THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
BY: MA’AM LIBY
To produce egg and sperm cells.
To transport and sustain these cells.
To nurture the developing fetus.
To produce hormones.
FUNCTIONS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
WHAT’S THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM?
Itproduces, maintains and transports sperm (the male
reproductive cells) and semen (the protective fluid
around sperm).
It discharges sperm into the female reproductive tract.
It produces and secretes male sex hormones.
HOW DOES THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
FUNCTION?
FSH and LH are produced by the pituitary gland. FSH is
necessary for sperm production (spermatogenesis). LH
stimulates the production of testosterone, which is
necessary to continue the process of
spermatogenesis. Testosterone is also important in the
development of male characteristics, including
muscle mass and strength, fat distribution, bone mass
and sex drive.
WHAT ARE THE EXTERNAL MALE REPRODUCTIVE
STRUCTURES?
Penis
The penis is the male organ for sexual intercourse. It has three parts:
The root: This is the part of the penis that attaches to the wall of your
abdomen.
The body or shaft: Inside these chambers is a special, sponge-like erectile
tissue that contains thousands of large spaces that fill with blood when
you’re sexually aroused. As the penis fills with blood, it becomes rigid and
erect, which allows for penetration during sex.
The glans: This is the cone-shaped end of the penis. The glans, which is also
called the head of the penis, is covered with a loose layer of skin called
foreskin. This skin is sometimes removed in a procedure called circumcision.
Scrotum
The scrotum is the loose pouch-like sac that holds the
testicles (also called testes), as well as many nerves and
blood vessels. The scrotum protects your testes, as well as
providing a sort of climate control system.
Testicles (testes)
The testes are oval organs about the size of very large
olives that lie in the scrotum. Most men have two testes.
The testes are responsible for making testosterone, the
primary male sex hormone, and for producing sperm.
WHAT ARE THE INTERNAL MALE REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS?
Vasdeferens: The vas deferens is a long, muscular tube
that travels from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity. The
vas deferens transports mature sperm to the urethra in
preparation for ejaculation.
Urethra:
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the
bladder to outside of your body. In males, it has the
additional function of expelling (ejaculating) semen when
you reach orgasm.
Epididymis
The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that rests on the
backside of each testicle. It carries and stores sperm
cells that are created in the testes. It’s also the job of the
epididymis to bring the sperm to maturity — the sperm
that emerge from the testes are immature and
incapable of fertilization. During sexual arousal,
contractions force the sperm into the vas deferens.
Seminal vesicles
The seminal vesicles are sac-like pouches that attach to
the vas deferens near the base of the bladder. The
seminal vesicles make a sugar-rich fluid (fructose) that
provides sperm with a source of energy and helps with
the sperms’ ability to move (motility). The fluid of the
seminal vesicles makes up most of the volume of your
ejaculatory fluid, or ejaculate.
Prostate gland
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized structure
that’s located below the urinary bladder in front of
the rectum. The prostate gland contributes
additional fluid to the ejaculate. It secretes a slightly
alkaline milky [Link] fluids also help to nourish
the sperm.
Bulbourethral glands
The bulbourethral glands, or Cowper’s glands, are pea-
sized structures located on the sides of the urethra, just
below the prostate gland. These glands produce a
thick, clear, slippery fluid that serves to lubricate the
urethra and to neutralize any acidity that may be
present due to residual drops of urine in the urethra.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
The Female Reproductive System consists of the
body parts that help you:
Have sexual intercourse
Reproduce
Menstruate
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
The external genital structures include the mons pubis,
labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris. The area
containing these structures is called the vulva.
The external genital structures have three main
functions:
Allowing sperm to enter the body
Protecting the internal genital organs from infectious
organisms
Providing lubrication and sexual pleasure
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Labia majora: The labia majora (“large lips”)
enclose and protect the other external
reproductive organs. During puberty, hair
growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora,
which also contain sweat and oil-secreting
glands.
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Labia minora: Labia minora(literally, small lips) can be
very small or up to 2 inches wide. The labia minora lie
just inside the labia majora and surround the openings
to the vagina and urethra. A rich supply of blood
vessels gives the labia minora a pink color. During
sexual stimulation, these blood vessels become
engorged with blood, causing the labia minora to swell
and become more sensitive to stimulation.
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Clitoris: The two (2) labia minora meet at your clitoris, a
small, sensitive protrusion that’s comparable to a penis
in men. Your clitoris is covered by a fold of skin called
the prepuce and is very sensitive to stimulation.
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Vaginal opening: The opening to the vagina is called
the introitus. The vaginal opening is the entryway for the
penis during sexual intercourse and the exit for blood
during menstruation and for the baby during birth.
When stimulated, Bartholin glands (located inside tissue
beside the vaginal opening) secrete a thick fluid that
supplies lubrication for intercourse.
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Vaginal opening: The opening to the vagina is called
the introitus. The vaginal opening is the entryway for the
penis during sexual intercourse and the exit for blood
during menstruation and for the baby during birth.
When stimulated, Bartholin glands (located inside tissue
beside the vaginal opening) secrete a thick fluid that
supplies lubrication for intercourse.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Vagina: The vagina is a soft, stretchable muscular canal
that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the
outside of the body. It can widen to accommodate a
baby during delivery and then shrink back after. It’s
lined with mucous membranes that help keep it moist.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Cervix: The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus. A hole
in the middle allows sperm to enter and menstrual
blood to exit. The cervix opens (dilates) to allow a baby
to come out during a vaginal childbirth.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Uterus: The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that
holds a fetus during pregnancy. It is divided into two
parts: the cervix and the corpus. Your corpus is the
larger part of your uterus that expands during
pregnancy.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Ovaries: Ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are
located on either side of your uterus. Your ovaries
produce eggs and hormones.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Fallopian tubes are about 4 to 5 inches (about 10 to 13
centimeters) long, extend from the upper edges of the
uterus toward the ovaries. The tubes do not directly
connect with the ovaries. Instead, the end of each
tube flares into a funnel shape with fingerlike extensions
(fimbriae). When an egg is released from an ovary, the
fimbriae guide the egg into the opening of a fallopian
tube.
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
The fallopian tubes are lined with tiny hairlike projections
(cilia). The cilia and the muscles in the tube's wall propel
an egg downward through the tube to the uterus. The
fallopian tube is the usual site of fertilization of the egg
by the sperm. After fertilization, the fertilized egg enters
the uterus and implants there.
Thank you for listening!