Introduction

The reproductive system or genital system is a system of sex organs within an organism
which work together for the purpose of sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances
such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the
reproductive system.
The human reproductive system usually involves internal fertilization by sexual intercourse.
During this process, the male inserts his erect penis into
the female's vagina and ejaculates semen, which contains sperm. The sperm then travels
through the vagina and cervix into the uterus or fallopian tubes for fertilization of the ovum. Upon
successful fertilization and implantation, gestation of the fetus then occurs within the female's
uterus for approximately nine months, this process is known as pregnancy in humans. Gestation
ends with birth, the process of birth is known as labor. Labor consists of the muscles of the
uterus contracting, the cervix dilating, and the baby passing out the vagina (the female genital
organ). Human's babies and children are nearly helpless and require high levels of parental
care for many years. One important type of parental care is the use of the mammary glands in
the female breasts to nurse the baby.[4]

male
The male reproductive system is a series of organs located outside of the body and around the
pelvic region of a male that contribute towards the reproduction process. The primary direct
function of the male reproductive system is to provide the male sperm for fertilization of the
ovum.
The major reproductive organs of the male can be grouped into three categories. The first
category is sperm production and storage. Production takes place in the testes which are housed
in the temperature regulating scrotum, immature sperm then travel to the epididymis for
development and storage. The second category are the ejaculatory fluid producing glands which
include the seminal vesicles, prostate, and the vas deferens. The final category are those used
for copulation, and deposition of the spermatozoa (sperm) within the male, these include
the penis, urethra, vas deferens, and Cowper's gland.
Major secondary sexual characteristics includes: larger, more muscular stature, deepened
voice, facial and body hair, broad shoulders, and development of an adam's apple. An important
sexual hormone of males is androgen, and particularly testosterone.
The testes release a hormone that controls the development of sperm. This hormone is also
responsible for the development of physical characteristics in men such as facial hair and a deep
voice.
Funtcions of its parts

The male reproductive system includes the penis, scrotum, testes, epididymis, vas deferens,
prostate, and seminal vesicles.

 The penis and the urethra are part of the urinary and reproductive systems.
 The scrotum, testes (testicles), epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and prostate
comprise the rest of the reproductive system.

Overview of the Male Reproductive System

 VIDEO

The penis consists of the root (which is attached to the lower abdominal structures and pelvic
bones), the visible part of the shaft, and the glans penis (the cone-shaped end). The opening
of the urethra (the channel that transports semen and urine) is located at the tip of the glans
penis. The base of the glans penis is called the corona. In uncircumcised males, the foreskin
(prepuce) extends from the corona to cover the glans penis.
The penis includes three cylindrical spaces (blood-filled sinuses) of erectile tissue. The two
larger ones, the corpora cavernosa, lie side by side. The third sinus, the corpus spongiosum,
surrounds most of the urethra. When these spaces fill with blood, the penis becomes large and
rigid (erect).

The scrotum is the thick-skinned sac that surrounds and protects the testes. The scrotum also
acts as a climate-control system for the testes because they need to be slightly cooler than
body temperature for normal sperm development. The cremaster muscles in the wall of the
scrotum relax to allow the testes to hang farther from the body to cool or contract to pull the
testes closer to the body for warmth or protection.
The testes are oval bodies that average about 1.5 to 3 inches (4 to 7 centimeters) in length
and 2 to 3 teaspoons (20 to 25 milliliters) in volume. Usually the left testis hangs slightly lower
than the right one. The testes have two primary functions:
 Producing sperm (which carry the man's genes)

 Producing testosterone (the primary male sex hormone)

The epididymis consists of a single coiled microscopic tube that measures almost 20 feet (6
meters) in length. The epididymis collects sperm from the testis and provides the environment
for sperm to mature and acquire the ability to move through the female reproductive system
and fertilize an ovum. One epididymis lies against each testis.
Male Reproductive Organs

The vas deferens is a firm tube (the size of a strand of spaghetti) that transports sperm from
the epididymis. One such duct travels from each epididymis to the back of the prostate and
joins with one of the two seminal vesicles. In the scrotum, other structures, such as muscle
fibers, blood vessels, and nerves, also travel along with each vas deferens and together form
an intertwined structure, the spermatic cord.
The urethra serves a dual function in males. This channel is the part of the urinary tract that
transports urine from the bladder and the part of the reproductive system through which semen
is ejaculated.
The prostate lies just under the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Walnut-sized in young
men, the prostate enlarges with age. When the prostate enlarges too much, it can block urine
flow through the urethra and cause bothersome urinary symptoms.
The seminal vesicles, located above the prostate, join with the vas deferens to form the
ejaculatory ducts, which travel through the prostate. The prostate and the seminal vesicles
produce fluid that nourishes the sperm. This fluid provides most of the volume of semen, the
fluid in which the sperm is expelled during ejaculation. Other fluid that makes up a very small
amount of the semen comes from the vas deferens and from Cowper glands in the urethra.

Female
introduction
The human female reproductive system is a series of organs primarily located inside of the body
and around the pelvic region of a female that contribute towards the reproductive process. The
human female reproductive system contains three main parts: the vulva, which leads to the
vagina, the vaginal opening, to the uterus; the uterus, which holds the developing fetus; and
the ovaries, which produce the female's ova. The breasts are involved during the parenting stage
of reproduction, but in most classifications they are not considered to be part of the female
reproductive system.
The vagina meets the outside at the vulva, which also includes the labia, clitoris and urethra;
during intercourse this area is lubricated by mucus secreted by the Bartholin's glands. The
vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via
the fallopian tubes. Each ovary contains hundreds of egg cells or ova (singular ovum).
Approximately every 28 days, the pituitary gland releases a hormone that stimulates some of the
ova to develop and grow. One ovum is released and it passes through the fallopian tube into the
uterus. Hormones produced by the ovaries prepare the uterus to receive the ovum. It sita her and
awaits the sperm for fertilization to occur. When this does not occur i.e. no sperm for fertilization,
the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, and unfertilized ova are shed each cycle through
the process of menstruation. If the ovum is fertilized by sperm, it attaches to the endometrium
and the fetus develops.

 Vagina: The vagina is a canal that joins

the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside
of the body. It also is known as the birth canal.
 Uterus (womb): The uterus is a hollow, pear-
shaped organ that is the home to a developing
fetus. The uterus is divided into two parts: the
cervix, which is the lower part that opens into the
vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the
corpus. The corpus can easily expand to hold
a developing baby. A channel through the cervix
allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit.
 Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands
that are located on either side of the uterus. The
ovaries produce eggs and hormones.
 Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are
attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve
as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the
ovaries to the uterus. Conception, the fertilization of
an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian
tubes. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus,
where it implants into the lining of the uterine wall.

The function of the external female reproductive

structures (the genitals) is twofold: To enable sperm to
enter the body and to protect the internal genital organs
from infectious organisms. The main external structures
of the female reproductive system include:
  Labia majora: The labia majora enclose and
protect the other external reproductive organs.
Literally translated as "large lips," the labia majora
are relatively large and fleshy, and are comparable
to the scrotum in males. The labia majora contain
sweat and oil-secreting glands. After puberty, the
labia majora are covered with hair.
 Labia minora: Literally translated as "small lips,"
the labia minora can be very small or up to 2 inches
wide. They lie just inside the labia majora, and
surround the openings to the vagina (the canal that
joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of
the body) and urethra (the tube that carries urine
from the bladder to the outside of the body).
 Bartholin's glands: These glands are located
beside the vaginal opening and produce a fluid
(mucus) secretion.
 Clitoris: The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a
small, sensitive protrusion that is comparable to
the penis in males. The clitoris is covered by a fold
of skin, called the prepuce, which is similar to the
foreskin at the end of the penis. Like the penis, the
clitoris is very sensitive to stimulation and can
become erect.

The ovaries are the site of gamete (egg cell, oocyte) production. The developing egg cell (or
oocyte) grows within the environment provided by ovarian follicles. Follicles are composed of
different types and number of cells according to their maturation stage, which can be
determined by their size. When oocyte maturation is completed, a luteinizing hormone ( LH )
surge secreted by the pituitary gland stimulates follicle rupture and oocyte release.
Ovaries secrete estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen is responsible for the
secondary sex characteristics of females at puberty. It is also crucial for the maturation and
maintenance of the mature and functional reproductive organs.