34.1 Reproductive Anatomy
KEY CONCEPT
Female and male reproductive organs fully develop
during puberty.
34.1 Reproductive Anatomy
The female reproductive system produces ova.
• There are two main functions of the female reproductive
system.
– produce ova, or egg cells
– provide a place where a zygote develops
fallopian
tube
uterus
ovary
cervix
pubic bone
urinary bladder
urethra
rectum
vagina
Function: Produce ova (eggs)
and prepare the body to nourish
a developing embryo
Uterine tube: egg
transport
Uterus: embryo
development
Cervix: entrance
to uterus
Vagina: birth canal
Anal Canal: waste excretion
Perineum: skin
between anus
and vagina
Ovary: produces eggs
Bladder: urine storage
Pubic bone: part of pelvis
Clitoris: external genitalia
Labia minora entrance to
}
Labia majora vagina
34.1 Reproductive Anatomy
• Estrogen has three main functions.
– develop female sexual characteristics
– develop eggs
– prepare uterus for pregnancy
34.1 Reproductive Anatomy
The male reproductive system produces sperm.
• There are two main functions of the male reproductive
system.
– produce sperm cells
– deliver sperm to the female reproductive system
urinary bladder
seminal vesicle
vas deferens
pubic bone
prostate gland
rectum
penis
urethra
epididymis
scrotum
testis
bulbourethral
gland
Function: Produce and deliver sperm
Penis: external
reproductive
organ
Urethra:
carries urine
from bladder to
outside of
body; tube
through which
semen is
released
Seminal vesicle: produces seminal
fluid (semen without the sperm)
Prostate gland: seminal fluid
Bulbourethral gland: seminal fluid
Vas deferens: tube for sperm transport
Epididymis: sperm maturation and storage
Testis: sperm production
Scrotum: external sac containing testes
34.1 Reproductive Anatomy
• Testosterone has two main functions.
– developing male sexual characteristics
– producing sperm
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
KEY CONCEPT
Human reproductive processes depend on cycles of
hormones.
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
Eggs mature and are released according to hormonal
cycles.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH) and lutenizing hormone
(LH) regulate egg production.
– meiosis produces eggs and
polar bodies
– each egg has 23
chromosomes
– meiosis is completed at
fertilization
potential
egg
Meiosis I
Completed
first polar
body
Meiosis II
Completed
only after
sperm
enters
second polar
body
ovum (egg)
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
• FSH, LH, and estrogen stimulate the release of eggs.
– follicle ruptures at ovulation
– egg travels into fallopian tube
– ruptured follicle becomes corpus luteum
fallopian
tube
uterus
5 to 7 days to uterus
follicle
egg cell
egg released
ovary
uterine wall
corpus luteum
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
Eggs mature and are released according to hormonal
cycles.
• The menstrual cycle has three phases.
– flow phase: endometrium sheds
– follicular phase: ovulation occurs
– luteal phase: corpus luteum forms
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
• The menstrual cycle stops at menopause.
– cycle continues until a woman’s mid-40’s or 50’s
– decline in hormone levels make cycles irregular
– eventually, cycle stops altogether
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
Sperm production in the testes is controlled by
hormones.
• Testosterone, FSH, and LH
stimulate sperm production.
potential
sperm
– one sex cell divides into
four sperm
– each sperm has 23
chromosomes
Meiosis I
Meiosis II
4 sperm cells
34.2 Reproductive Processes
• Sperm cells fully mature in the epididymis.
– head contains acrosome
– midpiece contains ATP acrosome
– tail allows mobility
TEKS 6G, 10A
nucleus with 23
chromosomes
head
mitochondria
midpiece
tail
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell joins an egg cell.
• Sperm penetrates an egg.
– membrane keeps out other sperm
– nucleus of sperm joins with egg
– zygote formed
34.2 Reproductive Processes
TEKS 6G, 10A
• Multiple zygotes can result from fertilization.
– identical twins from the same egg
– fraternal twins from two separate eggs
• Infertility makes reproduction difficult or impossible.