Female Reproductive System

• Human reproductive system overview.

Female Reproductive System

• The ovary produces egg cells surrounded by follicle cells that nourish them.
• Females are born with a limited number of follicle cells, around 1-2 million.
• Ovulation is the monthly release of one egg, starting at puberty and ending at menopause.
• From the ovary, the egg cell goes to the oviduct/fallopian tube.
• Fertilization can happen in the oviduct if sperm cells are there.
• The zygote travels from the oviduct to the uterus for pregnancy.
• The cervix forms the uterus' neck at its base.
• Below the cervix is the vagina, a thin structure with strong muscles.
• The vagina receives sperm during intercourse and is the birth canal.
• Glands in the vagina secrete mucus for lubrication during intercourse.
• Labia Minora are a pair of thin skin folds covering the vagina and urethra openings.
• Labia Majora are a pair of thick skin ridges protecting the genitalia.
• The hymen is a thin tissue partially covering the vaginal opening, often tor by rigorous activities other than sexual intercourse.
• The clitoris is a highly sensitive small shaft with a head covered by a hood called the prepuce.

Male Reproductive system

• The male gonad, known as the testis (plural: testes), produces sperm.
• Sperm cells swim from each testis to the epididymis to further develop and be stored.
• Sperm move to the vas deferens through muscular contractions.
• The vas deferens circles the urinary bladder and joins the seminal vesicle duct to form the ejaculatory duct.
• Unlike females with separate urinary and reproductive openings, males use the same opening for urine and sperm.
• The penis has structures similar to the clitoris.
• The glans is the head of the penis.
• The shaft is the body of the penis.
• The prepuce is the foreskin.
• The prepuce is removed during circumcision.
• The glans is richly supplied with nerve endings, making it highly sensitive.
• Semen is made up of sperm and fluids from three glands.
• The seminal vesicle fluids and the prostate gland nourish the sperm.
• The bulbourethral gland secretes an alkaline fluid, neutralizing remaining urine in the urethra upon sperm deposition.
• Ejaculation is the release of semen, during male orgasm.
• Approximately, 200-500 million sperm are released in 2-5ml (1 teaspoon) of secretions.
• Among the millions of sperm, only one will be able to fertilize the egg.