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The Reproductive System

The Reproductive System. Reproduction. Recall that one of the characteristics of life is the ability to reproduce This is the only body system that if failed would not be fatal to the individual, however it is the single most important system for the continuation of a species.

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The Reproductive System

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  1. The Reproductive System

  2. Reproduction Recall that one of the characteristics of life is the ability to reproduce This is the only body system that if failed would not be fatal to the individual, however it is the single most important system for the continuation of a species

  3. Sexual Development • The first 6 weeks of development embryos look identical • Then during the 7th week the primary reproductive organs begin to form • Testes in males produce testosterone, causing all male reproductive organs to form • Ovaries in females produce estrogen, causing all female reproductive organs to form • After birth and until puberty, relatively low levels of the sex hormones are produced

  4. Puberty • Is a period of rapid growth and sexual maturation during which the reproductive system becomes fully functional • After puberty the body can produce active reproductive cells called gametes • In humans, puberty usually happens between 9-15 yrs old, and usually 1-2 years earlier in females • Puberty begins when the hypothalamus signals the pituitary to produce increased levels of both FSH and LH hormones

  5. Male Reproductive System The main function of the male reproductive system is to produce and deliver sperm Men make 20-30 billion sperm per month, or about 10,000 per second

  6. Testes • Are the primary male reproductive organs • Make testosterone • Make and store sperm • Testes descend right before birth down into the scrotum • The scrotum is an external sac that holds the testicles and allows them to remain 1-3 degrees cooler than the body for proper sperm development • Inside each testis are clusters of hundreds of tiny tubules called seminiferous tubules • These are tightly coiled and the site of actual sperm production

  7. Sperm Development • Are made in testes, have undergone a process by which they are haploid (meaning that they only contain 1 set of chromosomes instead of the normal 2) • A sperm cell consists of • 1. The Head—which contains a highly condensed nucleus • 2. A Midpiece—which contains mitochondria to act as a motor to power sperm movement • 3. A Tail—which is a flagellum that propels the sperm forward

  8. Epididymis • The epididymis is a structure located on top of the testes where fully mature sperm are moved and stored

  9. Vas deferens Is a tube that connects the epididymis to the urethra It extends upward from the scrotum into the abdominal cavity then downward till it merges with the urethra

  10. The Penis Is a specialized organ that facilitates sperm delivery to a female during sexual intercourse Typically the flaccid, but when sexually stimulated it becomes engorged with blood, this is called an erection Ejaculation is when sperm are ejected from the penis by contractions of smooth muscles

  11. Semen • Is the combination of sperm and seminal fluid • Seminal fluid is produced by glands that line the reproductive tract • It is nutrient rich, to provide energy to sperm • It helps to neutralize the acidic environment of the female reproductive tract

  12. The Female Reproductive System The main function is to produce ova, or mature eggs. It also prepares the female body to nourish a developing embryo Typically, only 1 mature ovum is produced each month

  13. Egg Development • Each ovary contains about 400,000 follicles, which are clusters of cells surrounding a single egg • Their purpose is to help and egg mature for release • In a lifetime, most females will only produce 400 mature eggs

  14. Egg Release • The process by which a mature eggs is released is called ovulation • The egg is swept down into the fallopian tube toward the uterus • Fallopian tubes are fluid filled and lined with cilia • Typical site of fertilization

  15. The Uterus As the egg continues down the fallopian tubes it enters the uterus The uterus is lined with highlyvascularized cells that will receive a fertilized egg and go on to nourish it The outer end of the uterus is called the cervix

  16. The Vagina Is the canal beyond the cervix that leads to the outside of the female body Site of interface during sexual intercourse and receives the sperm (semen) from the male reproductive system

  17. Fertilization • Is the process of a sperm joining a egg, gaining a complete (diploid) set of chromosomes • ½ from each parent • Sperm are released during sexual intercourse right below the cervix and must travel up the uterus and into the fallopian tubes to find the egg

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