The Male & Female Reproductive Systems

Unit 1-12 Notes

Mr. Hefti – Pulaski Biology

Reproductive System Fun Facts

1. The average lifespan of an egg once it is released from the ovary is 12-24 hours after which it either disintegrates or is flushed out of the body with the menstrual flow.  The average life span of the sperm is 2-3 days.

2. Male sperm are significantly smaller than the female egg.  While the sperm measures 2.5 to 3.5 microns across the head the fully mature egg is 100-125 microns in diameter.

3. The largest cell of the female body is the egg.

4. A woman never runs out of eggs.  At birth she has between 1 and 2 million potential eggs (follicles) and by puberty has 300,000 to 400,000 viable eggs (follicles) that can be fertilized.

during pregnancy

female repro. organs – front view

female reproductive organs – side view

1 – ovary

2 – fallopian tube / oviduct

3 – uterus

4 – cervix

5 – vagina

6 – urinary bladder

7 – urethra

8 – anus

9 – rectum

10 – fetus

11 – umbilical cord

12 – pelvis

male reproductive organs – front viewmale reproductive organs – side view

1 – penis

2 – urethra

3 – scrotum

4 – testes

5 – vas deferens

6 – pelvis

7 – seminal vesicle

8 – prostate

9 – anus

10 – rectum

11 – urinary bladder

12 – blood vessels

13 – ureters

Make connections…• What is meant by the following

statement?“Reproduction is needed for the survival

of the species but not the individual.”

–Organisms do not need to reproduce, but if no members of the population reproduce then the species could go extinct.