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Human Body Study

Reproductive System

The only organ system not required to keep an individual alive — its job is producing the next generation.

Female reproductive system Front-view schematic showing the mammary glands, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and the cervix and vagina; each labelled part links to its article. Female reproductive system Mammary glands the breasts, which produce milk after birth. Ovaries produce eggs and the hormones estrogenand progesterone. Fallopian tubes carry the egg toward the uterus; theusual site of fertilization. Uterus the muscular organ where a fertilizedegg implants and a fetus develops. Cervix and vagina the lower passage; the vagina is alsothe birth canal. Female reproductive system — schematic front view, not to scale. Male reproductive system Front-view schematic showing the testes, duct system, accessory glands and penis; each labelled part links to its article. Male reproductive system bladder prostate Accessory glands the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethralglands, which produce the fluid of semen. Duct system the epididymis (where sperm mature and arestored) and the vas deferens (which carriessperm onward). Penis the organ of delivery; its urethra is sharedwith the urinary system. Testes produce sperm and the hormone testosterone;held in the scrotum, outside the body, for theslightly cooler temperature sperm need. Male reproductive system — schematic front view, not to scale.

Main parts

Section titled “Main parts”

What it does

Section titled “What it does”
  • Produces sex cells — sperm and eggs, each carrying half a set of genetic instructions.
  • Enables fertilization — bringing sperm and egg together.
  • Supports development — in females, the uterus houses and nourishes a developing fetus.
  • Produces sex hormones — which drive sexual development and maintain the system.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

This system is the bridge between an individual and the species. It is controlled by the HPG hormonal axis, and it switches from dormant to active only at puberty.