The Male & Female Reproductive Systems Unit 1-12 Notes Mr. Hefti – Pulaski Biology The Male & Female Reproductive Systems

Reproductive System Fun Facts The average lifespan of an egg once it is released from the ovary is 12-24 hours after which it either disintegrates or is flushed out of the body with the menstrual flow.  The average life span of the sperm is 2-3 days. Male sperm are significantly smaller than the female egg.  While the sperm measures 2.5 to 3.5 microns across the head the fully mature egg is 100-125 microns in diameter. The largest cell of the female body is the egg. A woman never runs out of eggs.  At birth she has between 1 and 2 million potential eggs (follicles) and by puberty has 300,000 to 400,000 viable eggs (follicles) that can be fertilized.

2 – fallopian tube / oviduct female reproductive organs – side view during pregnancy 1 – ovary 2 – fallopian tube / oviduct 3 – uterus 4 – cervix 5 – vagina 6 – urinary bladder 7 – urethra 8 – anus 9 – rectum 10 – fetus 11 – umbilical cord 12 – pelvis female repro. organs – front view

1 – penis 2 – urethra 8 – prostate 3 – scrotum 9 – anus 4 – testes male reproductive organs – side view male reproductive organs – front view 1 – penis 2 – urethra 3 – scrotum 4 – testes 5 – vas deferens 6 – pelvis 7 – seminal vesicle 8 – prostate 9 – anus 10 – rectum 11 – urinary bladder 12 – blood vessels 13 – ureters

What is meant by the following statement? Make connections… What is meant by the following statement? “Reproduction is needed for the survival of the species but not the individual.” Organisms do not need to reproduce, but if no members of the population reproduce then the species could go extinct.