34 1 Reproductive Anatomy KEY CONCEPT Female and

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy KEY CONCEPT Female and male reproductive organs fully develop during puberty.

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy The female reproductive system produces ova. • The reproductive system is a collection of specialized organs, glands, and hormones that help produce a new human being. • Females and males reach sexuality maturity, or the ability to produce offspring, only after puberty. • Puberty marks the time in your life when your hypothalamus and your pituitary gland release hormones. – Follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones(LH)

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy The female reproductive system produces ova. • There are two main functions of the female reproductive system. – produce ova, or egg cells – provide a place where a zygote develops fallopian tube ovary uterus cervix pubic bone urinary bladder urethra rectum vagina

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy The female reproductive system produces ova. • The egg cells are produced in the ovaries. • The ovaries are paired organs located on either side of the uterus, or womb. • When a female baby is born, she has all of her eggs.

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • Follicle-stimulating hormones and Luteinizing hormones stimulate the release of Estrogen has three main functions: – develop female sexual characteristics Ex: widening the pelvis, increasing fat deposits and bone mass, and enlarging the breasts. – develop eggs – prepare uterus for pregnancy and maintain a pregnancy when it occurs

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • When the egg cell matures each month, it is released from an ovary and enters the fallopian tube. • An egg takes several days to travel through the fallopian tube, during that time it can be fertilized by sperm that enters the tube. • When the egg is fertilized it will attach to the wall of the uterus, if it is unfertilized it will eventually be broken down and discarded.

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • The uterus is made up of 3 layers – A thin inner layer of epithelial cells – A thick middle layer of muscle – An outer layer of connective tissue The lower end is called the cervix, which opens to the vagina. During a normal birth, a baby is pushed down the canal of the vagina to exit the mothers body.

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy The male reproductive system produces sperm. • There are two main functions of the male reproductive system. – produce sperm cells – deliver sperm to the female reproductive system urinary bladder seminal vesicle vas deferens pubic bone prostate gland rectum penis urethra epididymis scrotum testis bulbourethral gland

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy The male reproductive system produces sperm. • Males do not produce sperm until after they reach puberty • Sperm production takes place in the testicles, or testes • Each testis contains hundreds of tiny tubules where millions of sperm cells are produced.

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • LH stimulates the release of testosterone • Testosterone has two main functions. – Controls developing male sexual characteristics Ex: deeper voice, more body hair, greater bone density, increased muscle mass – producing sperm

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • The testes are enclosed in a pouch called the scrotum which hangs below the pelvis outside the body. – It is 2 -3 degrees cooler then the core body temperature – Sperm cannot develop if the temperature is too high • When the sperm leaves the testes, they travel through a duct to a long coiled tube known as the epididymus. – Sperm matures there and remains until expelled • During sexual stimulation, the sperm travel into another long duct called the vas deferens

34. 1 Reproductive Anatomy • Secondary sex glands secrete fluids into the vas deferens to nourish and protect the sperm. • The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps sperm move more easily. • The bulbourethral gland the seminal vesicle secrete basic fluids that help neutralize the acidity in the urethra and in the females vagina. • The fluids from all 3 glands plus sperm form semen. • Semen moves from the vas deferens into the urethra and ejects it from the penis.