Female and male reproductive system
The reproductive system refers to a set of organs, both internal and external, on the human body, in both males and females that work in tandem to ensure successful offspring production. Apart from organs, the reproductive system also consists of accessories such as fluids, hormones, and also pheromones that control and regulate the sexual reproduction process during different phases. Noteworthy, the male and female reproductive systems in human beings bear considerable differences in both the organs and hormones involved.
The male reproductive system is primarily constituted of two organs; testes and the penis. The testes and the penis protrude out of the abdominal cavity (Gurung and Jialal). The location of the testes is important since sperm production is optimal at a temperature that is lower than the normal body temperature by between two to three degrees Celsius. Moreover, the extraperitoneal situation of the testes accounts for double spermatozoa production, which enhances the viability of the formed sperms and thus increases the likelihood of conception in the event of sexual intercourse and the spermatozoa are deposited into the vagina. The scrotum holds the testicles or testes and ensures a conduit for blood vessels, muscles, and nerves, which aid the function of the testes. The testes exist as a pair, and as male gonads primarily produce spermatozoa and hormones in the reproductive processes. The sizes of the testes are between two and a half centimeters by three and an eighth centimeters and are separated into lobes that are wedge-shaped by the septa. Inside the lobes, there are seminiferous tubules that are coiled and are the main site for sperm production.
The penis is a copulatory organ in the sexual intercourse process and comprises three erectile tissues that get engorged with blood during sexual stimulation to make it erect prior to penetration. The penile structure is then inserted into the vagina during sexual intercourse, which culminates in ejaculation or orgasm that is marked by the contraction of the organs and glands that are connected to the testicles. The contraction releases and empties semen into the urethra and into the vagina, after which the blood drains from the erectile tissues of the pens, and it assumes a flaccid state.
The male reproductive system also contains internal organs, which are known as accessory organs such as the epididymis, which has a coiled structure and is situated at the back of the testicles inside the scrotum and is a conduit to deliver sperms and also store the spermatozoa. Noteworthy, the contraction of the epididymis during the process of sexual arouses results in the movement of the sperms from the epididymis and into the vas deferens. The vas deferens is also an accessory gland and has an elongated and muscular structure whose purpose is to transfer sperms to the urethra. Furthermore, the ejaculatory duct is also another accessory gland which is formed from the merger of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles. The urethral tube transports the semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse. Seminal vesicles are attached to the vas deferens and serve the purpose of producing fructose, which is a source of energy for the spermatozoa and is a considerable volume of the ejaculatory fluid. The prostate gland, on the other hand, is situated beneath the urinary bladder and produces a fluid that contributes to the ejaculatory fluid volume. Also, the prostrate fluid provides nourishment to the spermatozoa. Finally, the bulbourethral glands or called Cowper’s glands and are a pair of glands situated at the sides of the urethra and serves the purpose of producing a fluid that is clear and slippery. The fluid produced by the Cowper’s glands is a lubricant and also neutralizes acidity in the urethra following the passage of urine.
Similarly, the female reproductive system is primarily constituted of two organs, the vagina, and the ovum. The ovum infuses with the sperm following its penetration resulting in fertilization. The penetration is aided by the hydrolytic enzymes contained in the acrosome. The fertilization process takes place in the oviducts, or in some instances, it may take place in the uterus. After fertilization, the infused ovum cell and the sperm cell from a zygote which is implanted in the uterine lining, which marks the beginning of the embryogenesis and morphogenesis (Ellis and Mahadevan). The ova are larger compared to the spermatozoon and are formed in the ovaries way before a female is born and are usually located in specific places within the ovaries and usually move to the uterus following maturity in a regular interval called the menstrual cycle in response to hormone signals that stimulate oogenesis which is a process that characterizes the maturity of a single ovum and its release through the fallopian tube. However, in the event that the ovum is fertilized, then it is released from the female reproductive system through a process known as menstruation. However, when fertilization occurs, the pregnancy phase begins and is the phase of fetal development. The fetus acquires its nutritional needs and oxygen from the mother through the mother’s blood that undergoes filtration in the placenta. The placenta is held to the abdomen of the fetus through the umbilical cord. To support fetal development, females need to enhance their calorie uptake throughout the gestation period that takes approximately 266 days in humans. After the sufficient development of the fetus, hormonal signals mark the birth process by dilation of the cervix and contractions in the uterus that propels the fetus through the vagina, which is the birth canal.
The vagina or birth is muscular and has different purposes. It is the opening for menstrual flow and also is the receptor for the penis in the process of sexual intercourse. Noteworthy, it is the birth can for delivery after the end of the gestation period. The vagina extends from the vaginal opening to the uterus. The muscular walls of the vagina are able to expand and contract, which enables it to perform the functions of fetus delivery and to accommodate the penis during sexual intercourse. The muscular walls of the vagina are lined with mucous membranes, which keeps it moist, especially during sexual intercourse, to reduce friction.
The inward extension of the vagina connects to the uterus or what is known as the womb. The uterine is approximately three inches by two inches when a female is not pregnant. The point where the vagina connects to the uterus is known as the cervix, whose walls are thickened and strong. The masculine structure of the cervix facilitates the process of childbirth.
Incredibly, the uterus possesses some of the strongest muscles in the entire female body and has the ability to expand to accommodate the fetus as it develops through various stages and also to propel the baby when stimulated by hormones after the gestation period.
The uterus connects to the fallopian tubes at is upper corners. The fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. The ovaries consist as a pair and have an oval shape and are situated in the upper areas of the uterus on both sides and serve the purpose of producing, storing, and releasing the ova in the menstrual cycle. The ova move from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes through the process of ovulation. The fallopian tubes are attached to the uterus and have an internal conduit. At the other end of the fallopian tube is a funnel shape that covers the ovaries but is not completely held to the ovaries. After an ovum is released, it is introduced to the fallopian tube through the funnel shape and is systematically moved across the fallopian tube through the action of flagella that line the fallopian tube’s inner passageway.
The contractions of the uterine wall during labor are as a result of stimulation of the muscular walls of the uterine by oxytocin which is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The contracting of the cervix walls results in widening and dilation of the cervix enabling propulsion of the baby. The umbilical cord is delivered together with the baby. Placental delivery is the ultimate stage of the child-bearing process and is referred to as afterbirth and occurs after the placenta has detached from the inner uterine walls and is expelled from the uterus together with fluids and membranes through contractions of the uterine wall.
Works Cited
Ellis, Harold, and Vishy Mahadevan. Clinical anatomy: applied anatomy for students and junior doctors. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
Gurung, Purnima, and Ishwarlal Jialal. “Physiology, Male Reproductive System.” StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, 2020.