ovaries and measure about
8 to 13 cm in length.