External structures Organs Labia majora Description and functions

Considered the large lips and this structure is the most visible part of the external female sexual anatomy. The labia are covered with hair after puberty and this is felt to provide cushioning during sexual activity. The main purpose of the labia majora or external labia is to close and protect other external sexual organs. Considered the small lips and are located inside the labia majora. These smaller labia are visible when the labia majora are separated. These lips surround the vaginal opening and extend upward to form protection around both the clitoris and urethra. The urethra is the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body and provides an opening for urine to pass through. mucus for lubrication.

Labia minora

Bartholin's glands These glands are located beside the vaginal opening and produce Clitoris

This is a highly sensitive structure packed with nerve endings and is analogous to head of a males penis. The clitoris is very sensitive and can become erect due to increased blood flow during sexual stimulation. The clitoris is covered and protected by a fold of skin called the clitoral hood.

Internal organs Organs Vagina Description and functions

This is a canal or tube-like structure for delivery of baby

The vagina also receives the penis during intercourse. The cervix is found at the end of the vagina and is the opening of the uterus. The cervix will stretch, soften and dilate at the time of birth to allow passage of the baby from the uterus into the vagina and then out of the females body.
Uterus (womb)

This is a fist sized muscular organ that houses baby during pregnancy. During the menstrual period, the uterus sheds its lining and produces vaginal bleeding. Normally the size of a fist, the uterus grows and stretches rapidly during pregnancy. At 20 weeks of pregnancy, the uterus is at the level of the belly button. There are two ovaries and one is located on each side of the uterus. They produce eggs and other hormones. Ligaments and blood vessels support the ovaries. These tubes connect the ovaries to uterus. The fimbria or fingers of the fallopian tube capture an egg after it is released by the ovary and guide it into a fallopian tube The egg then travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus.

Ovaries

Fallopian tubes

Male Reproductive System Organs

External structures Organs Description and functions

Penis

The penis becomes engorged with blood during sexual arousal and is inserted into vagina during intercourse. The penis has 3 parts: base, shaft and head (glans). The head or glans is very sensitive to touch and more so during sexual arousal. The urethra passes through the penis and allows passage of urine and semen. A loose portion of skin called foreskin covers head of penis but may be removed during circumcision procedure. This is a sac of loose skin the holds the testicles. The skin is quite thin and a small amount of muscle in the wall of the scrotum allows it to contract and relax. This is important to control the temperature inside the testicles. The scrotum is covered with hair starting in puberty. The two nut-like structures are analogous to ovaries and two are present in normal males. The testicles are responsible for the production of sperm and sex hormones such as testosterone. Structures called the seminiferous tubules inside the testicles produce sperm.

Scrotum

Testicles (testes)

Internal organs Organs Epididymis Description and functions

These coiled tubes sitting on top of each testicle and help bring sperm to maturity. The epididymis also transports and stores sperm. These structures help to push sperm into vas deferens during sexual arousal. This is a muscular tube that connects each epididymis to the penis. Sperm travel from the testicles through each epididymis and then through the vas deferens to the urethra (inside penis) during ejaculation. These ducts are formed by the fusion of vas deferens and seminal vesicles. They empty their contents into the urethra during ejaculation. This tube passes from bladder through penis to outside of body. Its function is to transport sperm during sex and also urine during urination. During intercourse, blood flow blocks urine from entering the

Vas deferens

Ejaculatory ducts

Urethra

urethra.
Seminal vesicles

These sacs produce fluid containing sugar for the health and nutrition of sperm. The seminal vesicles produce the majority of volume comprising the ejaculate fluid. This walnut sized gland is located near rectum in males. The urethra passes through prostate. The gland is basically like a sponge with ducts and blood vessels. The prostate produces additional fluid that is added to the ejaculate fluid. One of the functions of this fluid is to help nourish the sperm. These small located on either side of urethra near prostate gland. They are pea sized and can be felt between scrotum and rectum These glands produce additional fluid for lubrication of urethra during sexual activity. The primary function is to neutralize the acidity of urethra to protect sperm during their journey out of the body during ejaculation.

Prostate gland

Bulbourethral glands

Semen Semen is the fluid produced by males for sexual reproduction and is ejaculated out of the body during sexual intercourse. Semen contains sperm, the male reproductive gametes, along with a number of chemicals suspended in a liquid medium. The chemical composition of semen gives it a thick, sticky consistency and a slightly alkaline pH. These traits help semen to support reproduction by helping sperm to remain within the vagina after intercourse and to neutralize the acidic environment of the vagina. In healthy adult males, semen contains around 100 million sperm cells per milliliter. These sperm cells fertilize oocytes inside the female fallopian tubes. Spermatogenesis Spermatogenesis is the process of producing sperm and takes place in the testes and epididymis of adult males. Prior to puberty, there is no spermatogenesis due to the lack of hormonal triggers. At puberty, spermatogenesis begins when luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are produced. LH triggers the production of testosterone by the testes while FSH triggers the maturation of germ cells. Testosterone stimulates stem cells in the testes known as spermatogonium to undergo the process of developing into spermatocytes. Each diploid spermatocyte goes through the process of meiosis I and splits into 2 haploid secondary spermatocytes. The secondary spermatocytes go through meiosis II to form 4 haploid spermatid cells. The spermatid cells then go through a process known as spermiogenesis where they grow a flagellum and develop the structures of the sperm head. After spermiogenesis, the cell is finally a sperm cell, or spermatozoa.

The spermatozoa are released into the epididymis where they complete their maturation and become able to move on their own. Oogenesis and Ovulation Under the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), the ovaries produce a mature ovum in a process known as ovulation. By about 14 days into the reproductive cycle, an oocyte reaches maturity and is released as an ovum. Although the ovaries begin to mature many oocytes each month, usually only one ovum per cycle is released. Fertilization Fertilization is the process by which a sperm combines with an oocyte, or egg cell, to produce a fertilized zygote. The sperm released during ejaculation must first swim through the vagina and uterus and into the fallopian tubes where they may find an oocyte. After encountering the oocyte, sperm next have to penetrate the outer corona radiata and zona pellucida layers of the oocyte. Sperm contain enzymes in the acrosome region of the head that allow them to penetrate these layers. After penetrating the interior of the oocyte, the nuclei of these haploid cells fuse to form a diploid cell known as a zygote. The zygote cell begins cell division to form an embryo.