Reproductive Systems Overview

Male Reproductive System

• The male reproductive system includes organs involved in the urinary system
• The scrotum is the external sac that houses the testes
• The testes are male reproductive organs that contain seminiferous tubules
• Sperm cells are temporary stored in the epididymis; the sperm cells develop
• Vas deferens, a long muscular tube, carries mature sperm to ejaculatory ducts
• The ejaculatory duct extends to the prostate and joins with urethra
• The prostate gland releases fluids; seminal fluid flows into the urethra
• The male urethra is a passageway for both urine and semen
• Urine and semen do not exit the urethra at the same time
• The penis's function is copulation; it consists of erectile tissues called corpus cavernosa

Female Reproductive System

• The female reproductive tract includes the two almond-shaped ovaries
• Ovaries are suspended by a ligament in the pelvic cavity
• The mesovarium suspends the ovary to the body wall
• Ovaries contain ovarian follicles which contain oocytes (female germ cells)
• When a follicle matures, it expands and releases an egg, called ovulation
• The remaining cells of the ruptured follicles become the corpus luteum
• Corpus luteum regulates the hormone cycle during female gametogenesis
• Fallopian tubes, oviducts, extend from the ovaries to the uterus
• Fimbriae surround the distal opening of the fallopian tubes, capturing the egg
• The uterus is a pear-shaped organ in the pelvic cavity
• The uterus develops and grows the fertilized egg
• The uterine cavity through the cervix is the birth canal - vagina
• The vagina is the female organ for copulation