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THE PURPOSE OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IS TO MAKE NEW INDIVIDUALS SO THAT A

SPECIES MAY CONTINUE

Female Reproductive System

FALLOPIAN FALLOPIAN TUBE TUBE

(OVIDUCT)(OVIDUCT)

OVARYOVARY WOMB WOMB (UTERUS)(UTERUS)

CERVIXCERVIX

VAGINAVAGINA

CERVICALCERVICAL

CANALCANAL

Structure of the UterusIt is also known as the womb.It is a muscular hollow organ.It is the size and shape of an upside down

pear.It is 7.5cm.long and 5cm.wide.It expands during pregnancy to accommodate

the foetus.The lining consists of layers of tissues.The tissues respond to hormonal secretions.These layers thicken every month.This thickened layer acts as a nourishing bed

for the fertilised ovum.

Function of the UterusIt is where the foetus grows and develops.Every month it prepares itself for a possible

pregnancy, if there is a fertilised ovum.If there is no fertilised menstruation occurs.

Structure of the Ovaries They are glands. They are about the size and shape of an

almond. One on either side of the uterus. They are just below the fallopian tubes.

Functions of the OvariesThey secrete the hormones progesterone and

oestrogen. It stores the female sex cells called ova. Ova exist in the body at birth. (not mature as

follicles) After puberty one follicle develops releasing

an ovum every month. This is known as ovulation.

Structure of the Fallopian TubesThey are funnel shaped tubes.They start at the top of the uterus and continue

to the ovaries.

Functions of the Fallopian Tubes

They are a passage way from the ovaries to the uterus.

The ovum travels down these tubes to the uterus.

Fertilisation takes place here.

Sperm swims up these tubes to reach the ovum.

Structure of the Cervix It is the narrow neck of the uterus. It opens into the vagina. It is usually the width of a pencil lead. During childbirth it dilates to allow the passage of

the baby.

Function of the CervixIt forms the first part of the birth canal.

The dilation of the cervix is a measurement used to determine how soon childbirth will begin.

Structure of the Vagina It is a muscular passage. It leads from the cervix to the vulva. During sexual activity the walls fill with blood

causing them to swell.

Functions of the VaginaIt serves as a passageway for the menstrual blood.

It forms part of the birthing canal.

It is the site of penetration during intercourse.

The external organs of female reproductive system are known as the vulva.

The vulva is made up of the following: Mons pubisLabiaClitoris

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE A girl’s menstrual cycle begins after puberty

and continues until the menopause

On average, it is a 28 day cycle

The cycle is controlled by hormones

The cycle does not take place during pregnancy

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLEMENSTRUATION MENSTRUATION

(A PERIOD)(A PERIOD)

LINING OF LINING OF WOMB WOMB

BUILDS UPBUILDS UP

OVULATION OVULATION (EGG (EGG

RELEASED)RELEASED)

LINING OF LINING OF WOMB WOMB

BUILDS UPBUILDS UP

LINING OF LINING OF WOMB BEGINS WOMB BEGINS

TO BREAK TO BREAK DOWNDOWN

FERTILE PERIODFERTILE PERIOD

The Menstrual Cycle It occurs every 28 days from puberty to

menopause. It occurs only if fertilisation has not taken place.Day 1-5 The endometrium (thick lining of the uterus)

breaks down. This is called menstruation. Meiosis (cell reproduction) occurs in the ovary to

produce a new egg surrounded by the Graafian Follicle.

Day 6-13

Oestrogen is produced by the Graafian Follicle.

Oestrogen also stimulates the endometrium to

thicken again.

One Graafian follicle with one egg develops.

Oestrogen stimulated the production of LH

(leuteinising hormone).

Day 14

The surge of LH stimulates ovulation.

The egg is released from the Graafian Follicle.

The egg enters the fallopian tube.

It can be fertilised for the next 48 hours.

Day 15-26 The corpus luteum (yellow body) develops from the

remains of the Graafian Follicle. This produces progesterone and some oestrogen. The progesterone causes the endometrium to

continue to thicken. It also prevents new eggs from forming. The egg that was released at day 14 will die if it is not

fertilised. If fertilisation did not take place the corpus luteum

begins to break up.

Day 26-28 Oestrogen and progesterone levels decline. The endometrium begins to break down. Day one of the cycle begins.

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE During intercourse, the man places his penis

inside the woman’s vagina

Semen is released (ejaculation), containing hundreds of millions of sperm cells

The sperm enter the womb and swim towards the fallopian tubes

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE Only one sperm can fertilise an egg

This can take place successfully only in the fallopian tube

Fertilisation is also known as conception

PREGNANCY The fertilised egg travels down the fallopian tube,

growing as it does so into a ball of cells

Before a woman can be pregnant, this ball of cells must attach itself to the inside wall of the womb

This step is called implantation

PREGNANCYThe ball of cells grows and becomes an

embryo (up to eight weeks)

Once the embryo is recognisably human, it is called a foetus

It takes 40 weeks (9 months) for the foetus to fully develop inside the womb

PREGNANCY Inside the womb, the foetus is attached

to the placenta by the umbilical cord (which joins to the baby’s navel)

The placenta is attached to the inside wall of the womb

The foetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which acts as a shock-absorber and to keep the baby warm

THE FOETUS IN THE WOMB

WOMBWOMB

FOETUSFOETUS

VAGINA (BIRTH CANAL)VAGINA (BIRTH CANAL)

PLACENTAPLACENTA

UMBILICAL UMBILICAL CORDCORDAMNIOTIC FLUIDAMNIOTIC FLUID

CERVIXCERVIX

4 weeks4 weeks5 months5 months

8 months8 months

placenta

UmbilicalUmbilical cordcord

Functions of the Parts: The placenta is the baby’s “life-support”

inside the womb

It filters food and oxygen from the mother’s blood and passes it to the baby

It removes waste such as CO2 from the baby’s blood and passes it to the mother’s blood so that she can excrete it

It also keeps the mother’s and baby’s blood separate, so that the mother’s immune system doesn’t reject the baby

BIRTH During birth, the baby passes down the vagina

and out of the mother’s body

This stage is known as labour

After birth, the umbilical cord must be cut

The baby must now breathe on its own for the first time

CUTTING THE CUTTING THE UMBILICAL CORDUMBILICAL CORD

PARTS OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

PENISPENIS

TESTICLETESTICLE

SPERM SPERM DUCTDUCT PROSTATE PROSTATE

GLANDGLAND

BLADDERBLADDER

URETHRAURETHRA

SCROTUMSCROTUM

EPIDIDYMISEPIDIDYMIS

Structure of the Penis The main external sexual organ of the male. It consists of erectile tissue, foreskin and

urethra. The urethra, a tube runs through the centre

and acts as a duct for urine and semen. The tip of the penis is known as the “glans” This tissue is full of blood vessels. Surrounding the glans is the foreskin which

protects the glans.

Function of the PenisIt is an organ of excretion. (urine)It is an organ of reproduction.

It becomes erect during intercourse.This increases the amount of blood circulating

in the penis. It will become rigid which allows for penetration

into the vagina. It delivers semen.

Structure of the Testes The testes are two glands.

They are within a sac of skin called the

scrotum.

They develop in the abdomen and descend

into the scrotum before birth.

Functions of the Testes They produce sperm. Testosterone (hormone) is responsible for

male sexual characteristics. Sperm is also stores in the testes, because

they must be kept at a slightly lower temperature than average body temperature.

Structure of the Epididymis It is a tightly coiled tube. It straightens out into the sperm duct.

Function of the Epididymis

It stores semen.

It transports semen.

Its where immature sperm develop.

Structure of the Scrotum It is a sac containing the testes, epididymis. It has an outer layer of skin. An inner layer of muscle.

Functions of the ScrotumIt protects the testes keeping them at the right temperature.

The testes are outside the body to keep them cooler.

Structure of Sperm Sperm look like tadpoles. They have a head, middle section and a tail. The tail helps to propel the sperm along the

vagina. The head is the nucleus and has 23

chromosomes.

Function of Sperm It fertilises the ova. The head inserts itself into the ovum and

the tail breaks away. Only one sperm is needed to fertilise an

ovum. The semen is a fluid which contains sperm. Semen is excreted from the prostate gland

and seminal vesicle.

Structure of the Prostrate Gland

It’s a small gland. It lies between the bladder and rectum.

Functions of the Prostrate Gland

It produces two secretions.

One moistens the urethra.

The other is part of the seminal fluid, which helps the semen to travel along the urethra.