The
Reproductive
System
BrainPOP: Reproductive System
Your body makes body cells and sex cells.
Body cells  bone cells, muscle cells, blood cells, etc.
Sex cells  egg (in females)
and sperm (in males)
Parts of the Reproductive Systems
MALE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Penis
Scrotum
Testes (testicles)
Vas deferens (sperm duct)
Epididymis
Seminal vesicle
Urethra
Sperm (spermatozoon- singular,
spermatozoa-plural)
FEMALE
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vagina
Cervix
Uterus
Oviduct (Fallopian tube)
Ovaries
Egg (ovum- singular, ova-plural)
* Females also have a urethra, but its
purpose is for urination, not
reproduction!
Seminal
vesicle
(sperm duct)
Prostate
gland
Penis
(Oviduct)
Ovum (egg cell)
• Female sex cell
• Contains half of the genetic information (DNA) necessary
for a complete organism
• Can typically be seen by the naked eye (when fully
matured)
• About 0.12 mm
Sperm cell
• Male sex cell
• Contains half the genetic information (DNA) necessary
for a complete organism
• Only about 0.005 mm
What is sexual reproduction?
When two sex cells (sperm and egg) come
together to produce a new unique organism.
A fertilized egg is called a zygote.
FEED
ME!
=
BBC Bite Size: Reproduction
You were the once
the fastest swimmer!
Only one sperm will make it into an egg. Once the
egg is penetrated by one sperm, its membrane
changes and does not allow any more in!
Baby Center:
Fertilization
Show the path taken by
sperm starting with the
testes and ending with
leaving the body
Sperm leaves the testes (where
they were produced) and are
stored in the epididymis. Then,
sperm travels through the sperm
duct (vas deferens).
Sperm cells mix with fluid, called
semen, from the seminal vesicle
and prostate gland. This provides
the sperm with liquid to be able to
swim, and food so that they have
energy.
The sperm duct connects to the
urethra
... which carries the sperm out
of the body. This is called
ejaculation.
Pathway of Sperm Out of the Body
Fun Fact!
A female is born with over 1 million eggs in her ovaries.
By the time she reaches puberty, she'll have
about 300,000 eggs left.
Of these, only about 300 eggs will mature and be
released during her reproductive years.
All eggs are stored in a woman's ovaries.
Puberty: What's Happening to my Body?
What is puberty and what happens?
Puberty is a time in your life when your body changes
from a child’s to an adult’s.
• Usually happens between 10-15 years of age.
• Happens faster/slower and sooner/later in different people.
• After puberty, your bodies are able to reproduce.
Girls – Start to release
eggs
Boys – Start to make
sperm cell
Some changes that may occur…
Boys
Girls
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get taller and heavier
Hips get wider and more curvy
Face changes shape
Oily skin and hair, pimples
Voices get a little deeper
Hair grows under the armpits
and around the genitals
Hair on arms and legs grows
darker
Breasts get larger
Body sweats more
Internal and external sex organs
grow
May have mood swings, sexual
thoughts and feelings.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get taller and heavier
Nose and jaw get bigger
Face changes shape
Get more muscles
Oily skin and hair, pimples
Body sweats more
Hair grows on the face, under armpits,
around the genitals
May get more hair on arms, legs and
chest
Voice gets deeper
Penis and testicles grow
May have mood swings, sexual thoughts
and feelings
The Menstrual Cycle
Hormones control the entire menstrual cycle!
The menstrual cycle of a
human female averages
28 days.
PHASE 1
• Starts with menstrual flowblood and tissue released
from uterus.
• This is called menstruation
and usually lasts 4 to 6 days.
PHASE 2
• Hormones cause uterus
lining to thicken
• Ovulation- the release of an
egg from an ovary.
** Egg must be fertilized within 24
hours or it usually breaks down**
What is ovulation?
When egg is released from a female’s ovary and travels
through the Fallopian tube (oviduct) every month.
If the egg is NOT fertilized…
If no sperm
fertilizes the egg,
it will continue to
travel through the
Fallopian tubes
to the uterus and
then exit the body
through the
vagina.
Kids Health: Menstruation Animation
If the egg is fertilized…
The female is now pregnant!
The combination of
the egg and sperm is
called a zygote.
The cells in the
zygote then begin
mitosis (to divide)
and grow.
Nocturnal
Emission
Nocturnal- “night”
Emission- “discharge”
•Also called a “wet dream”.
• This is a completely natural event
that occurs when a male ejaculates
in his sleep.
• Some boys experience this sometime
during puberty as a result of the
body making testosterone.
Pregnancy
Stages of baby development
A human baby will have a complete set of
46 chromosomes in the nucleus of all its cells.
(23 from the mother, 23 from the father)
The last set of chromosomes determines the sex of the baby.
Chromosome Numbers
in Other Organisms
Animals
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shrimp
Dog
Cow
Elephant
Dolphin
Mosquito
92
78
60
56
44
6
Plants
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cotton plant
Pineapple
Potato
Mango
Rice
Bean
52
50
48
40
24
22
Girl?
or
Boy?
Weeks
1-9
10-14
15-20
21-27
28-37
Labor/Birth
What are some important
things that happen during
this time?
While watching the following videos, fill in your
“Pregnancy Stages Chart”
with details about the baby’s development.
Baby Center: Weeks 1-9
Weeks 10-14
Weeks 15-20
Weeks 21-27
Weeks 28-37
Labor and Birth
While watching this video, fill in your chart with
any changes that the female body goes through
to prepare for child birth.
Labor and Birth
Menopause
• Menopause is when a woman’s ovaries stop
producing estrogen, she stops ovulating and
no longer gets her period.
– Usually happens at 45 to 60 years of age.
– Women cannot get pregnant after this
happens.
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS:
-hot flashes
-mood changes
Ask the Experts!
http://kidshealth.org/teen/