reproductive system

scrotum

sac surrounding the testes that maintains their temperature during gamete production

structures in the male reproductive system that produce fluid to nourish sperm and for lubrication

prostate, seminal vesicles, and cowper’s gland

vas deferens

leads to the urethra from which sperm is ejaculated

fallopian tubes

connect the ovaries to the uterus

fertilization

fusion of an egg in sperm

occurs in the fallopian tubes

zygote

an egg fertilized by a sperm

forms into a blastocyst

implantation

when a blastocyst implants into the endometrium (uterine wall)

embryo

formed from an implanted blastocyst

grows a placenta

placenta

connects the embryonic and maternal blood supplies

nourishes the embyo as it grows

removes wastes

puberity

1. the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-stimulating hormone (GnRH)

2. anterior pituitary gland releases follicle0stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

3. males: LH increases testosterone production, leading to sperm production

4. females: ovarian and uterine cycle

ovarian and uterine cycle

1. hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

2. anterior pituitary releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

3. FSH causes estrogen production in the ovaries, egg maturation in the ovaries, and thickened endometrium

4. LH causes release of a developing egg

5. corpus luteum forms and produces progesterone, causing thickened endometrium

6. menstrual cycle: if no implantation occurs, endometrium sheds

gonads

female — ovaries

male — testes

gametes

female — eggs

male — sperm

seminiferous tubules

structures in testes where spermatogenesis (sperm production) occurs

epididymis

structure where sperm or stored and mature until ejaculation

oocyte

immature egg cell (ova)

oogenesis

1. primordial follicle matures into a vesicular follicle that has an antrum

2. ovum is released during ovulation into the fallopian tube to be fertilized

3. fertilized egg embeds into the uterine wall (endometrium)

prolactin (PRL)

stimulates milk production in mammary glands

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

allows formation of gametes

luteinizing hormone (LH)

stimulates ovulation in females and androgen in maels

estrogen

develops female secondary sex characteristics

produced by the ovaries

progesterone

facilitates thickening of the uterine lining for pregnancy

produced by the ovaries

androgen

develop male secondary sex characteristics

e.g. testosterone

produced by the testes