1. The Human Reproductive System

2. Reproduction Not required for the survival of an individual
Reproduction is necessary to ensure the survival of a species
Individual species produce more of the same species
Endocrine glands (testes – male; ovaries – female) ensures the sexual maturation of each individual
Testes produces sperm (male gamete/ sex cell)
Ovaries produce egg (female gamete/ sex cell)
All cells in the human body (except gametes) have 46 chromosomes
Each gamete contains 23
Result of fertilization is a zygote with 46 chromosomes

3. Comparison of the Female and Male Reproductive Systems
Primary reproductive organs called gonads
ovaries in females – produce oocytes (eggs)
testes in males – produce sperm
Produce gametes which unite to form a new individual
Reproductive organs produce large amounts of hormones which affect maturation, development, and changes in the body
Ovaries produce
Estrogen
progesterone
Testes produce:
testosterone

4. Comparison of the Female and Male Reproductive Systems
Both have accessory reproductive organs, including duct systems to carry gametes away from the gonads toward the site of fertilization (in females) or to the outside of the body (in males).
Fertilization occurs when male and female gametes meet
A zygote is formed

5. Comparison of the Female and Male Reproductive Systems
Primarily nonfunctional and “dormant” until puberty.
At puberty, external sex characteristics become more prominent
reproductive organs become fully functional
gametes mature
gonads secrete sex hormones
Both reproductive systems produce gametes
Female typically produces and releases a single oocyte (egg) monthly
Male produces 100,000,000’s of (sperm) daily.

6. Fertilization
Fertilization and Fetal Development

7. Female Reproductive System

8. Pathway of the Egg Cell
Fallopian tubes (oviducts) are passageways for eggs to travel from the ovary to the uterus
Each month one of the ovaries releases a mature egg which enters the fallopian tube
Fertilization usually occurs in the fallopian tube
Egg moves to the uterus
If fertilized, becomes attached to uterine wall
If not fertilized, the egg breaks down along with the lining of the uterus and passes out of the body through the vagina in a process call menstruation

9. Male Reproductive System

10. Pathway of a Sperm
Male reproductive system is specialized to produce sperm and testosterone
Major structures are the testes, scrotum and penis
Sperm cells form in the testes which also produce the hormone testosterone
Testes located in an external pouch of skin called the scrotum
During passage through other structures sperm mix with fluids produced by nearby glands
Mixture of sperm cells and fluids is called semen
Semen contains about 5-10 million sperm per drop
Semen contains nutrients that provide energy to the moving sperm and a fluid environment in which to swim
Semen leaves the body through the urethra, a tube located within the penis, urine also leaves the body through the urethra