THE MALE AND FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS
 Your life began as a single cell.
 That single cell was produced by the joining
of two other cells
 Egg: female sex cell with 23 chromosomes
 Sperm: male sex cell with 23 chromosomes
 The joining of an egg and a sperm is called
fertilization.
 During fertilization, the 23
chromosomes in a sperm join
the 23 chromosomes in an
egg.
 The result is a zygote with 46
chromosomes.
 The zygote contains all the
information needed to
produce a new human being.
Male Reproductive System
 The male reproductive system is specialized
to produce sperm and the hormone
testosterone.
 The structure of the male reproductive
system include the testes, scrotum and penis.
The Testes
 This is where sperm is produced.
 They are located in an external pouch of skin
called the scrotum. This placement is key since
sperm needs to be a couple of degrees cooler
than regular body temperature to develop
normally.
 The testes also produce testosterone.
Testosterone is a hormone that controls the
development of physical characteristics in
mature men (facial hair, deepening voice,
broadening of shoulders and ability to produce
sperm).
The Path of Sperm Cells
Once
sperm
cells
form,
From there,
sperm
travel
through other structures in the male
they
movesystem.
to the
leaves
the body
reproductive
As they move,
with fluids
forming
Sperm
cells they
are mixSemen
the urethra
epididymis.
semen. These fluids provide an environmentthrough
in which sperm
cells are
produced in the testes.
located
in the
penis.
able to swim, as well as the nutrients they use
as a source
of energy.
Female Reproductive System
 The role of the female reproductive system is
to produce eggs and, if an egg is fertilized, to
nourish a developing baby until birth.
 The organs of the female reproductive
system include the ovaries, fallopian tubes,
uterus and vagina.
The Ovaries
 The ovaries are the female reproductive
structures that produce and store eggs.
 Like the testes in males, the ovaries produce
hormones:
 Estrogen: triggers the development of some adult
female characteristics (hips widen and breast
development)
 Progesterone: maintains the uterus during
pregnancy.
Path of the egg cell
The ovary releases
The egg aenters
theenters
nearest
If fallopian
the
eggIfwas
not fertilized it
The egg
the
uterus.
it was
mature egg,tube.
called
Fertilization
usually
occurs
starts
to break
fertilized
it
attaches
to the
wall ofdown, passes
oocyte.
within a fallopian
tube.
the uterus
and pregnancy
begins
through the
cervix and exits the
body through the vagina.
The Menstrual Cycle
 When the female reproductive system
becomes mature, there are about 400,000
undeveloped eggs in the ovaries. However,
only about 500 of those eggs will actually
leave the ovaries and reach the uterus.
 An egg is released about once a month.
 The monthly cycle changes that occur in the
female reproductive system is called
menstrual cycle.
 During the menstrual cycle, an egg matures
in an ovary.
 At the same time, the lining of the uterus
becomes thicker.
Days 1-4: Menstrual
discharge
Days 23-28:
Unfertilized egg enters
the uterus
Days 16-22: Egg moves through the
fallopian tube. Uterus lining
becomes thicker.
Days 5-13: Egg
develops in follicle
Days 14-15: Ovulation
occurs.