Human Reproductive System
Reproduction is an important part of survival. Every single living thing on this planet must be capable or reproduction. Some do it Asexually, like bacteria. This is a form of cloning. While other do it Sexually, like you and me.
Take a second and think about all the ways men and women are different.
Men and Women are built very different when it comes to sexual organs, each perform a function which complements each other.
Men have a penis and testes. The function of the male reproductive system is to produce and deliver Sperm cells.
The male reproductive system is made up of 5 main parts.
- Testes. Each male has 2 testes contained in a bag of skin called the scrotum. The testes produce sperm cells and make testosterone.
- Glands. These are very important to keep the sperm healthy. They produce the nutrients which keep the sperm alive. The mixture of fluid and sperm is called semen.
- Sperm ducts. Small tubes which carry sperm from the testes to the penis.
- Urethra. A tube which carries urine from from the bladder out of the body or sperm from the sperm duct.
- Penis. The penis carries the urine or semen out of the body. When a male is aroused the penis swells with blood and stiffens (erection). During this time the male can release sperm into the female during sex.
Before we go on, try and match the words to their correct spots. Once you think you got it right, screen shot it.
The female reproductive system is very different. While men produce millions of sperm, women only make a few eggs.
Men can also release 100,000 of sperm while women only release 1 egg at a time.
- Ovaries -
This is where the eggs are stored. A women will create all her eggs and store them here to be released one at a time. - Oviducts -
Similar to the sperm ducts, the oviducts carry the egg to the uterus. - Uterus -
This is where the egg sits until fertilised. Once fertilised the baby develops and grows here. - Cervix -
A small ring of muscle at the entrance of the uterus. This keeps the baby in one place during pregnancy. The sperm are small enough to get past the cervix to the egg in the uterus. - Vagina -
The Vagina receives the sperm during sexual intercourse. This is where the penis enters. - Urethra -
Unlike the male urethra which is the tube for sperm and urine, the female urethra is only for urine exiting the body.
Match the following words to their correct location.
Questions
Short Answer Questions
1. Copy and Complete the following sentence.
a. Sperm is produced in the ________ and travels through the _____ ____ to the urethra. It then exits the _______ when ejaculation occurs.
b. ______ are stored in the ovary. When the time is right, the egg will travel through the ______ ____ to the ______ . It will stay here till _______ comes and fertilises it.
2. What is the purpose of Reproduction
3. What are 2 types of reproduction and which one do bacteria do?
4. Describe the difference between semen and sperm.
5. Create a flow chart, illustrating the movement of sperm from the testis to the egg in the women.
Extension
6. For each of the following, explain how their structure helps them to carry out their function fully:
a. Uterus
b. Penis
7. Explain why the testes are better being held in the scrotum than being held inside the body
8. Explain how the organs in the female reproductive system work together to hold the baby during pregnancy.
