The Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Males and females both have reproductive systems that allow for sexual intercourse and the potential to create babies through the reproductive processes that happen. They are both very different in their processes and content and are involved in different ways during sexual intercourse and reproduction.
The reproductive systems release sex hormones which can manipulate the body in its development. It is important to be able to have even a basic understanding of both the female and male reproductive systems because they are used in sexual relationships.They also affect your body through secondary characteristics such as the growth spurts and the growth of pubic hair due to the release of sexual hormones. Therefore, in order to be health literate about your sexual life and organs, you must obtain a stronger understanding of how they work. This is especially true in the case of issues such as STIs, prostate cancer, menstruation, etc. Through being health literate about both male and female reproductive systems, you and your partner can have a happier, healthier sexual relationship.
The reproductive systems release sex hormones which can manipulate the body in its development. It is important to be able to have even a basic understanding of both the female and male reproductive systems because they are used in sexual relationships.They also affect your body through secondary characteristics such as the growth spurts and the growth of pubic hair due to the release of sexual hormones. Therefore, in order to be health literate about your sexual life and organs, you must obtain a stronger understanding of how they work. This is especially true in the case of issues such as STIs, prostate cancer, menstruation, etc. Through being health literate about both male and female reproductive systems, you and your partner can have a happier, healthier sexual relationship.
Male Reproductive Systems
The male reproductive system is one that is very complex and contains many different parts that are involved in the processes within the male’s side of reproduction. The male sex gamete (or cell) is called sperm.
Sperm are tiny little cells that can move by themselves and get emitted from a male’s penis into a female’s vagina. Once there, they find one of the many eggs in a female and one of the millions of sperm that were emitted enter the egg and fertilize it; giving it the ability to create new life. This is the male’s side of the reproduction process and its reproductive system allows it to do so.
In a male, the system is also the reason for the release of the sex hormone testosterone which causes much change and development within the male. It develops things such as a more muscular body, the deepening of the voice and even a male’s cause for going bald sometimes. It is complex in terms of containing many external parts and many internal parts as well along with the complex processes that are involved in it.
Sperm are tiny little cells that can move by themselves and get emitted from a male’s penis into a female’s vagina. Once there, they find one of the many eggs in a female and one of the millions of sperm that were emitted enter the egg and fertilize it; giving it the ability to create new life. This is the male’s side of the reproduction process and its reproductive system allows it to do so.
In a male, the system is also the reason for the release of the sex hormone testosterone which causes much change and development within the male. It develops things such as a more muscular body, the deepening of the voice and even a male’s cause for going bald sometimes. It is complex in terms of containing many external parts and many internal parts as well along with the complex processes that are involved in it.
A Male's External Parts for the Reproductive System
A male’s external parts to the reproductive system are much smaller in number than that of the internal parts within a male’s reproductive system. However they are still important as they act as what holds the important internal parts within the male reproductive system. They also serve as a way for the sperm to be transported into the female’s vagina. The diagram to the left displays some of the basics of the internal parts of the system, which will be discussed later on due to their importance.
The main bodies of the external parts of the system are the penis and the scrotum. They are as follows:
Penis- The penis is the external organ used to let males reproduce as it is the way that the sperm and semen are transported into the female’s vagina. When a male is sexually aroused, his penis is filled with blood with stretches the tissue on the penis and makes it hard, producing an erection. Then, he is able to insert his penis into the female’s vagina and allow the sperm to come through the penis and into the vagina through muscular contractions. If no condoms are used, then the semen will enter the female’s system. Then, the male’s sperm can go to the woman’s reproductive system and come into contact with an egg in the fallopian tube, producing a baby.
Scrotum- This is the sack that hangs beneath the penis and holds the testes; very important in the male’s reproductive system, as will be explained later on.
The main bodies of the external parts of the system are the penis and the scrotum. They are as follows:
Penis- The penis is the external organ used to let males reproduce as it is the way that the sperm and semen are transported into the female’s vagina. When a male is sexually aroused, his penis is filled with blood with stretches the tissue on the penis and makes it hard, producing an erection. Then, he is able to insert his penis into the female’s vagina and allow the sperm to come through the penis and into the vagina through muscular contractions. If no condoms are used, then the semen will enter the female’s system. Then, the male’s sperm can go to the woman’s reproductive system and come into contact with an egg in the fallopian tube, producing a baby.
Scrotum- This is the sack that hangs beneath the penis and holds the testes; very important in the male’s reproductive system, as will be explained later on.
A Male’s Internal Parts for the Reproductive System
A male’s reproductive system becomes more complex within the internal parts, as the diagram to the left displays. Within these internal parts, things such as testosterone and sperm are created. The processes that take place within the internal parts of the system are crucial in order for reproduction to happen.
Within the male’s reproductive system, there is sperm that is produced. As mentioned in the introduction, sperm is what is known as the male’s sex gamete and is a vital part of the process of reproduction as it is what fertilizes the eggs of a female.
However, I bet you’re wondering where the sperm is produced. Well, that’s in the testes which are in the scrotum. These are wrapped around with tiny and tight tubes that are called seminiferous tubules and it is within these tubes that sperm is produced. The testes also produce the male sex hormone as well which is called testosterone.
However, while the sperm may be made in the seminiferous tubules, they are stored in an area that sits just on top of the testes which is called the Epididymis. It is here that sperm matures. It can take up to 64 days for sperm to reach maturity from creation.
In order to transport the sperm to the penis, other tubes known as the Vans Deferens is used. They have what is known as cilia lining their inside which are little hairs and as they wave back and forth. These cilia along with muscular contractions transport the sperm from the epididymis to the penis. It goes via the Ureters.
The Ureters is how urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder. It is a thin tube. It is not shown in the diagram but as you can see, it goes around the bladder which is the rough area of the Ureters.
The sperm now passes the Cowper’s Gland, the Prostate Gland and the Seminal Vesicle. The Cowper’s Gland is not shown on the diagram but it is beneath the prostate gland and are two small balls. All of these add fluids to the sperm in order to create Semen, which is sperm that has the fluids from them added to it. However, the liquids added to the sperm are slightly different in their usage. They are different in the following ways:
Within the male’s reproductive system, there is sperm that is produced. As mentioned in the introduction, sperm is what is known as the male’s sex gamete and is a vital part of the process of reproduction as it is what fertilizes the eggs of a female.
However, I bet you’re wondering where the sperm is produced. Well, that’s in the testes which are in the scrotum. These are wrapped around with tiny and tight tubes that are called seminiferous tubules and it is within these tubes that sperm is produced. The testes also produce the male sex hormone as well which is called testosterone.
However, while the sperm may be made in the seminiferous tubules, they are stored in an area that sits just on top of the testes which is called the Epididymis. It is here that sperm matures. It can take up to 64 days for sperm to reach maturity from creation.
In order to transport the sperm to the penis, other tubes known as the Vans Deferens is used. They have what is known as cilia lining their inside which are little hairs and as they wave back and forth. These cilia along with muscular contractions transport the sperm from the epididymis to the penis. It goes via the Ureters.
The Ureters is how urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder. It is a thin tube. It is not shown in the diagram but as you can see, it goes around the bladder which is the rough area of the Ureters.
The sperm now passes the Cowper’s Gland, the Prostate Gland and the Seminal Vesicle. The Cowper’s Gland is not shown on the diagram but it is beneath the prostate gland and are two small balls. All of these add fluids to the sperm in order to create Semen, which is sperm that has the fluids from them added to it. However, the liquids added to the sperm are slightly different in their usage. They are different in the following ways:
The different Liquids for the Cowper's Gland, Prostate Gland and Seminal Vesicle
Ph Chart
The diagram to the left is what is called a Ph chart and it displays the acidic
and basic levels of liquid solutions.
The liquid from the Cowper’s gland and the Prostate Gland are what is scientifically called an alkaline solution, which is the opposite of an acidic solution, as the Ph chart shows.
As the solution of the liquid from the Urethra (which is a part explained later on) and the female reproductive system are acidic, they are balanced out by the Alkaline solution. Therefore, since sperm are within that solution, they are now travelling through a chemically balanced environment which would have usually killed them if it had remained acidic. The female’s reproductive system also has acidic solution in it so therefore, it helps the sperm to travel through the reproductive system.
The liquid released from the seminal vesicle is rather similar to that of the liquid released from both the Cowper’s gland and the Prostate Gland in that it helps the sperm in the acidic environments by releasing an Alkaline solution. However, the liquid from the Seminal Vesicles also helps the sperm in its movement through the Urethra and the female reproductive systems.
and basic levels of liquid solutions.
The liquid from the Cowper’s gland and the Prostate Gland are what is scientifically called an alkaline solution, which is the opposite of an acidic solution, as the Ph chart shows.
As the solution of the liquid from the Urethra (which is a part explained later on) and the female reproductive system are acidic, they are balanced out by the Alkaline solution. Therefore, since sperm are within that solution, they are now travelling through a chemically balanced environment which would have usually killed them if it had remained acidic. The female’s reproductive system also has acidic solution in it so therefore, it helps the sperm to travel through the reproductive system.
The liquid released from the seminal vesicle is rather similar to that of the liquid released from both the Cowper’s gland and the Prostate Gland in that it helps the sperm in the acidic environments by releasing an Alkaline solution. However, the liquid from the Seminal Vesicles also helps the sperm in its movement through the Urethra and the female reproductive systems.
The Final Movements to fertilization
Eventually, the sperm will move through the Urethra.
The Urethra is simply a tube on the inside of the penis that allows semen and
urine to move through it and eventually to leave the body. However, they will
never mix together. The reason for this is that there are special sphincters
that surround the Urethra. When urination occurs, one of the sphincters will
relax so that way the pressure that comes from the bladder can make the urine
move through the Urethra and out of the body. Whenever semen needs to be
ejaculated, the other sphincter relaxes so that semen can go through the Urethra
and out of the body.
Eventually, the sperm will enter the female's reproductive system and if the day is one where the female is fertile in her menstruation cycle, then it will come into contact with an egg and will become fertilized. This will eventually lead to pregnancy which will lead to new life.
The Urethra is simply a tube on the inside of the penis that allows semen and
urine to move through it and eventually to leave the body. However, they will
never mix together. The reason for this is that there are special sphincters
that surround the Urethra. When urination occurs, one of the sphincters will
relax so that way the pressure that comes from the bladder can make the urine
move through the Urethra and out of the body. Whenever semen needs to be
ejaculated, the other sphincter relaxes so that semen can go through the Urethra
and out of the body.
Eventually, the sperm will enter the female's reproductive system and if the day is one where the female is fertile in her menstruation cycle, then it will come into contact with an egg and will become fertilized. This will eventually lead to pregnancy which will lead to new life.
Female Reproductive System
The Female reproductive system is also rather complicated and works in different
ways to the male's reproductive system and has different processes involved
within it as well. A
female’s sex gametes are their eggs (ova.)
These ova are what is fertilized by the sperm and are what grows to
become a baby. The female reproductive system, like the male’s, has secondary features such as the release of the female sex
hormone of Oestrogen
and Progesterone.
These help with the development of females with the creation of
breasts, the low amount of body hair and low amount of muscle on a woman and her
menstrual cycle (which will be talked about further on.)
ways to the male's reproductive system and has different processes involved
within it as well. A
female’s sex gametes are their eggs (ova.)
These ova are what is fertilized by the sperm and are what grows to
become a baby. The female reproductive system, like the male’s, has secondary features such as the release of the female sex
hormone of Oestrogen
and Progesterone.
These help with the development of females with the creation of
breasts, the low amount of body hair and low amount of muscle on a woman and her
menstrual cycle (which will be talked about further on.)
A Female's Reproductive System- Internal Features
The female’s internal reproduction system contains many parts that are often operating a fair bit of the time through processes such as the menstrual cycle (which is explained in
detail further down the page.) It is devoted and designed to hold a pre-born
baby and to maintain pregnancy and give childbirth.
When a male and a female have sexual intercourse, a male’s penis enters a woman’s vagina.
It is from here that the semen that is being ejaculated from a male’s penis
enters the areas beyond that and into the Uterus. However, the actual penis does not go
beyond the vagina and it stops at the cervix.
The Cervix is the opening to a female’s internal sexual organs. It is the gateway, so
to speak. During childbirth, this muscle stretches in order to let the baby
through. When a woman is pregnant, it will remain closed. When a woman gives birth, it will
open up to let the baby through.
Beyond the Cervix is the Uterus (which is also called The
Womb.) This is a large open and hollow area as the diagram displays where
the baby grows during its nine months of development. It is lined by a fleshy,
blood like layer that is quite thick called endometrium (as shown on the
diagram.) It is designed to hold and nourish a baby from its very early stages
of development as a fetus to when it leaves the mother’s body. Whenever
the egg moves through the fallopian tubes or into the womb (which is does on a
monthly basis) it will end up imbedding itself into this lining. If it is
fertilised, the baby will begin to develop from here and a woman’s menstruation will not occur. However, if it is
unfertilised, the lining of the uterus will shed. This can make hormonal changes
within women and therefore affect their mood and behaviour.
The Fallopian Tube is a means of connecting the Ovaries to the Uterus. It is a long tube
that, as mentioned beforehand, allows the eggs to move through them to the
Uterus in order to be imbedded into the lining around the Uterus and for
potential childbirth. It is within the Fallopian tube that the egg comes into
contact with the sperm. Then, from the contact with the sperm, the egg will
begin to develop and split into more and more cells before reaching the
endometrium, where it will receive nourishment from it.
The final and one of the most important parts of the female reproductive system are the Ovaries.
These are not where the eggs are made but where they are stored and mature
overtime. However, the eggs are stored in a bundle of cells called a Follicle
which is within the Ovaries. When they are matured (after about 14 days) they
will be released and will travel down the Fallopian tube.
An egg will spend about 7-8 days there every menstrual cycle (which is 28
days long.)
Now that you have read about
the function of each of the parts of the female reproductive system, you have a
basic understanding of how childbirth works and how it works in general.
However, I bet that you’re wondering about what the menstrual cycle is and how
it works. Now it will be explained to you.
detail further down the page.) It is devoted and designed to hold a pre-born
baby and to maintain pregnancy and give childbirth.
When a male and a female have sexual intercourse, a male’s penis enters a woman’s vagina.
It is from here that the semen that is being ejaculated from a male’s penis
enters the areas beyond that and into the Uterus. However, the actual penis does not go
beyond the vagina and it stops at the cervix.
The Cervix is the opening to a female’s internal sexual organs. It is the gateway, so
to speak. During childbirth, this muscle stretches in order to let the baby
through. When a woman is pregnant, it will remain closed. When a woman gives birth, it will
open up to let the baby through.
Beyond the Cervix is the Uterus (which is also called The
Womb.) This is a large open and hollow area as the diagram displays where
the baby grows during its nine months of development. It is lined by a fleshy,
blood like layer that is quite thick called endometrium (as shown on the
diagram.) It is designed to hold and nourish a baby from its very early stages
of development as a fetus to when it leaves the mother’s body. Whenever
the egg moves through the fallopian tubes or into the womb (which is does on a
monthly basis) it will end up imbedding itself into this lining. If it is
fertilised, the baby will begin to develop from here and a woman’s menstruation will not occur. However, if it is
unfertilised, the lining of the uterus will shed. This can make hormonal changes
within women and therefore affect their mood and behaviour.
The Fallopian Tube is a means of connecting the Ovaries to the Uterus. It is a long tube
that, as mentioned beforehand, allows the eggs to move through them to the
Uterus in order to be imbedded into the lining around the Uterus and for
potential childbirth. It is within the Fallopian tube that the egg comes into
contact with the sperm. Then, from the contact with the sperm, the egg will
begin to develop and split into more and more cells before reaching the
endometrium, where it will receive nourishment from it.
The final and one of the most important parts of the female reproductive system are the Ovaries.
These are not where the eggs are made but where they are stored and mature
overtime. However, the eggs are stored in a bundle of cells called a Follicle
which is within the Ovaries. When they are matured (after about 14 days) they
will be released and will travel down the Fallopian tube.
An egg will spend about 7-8 days there every menstrual cycle (which is 28
days long.)
Now that you have read about
the function of each of the parts of the female reproductive system, you have a
basic understanding of how childbirth works and how it works in general.
However, I bet that you’re wondering about what the menstrual cycle is and how
it works. Now it will be explained to you.
Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle
A woman's fertility in the menstrual cycle.
Menstruation is where the
lining of a female’s Uterus (the endometrium) sheds and therefore the female
emits mucus, blood and cell debris from her vagina. This occurs once every 28
days (which is the length of a menstrual cycle, as mentioned before.)
The reason why it occurs is because a female’s uterus is always preparing itself as if it
is going to simply be fertilized every single time. This means that the
endometrium thickens and prepares all of the nutrients and increases blood
supply. All the while eggs are maturing within the ovary and are preparing to be
released. When one or more are ready, it goes out of the ovary and into the
fallopian tube, where it will spend 7-8 days. Then, after that, it will move
onto the Uterus and imbed itself into the endometrium. However, the endometrium
will only remain locked in place if the egg is fertilized. Therefore, since the
eggs released are not fertilized, the endometrium breaks and it spills the blood
and cell debris out of the vagina. That is what menstruation is.
It is important to understand that fertilization of eggs can only take place in 7-8 days of this 28
day cycle. This is because fertilization can only occur in the Fallopian tubes and the eggs are only in the Fallopian tubes for that amount of time. It is therefore important to know that you can only have a
baby if you have sexual intercourse in days 9-15 of the Menstrual Cycle. This
is because the sperm will take a while to reach the eggs and the eggs are
released at about day 14 of the cycle.
lining of a female’s Uterus (the endometrium) sheds and therefore the female
emits mucus, blood and cell debris from her vagina. This occurs once every 28
days (which is the length of a menstrual cycle, as mentioned before.)
The reason why it occurs is because a female’s uterus is always preparing itself as if it
is going to simply be fertilized every single time. This means that the
endometrium thickens and prepares all of the nutrients and increases blood
supply. All the while eggs are maturing within the ovary and are preparing to be
released. When one or more are ready, it goes out of the ovary and into the
fallopian tube, where it will spend 7-8 days. Then, after that, it will move
onto the Uterus and imbed itself into the endometrium. However, the endometrium
will only remain locked in place if the egg is fertilized. Therefore, since the
eggs released are not fertilized, the endometrium breaks and it spills the blood
and cell debris out of the vagina. That is what menstruation is.
It is important to understand that fertilization of eggs can only take place in 7-8 days of this 28
day cycle. This is because fertilization can only occur in the Fallopian tubes and the eggs are only in the Fallopian tubes for that amount of time. It is therefore important to know that you can only have a
baby if you have sexual intercourse in days 9-15 of the Menstrual Cycle. This
is because the sperm will take a while to reach the eggs and the eggs are
released at about day 14 of the cycle.
Smart Choices about your Reproductive System's Health that could Affect the Future
There are a few ways in which you can make choices now that can affect your reproductive health in the future. This health is not only relevant for those who are considering having a baby and experiencing pregnancy and childbirth but also for those who are in a sexual relationship. Sexual intercourse is also prone to spreading unhealthy infections and other negative influences into reproductive systems.
Here are some tips......
- Make sure you avoid STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections.) These are discussed in more detail in the STI’s section of the website. On this page, there will be information on the prevention of them, some examples of them and how to tell whether you’ve inherited one or not.
- When either you or your partner is pregnant, try to really make sure that you watch what you/she consumes in terms of food, drink, medicine, drugs and so forth for the pregnancy. This is especially true for the first 8 weeks since this time period is where the baby in the Uterus is very vulnerable as it is still developing its heart and major body functions. At this stage, it is called an embryo.
- If you're looking for more of a social and/or emotional health side of things, you may consider to have permanent methods of contraception. For more information, see the consequences of sex and pregnancy page of this website.
- For your girlfriend, it is recommended that she should get PAP tests every 2 years between the ages of 21 and 29. This will stop her from getting cervical cancer which is an important part of the female reproductive system.
- When either you or your partner is pregnant, try to really make sure that you watch what you/she consumes in terms of food, drink, medicine, drugs and so forth for the pregnancy. This is especially true for the first 8 weeks since this time period is where the baby in the Uterus is very vulnerable as it is still developing its heart and major body functions. At this stage, it is called an embryo.
- If you're looking for more of a social and/or emotional health side of things, you may consider to have permanent methods of contraception. For more information, see the consequences of sex and pregnancy page of this website.
- For your girlfriend, it is recommended that she should get PAP tests every 2 years between the ages of 21 and 29. This will stop her from getting cervical cancer which is an important part of the female reproductive system.