The reproductive system is a series of organs and glands in the body that work together for the
purpose of procreation. The male and female reproductive systems have different structures and
functions but are designed to complement each other to facilitate reproduction.
Male Reproductive System
Main Organs and Functions
1. Testes (Testicles): Produce sperm and testosterone.
2. Scrotum: A sac that holds and protects the testes and regulates their temperature.
3. Epididymis: A long, coiled tube where sperm mature and are stored.
4. Vas Deferens: A tube that transports mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.
5. Seminal Vesicles: Produce a fluid that is rich in sugar, which provides energy for the
sperm.
6. Prostate Gland: Produces a fluid that helps to nourish and transport sperm.
7. Bulbourethral Glands (Cowper's Glands): Produce a clear fluid that lubricates the
urethra for sperm to pass through.
8. Urethra: The tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis.
9. Penis: The organ that delivers sperm into the female reproductive system.
Female Reproductive System
Main Organs and Functions
1. Ovaries: Produce eggs (ova) and hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
2. Fallopian Tubes: Transport eggs from the ovaries to the uterus; the site where
fertilization typically occurs.
3. Uterus (Womb): Houses and nourishes a developing fetus. The inner lining, called the
endometrium, thickens to prepare for potential pregnancy.
4. Cervix: The lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina; it allows the passage of
sperm into the uterus and menstrual blood out of the uterus.
5. Vagina: The canal that connects the cervix to the outside of the body; it receives the
penis during intercourse and serves as the birth canal.
6. Vulva: The external part of the female reproductive system, which includes the labia
majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the openings of the vagina and urethra.
Reproductive Process
1. Gamete Production:
o Males produce sperm continuously from puberty onwards.
o Females are born with a finite number of eggs, which mature and are released
during the menstrual cycle.
2. Fertilization:
o Sperm are deposited in the female reproductive tract during intercourse.
o Sperm travel through the cervix and uterus into the fallopian tubes, where they
may encounter and fertilize an egg.
3. Pregnancy:
o The fertilized egg (zygote) travels down the fallopian tube and implants in the
uterine wall, where it develops into an embryo and then a fetus.
o The placenta forms to nourish the growing fetus.
4. Childbirth:
o When the fetus is fully developed, hormonal changes trigger labor, and the baby
is delivered through the birth canal (vagina).
