 Anatomy & physiology of the reproductive systems By : Yomaira Ayala

The female Reproductive System  The female reproductive system is designed to carry out several functions. It produces the female egg cells necessary for reproduction, known as egg or ovum.  The female reproductive systems include the urethra, ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and vagina.

The Male reproductive System  The male reproductive system includes the seminal vesicle, prostate gland, vas deferens, urethra, epididymis, scrotum, penis, and testes.  The male reproductive system produces a sex cell known in males as sperm and secretes the male sex hormone.

Embryo Development  Eventually the ball of identical-looking cells hollows and acquires an axis, and differentiation begins.  So the first thing that visibly happens to a zygote is that it divides by mitosis into two cells, then they divide to form a four-celled embryo, and so on.

Vocabulary words and processes:  Gastrulation is a phase early in the embryonic development of most animals, during which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a three-layer structure known as the gastrula.  Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac.  The amniotic sac is the sac in which the fetus develops.  the umbilical cord is a connection between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta  The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange through the mother's blood supply.

Changes in each Trimester

The Three Trimester

Labor Stage  Labor is the process by which the fetus is expelled through the vagina from the uterus.  Labor is typically divided into 3 stages:  The first stage of labor, the Dilation stage, is divided into three phases: Latent, Active, and Transition. During this stage the body is getting ready to deliver the baby.  The second stage is the Expulsion stage, which is the delivery or in other words the birth of the baby.  The third and last stage of labor is the placental stage in which the placenta is expelled of the body.