The Male Reproductive System

Role of a Male in reproduction

The role of a male in sexual reproduction is to produce sperm cells (haploid cells) and to deliver them to the female reproductive

system to fertilize an egg cell (haploid cell).

What is Puberty?
Puberty is the adolescent stage of development

when changes in the body make reproduction possible. Secondary sexual characteristics:
Growth of bodily hair change of voice Muscular build (male)/fat deposition (female) Development of mammary glands (females) Growth spurt

Male reproductive structures: Testes

Testes (singular, testis): two

egg-shaped organs where gametes are produced The testes develop within the abdominal cavity. Before a male is born, the testes descend into an external sac called the scrotum.
The temperature within the

Each testis contains 250

scrotum is 2oC to 3oC cooler than the temperature inside the body37oC. This cooler temperature is necessary for development of normal sperm.

compartments containing tightly coiled tubules called seminiferous tubules. Sperm forms through meiosis in the specialized lining of this network of tubules

Formation of Sperm
Males begin to produce sperm

during puberty A male will continue to produce sperm as long as his testosterone level is high enough usually for most of his life

Path of Sperm through the Male Body

Sperm move from the tubules in the testes to the

epididymis (a long, coiled tubule that is closely attached to the testis)

Within each epididymis, a sperm matures and gains the ability to

swim as its flagellum completes development. Some sperm is stored in the epididymis.

Some sperm leaves the epididymis and pass through the

vas deferens (a duct that extends from the epididymis) Vas deferens loops around the urinary bladder and merges with the urethra. Sperm exists the body through the urethra (so does urinebut not at the same time)

Semen
Sperm mixed with secretions from the

(1) seminal vesicles, (2) prostate gland, and (3) Cowpers glands form a fluid called semen.

The liquid that is added to sperm cells has a very specific function 1. Provide nourishment 2. Provide medium for movement 3. Limited protection/defense

The Female Reproductive System

Vagina &Cervix
The vagina is the muscular passageway leading to the outside of the body During birth, the vagina is often referred to as the birth canal. The cervix is the opening from the vagina into the womb allows menstrual blood exit and sperm in. During childbirth the cervix expands about 4 inches (10 cm). Its not pleasant.

Uterus
The main function of the uterus is to accept a fertilized ovum/egg, which becomes implanted into the uterine lining, and derives nourishment from blood vessels which develop exclusively for this purpose.

Ovary

Ovaries are sex cell/gamete producing structures of the female reproductive system. Normally, a female will have two ovaries, each performing two major functions: producing eggs and secreting hormones. Females are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary.

Fallopian Tubes
The fallopian tubes are two very fine tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus. The egg travels from the ovary to the uterus via this tube (3-4 days). This is also where fertilization will occur.

Uterus
The fertilized egg becomes an embryo, develops into a fetus and gestates until childbirth. Due to anatomical barriers such as the pelvis, the uterus is pushed partially into the abdomen due to its expansion during pregnancy. Even in pregnancy the mass of a human uterus amounts to only about a kilogram .

The Menstrual cycle - the month long cycle during which the female body prepares for possible pregnancy

Inside the Womb

First Trimester

Second Trimester

Third Trimester

First Trimester
Pregnancy is counted in weeks, lasting 40 weeks from the first day of the last period. About the time a womens next period is due is when pregnancy tests begin to pick up the first traces of hCG in your urine or blood. Due to the major physical and hormonal changes that are occuring in the females body, this is usually the time when morning sickness is at its worst. The picture to the right is 5 days after conception.

Second Trimester

The baby is finishing it's development and at the end of this trimester she or he will begin to put more weight on. Major organ systems are functioning and fetal movement can be felt by mom and outside parties by the end of the second trimester. Some women will have ultrasound screening around 20 weeks gestation. About 50% of families will choose to find out the sex of their baby at this point as well.

Third Trimester
Baby is getting bigger and loving life in the womb. Many babies will start to settle into a head down position, beginning as early as the 28th week. About 3-4% of all babies will remain in the breech position at the end of pregnancy. This final trimester is really a time for finishing touches like lung maturity and layers of brown fat to help keep the baby warm on the outside.