Reproduction Notes

Male Reproductive Organs Urinary bladder – Holds Urine Seminal Vesicles - Provides nourishment and mobility for the sperm Vas Deferens – Connects epididymis with the Urethra. Lined with cilia, sperm has little ability to move on own. Prostate Gland – Fluid released for protection. Protects from the acidity of the female vagina. Cowpers Gland – Clear, Pre-ejaculatory fluid. Cleans urine out of the urethra to allow safe passage of semen. Can contain sperm. Urethra – Passage way for urine and sperm.

Penis – male reproductive organ Epididymis – coiled tubes behind the testes. Store sperm while they mature, 64 days. Can survive in the female vagina/urethra for 72 hours. Testes – Male sex gland. Produces sperm (23 chromosomes), Testosterone. Sperm made per day between 200 million and as much as 600 million per day. Sperm released at ejaculation - about 500 million. ** ejaculation comes out at the speed of 28 mph   Scrotum – Protective sac. Maintains proper body temperature for sperm production. Must be 2 degrees above or below 98.6.

Female Reproductive System Fallopian tubes – Location of fertilization Fimbrae – Small “fingers” that sweep the egg into the fallopian tubes. Ovary – Female sex gland. Produces estrogen, progesterone, contains the ovum(egg cell). Contain 200-400 thousand eggs at birth. Hang in fallopian tubes for about 2 days. . Uterus – womb. Fertilized embryo embeds itself into the walls of this. Sperm may live here for about 3-4 days. About the size of your fist. Bladder – Holds urine.

Cervix – end of the uterus, entrance way into the uterus Cervix – end of the uterus, entrance way into the uterus. Very small about the size of a dime, complete dilation = 10cm/4 inches. Will stretch to over 10inches. Vagina – Female organ of intercourse and birth canal Urethra – passage way for urine. Labia minora – inner folds of skin protecting the vagina Labia majora – outer folds of skin protecting the vagina. Location of pubic hair. Clitoris – No reproductive purpose. Full of nerve endings, only function is arousal.

Menstrual Cycle Lasts about 28 days Days 1-5 - Menstruation occurs, consists of about 2 ounces of blood. This wall of the uterus that has sloughed off. Days 6-12 - The uterine lining begins to thicken. Preparing for ovulation and the possibility of a fertilized egg. Days 13-14 - Ovulation occurs. An ovum is released into fallopian tubes.

Days 15-20 - best possibility of fertilization (days 14-21). - Corpus Luteum – produces progesterone in preparation for pregnancy. Temporary gland that is formed when the remains of the bursts follicle close. Days 21-28 - The corpus luteum disintegrates if no fertilization = no progesterone. The cells in the lining of the uterus die without progesterone. The unfertilized egg disintegrates and the menstrual cycle begins again with menstruation.