The Reproductive System

Male Vocab Scrotum Testicles Epididymis Vas Deferens Seminal Vesicles Prostate Gland Cowper's Gland Urethra Penis

Did you know? The average man produces 100 million sperm per ejaculation? Fewer than 20 million could mean infertility issues.

Scrotum: A pouch of skin that hangs from the base of the penis. It holds the testicles at 2 to 3 degrees below normal body temperature. (Yes, the scrotum does shrink when it’s cold and during sexual arousal.) Testicles: Where sperm production takes place. The maturation process takes about 65 to 75 days.

Epididymis: Where the sperm become motile (learn to swim) and get pushed out by contractions into the vas deferens. Sperm can sit around and wait here for their number to be called as long as a month. Vas Deferens: Tubes (about 18 inches long) through which sperm is stored (sometimes for months) and is propelled

Seminal Vesicles: Glands that secrete a fluid that is alkaline to neutralize the natural acidic environment of the male urethra and the vagina. It also contains fructose to nourish the sperm on their journey. Seminal fluid makes up about 60 percent of semen.

Prostate Gland: Golf-ball shaped gland that adds additional fluid and enzymes to semen. This fluid gives semen its milky color and makes up about 25% of semen. Cowper’s Glands: These pea sized glands secrete drops of clear alkaline fluid during sexual arousal. They also secrete mucus to lubricate the urethra and end of the penis. Prostate Bulbourethral Glands

Urethra: Passageway for both urine and semen. When a man is ready to ejaculate, a sphincter muscle at the base of the bladder closes Penis: external male sexual organ

More to Know Testicular Cancer: Rare, but the most common cancer in males between 15 and 35 years old. It is important to do a testicular self-exam once a month. Vasectomy: A common sterilization procedure when couples are sure they don’t want any more children.

Possible Problems Epididymitis: Inflammation and infection of the epididymis. Usually caused by an STD. Torsion: An emergency condition that causes loss of blood flow to the testicles that requires urgent surgical treatment. This occurs when a testicles twists on the spermatic cord

Female Anatomy Ovaries Ovulation Fallopian tubes Uterus Endometrium Cervix Vagina Vulva

Did you know? At birth, girls have between 200,000 and 2 million ova. Only 40,000 remain at puberty, and only about 400 will mature and ovulate during a woman’s reproductive lifetime.

Ovaries: Two almond-shaped glands that store and mature ova (eggs) Ovulation: The time each month when a mature ovum is released from the ovary. Fallopian tubes: Also called uterine tubes or oviducts. The ovum travels through these tubes to get to the uterus. This is also where a successful sperm meets the egg. It takes about seven days until a fertilized ovum reaches the uterus.

Uterus: Shaped like an upside-down pear, the uterus is a muscular organ that is part of the sperm’s journey to the ovum and the place where the zygote attaches and develops. Also called the womb. Endometrium: The inner lining of the uterus, which has two layers. One layer is permanent. The other gets shed during menstruation. Cervix: The opening from the vagina into the uterus.

Vagina: A passageway for semen, menstrual flow, and childbirth. It is about 4 inches long and lined with mucus membranes. Vulva: External female genitalia, including the mons pubis, clitoris (female erectile tissue), labia majora and labia minora.

Ectopic pregnancy: Sometimes conception occurs and the zygote (fertilized ovum) attaches in the tube instead of traveling to the uterus. This is very dangerous and is a high risk for women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Scarring of different reproductive parts. Caused by bacteria, usually STD bacteria. Could cause infertility if not caught early.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: POS. Cysts can develop on the ovaries. While these are not usually life-threatening, they sometimes have to be removed. Cervical Cancer: most common cancer in women worldwide but in the US, numbers are low because of routine screening, Pap Test. Most of the time caused by HPV, an STD.

Endometriosis: A condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus. Toxic Shock Syndrome: A condition where a girl may experience fever, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, and rash. Without treatment, it can be fatal. Associated with leaving tampons in too long and not washing hands carefully before inserting tampons.

Yeast Infections: Common organism in us all (men included) However infections are most common in women. Symptoms include white discharge that looks like cottage cheese and itching inside the vagina and on the vulva (lips) outside. Can be treated with over the counter meds.

Breast Cancer: About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Most significant risks include being female and getting older. However, now is the time to practice self exams.