Anatomy and Physiology / Unit 10: The Urinary and Reproductive Systems
10.5 Male and Female Reproductive Anatomy
Notes
The reproductive system produces gametes and hormones. This section is a clinical, anatomical overview.
- Male: testes (in the scrotum, cooler than body temperature; make sperm in seminiferous tubules and testosterone in interstitial cells), epididymis (sperm mature and are stored), vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland and bulbourethral glands (add fluid to make semen), and the urethra and penis.
- Female: ovaries (make eggs and estrogen/progesterone), uterine (fallopian) tubes (site of fertilization), uterus (site of implantation and fetal growth; the wall includes the endometrium and myometrium), cervix, vagina, and external genitalia. The mammary glands produce milk.
- Prostate enlargement or cancer is common in older men; screening is advised by doctors. Cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine reduce cervical cancer risk.
- Sexually transmitted infections (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, HIV) are prevented by abstinence or consistent use of barrier protection and are diagnosed and treated by health professionals.
Practice
Where does fertilization normally occur?
The egg is fertilized in the uterine tube, then the zygote travels to the uterus.
Why are the testes located in the scrotum outside the abdominal cavity?
Sperm develop best at about 2 to 3 degrees C below core temperature.
Which structure is the site of sperm maturation and storage?
Sperm mature and are stored in the epididymis.
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