3.9 Male Reproductive System

3.9 Recall the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems.



Male Reproductive System:

- Bladder: Store urine.

- Testis: To carry out the process called meiosis which produces the gamete called sperm cells.
- Epididymis: Store sperm cells.

- Vasdeferens: To carry sperm cells to the penis during sexual stimulation. Tube pulses and pushes the sperm cells along the tube to the penis.

- Prostate: Adds about 20% to 30% of the volume of semen and is known to contain sugars and alkali. The alkaline nature of the prostate secretions neutralise the acidic secretions within the vagina.

- Seminal Vesicles: Also produce sugar based secretions which are also alkaline. Make up around about 70% of the semen in which the sperm cells can travel.

- Urethra: Common tube which joins the left and right testis. Carries semen and urine down to the penis.

- Penis: Carry sperm cells into the vagina during sexual intercourse.



Female Reproduction System:

(Note - At this point before pregnancy the uterus structure is no larger than an orange.)

- a) Ovary: Meiosis occurs to produce eggs (female gametes)

- b) Oviducts: Carries eggs to uterus. Also the location at which Fertilisation takes place.

- c) Uterus: Wall of the uterus is made of muscle. This is the part which will stretch to accommodate a pregnancy, and would contract during birth.

- g) Lining of the Uterus: Accepts and develops the fertilised egg into the embryo here. Also development of the placenta which implants into the lining of the uterus.

- d) Uterus Space: Where the baby develops.

- e) Cervix: Entrance to the uterus. Here is where the sperm cells will make their way up into the oviducts.

- f) Vagina: Where the penis is inserted and sperm cells are sent into the cervix. The vagina collects the sperm cells and allows them to make their way up into the uterus.