Overview of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems

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The reproductive system is a system that includes the sex organs in both the female and male body which allows people to reproduce. The main organs of the reproductive system are the gonads, which is the testes in males and the ovaries in females. From the gonads, sex cells or gametes, are produced for reproduction.

The female reproductive system’s major functions are to produce functional gametes, protect and support developing embryo, maintain growing fetuses and nourish a newborn infant. The female reproductive system is composed up of various organs.

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One major organ mentioned before, are the ovaries. The ovaries, found in the peritoneal cavity, are responsible for producing oocytes. Oocytes is an immature ovum, or egg cell. Oocytes travel through the reproductive tract to be fertilized. The ovaries release only one egg cell per month. A female is born with all the eggs they are ever going to have. The female reproductive tract contains 3 organs of the female reproductive system.

Which are the fallopian tube, the uterus, and the vagina. The fallopian tube is an expanded funnel that open into the pelvic cavity along the surface of the ovary. The fallopian tube transports sperm towards the egg cell and allows passage for the fertilized egg to travel back to the uterus. The uterus is a really think muscular organ, where a baby is developed during pregnancy until birth. The uterus is situated posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum. The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal that connects the uterus to the outside of body.

The vagina receives the penis during sexual intercourse, serves as a conduit for menstrual flow from the uterus, and provides a passage way from childbirth (birth canal). Mammary glands are also considered part of the female reproductive system because they provide milk for developing infants. Lactation is controlled by hormones released by the reproductive system and the placenta. Moreover, the female reproductive system also produces sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are secreted by the ovaries. The male reproductive system’s major function is to produce, maintain, and transport sperm and semen (seminal fluid). The male reproductive system contains many organs. One major organ is the testes. The testes produce gametes called sperm, which carries the male’s genetic material into a female to then fuse with her genetic material and cause a pregnancy. Unlike the female, a male can produce millions of sperm per day. The testes sit outside the body in a sac known as the scrotum.

Another major organ in the male reproductive system is the penis. The penis is the actual organ that goes inside the female vagina during sexual intercourse to reproduce. The penis is composed of three erectile tissues that consist of vascular spaces that fill with blood during an erection. The erectile tissues are the single corpus spongiosum, the paired corpus spongiosum, and the dorsal corpora cavernosa. The male reproductive system also contains accessory organs such as, the vas deferens, seminal gland, prostate gland, and epididymis. The male reproductive system also produces a major sex hormone, known as testosterone. Testosterone regulates fertility, muscle mass, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. Testosterone is secreted by the testes and is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics, like deep voice, body hair, and muscle growth.