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The Female Reproductive System

16 THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

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Introduction

A ll living things reproduce. This is something that sets the living apart from non-living. Even

though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, it is not essential to keeping
an individual alive. This chapter describes the different parts of the female reproductive system: the
organs involved in the process of reproduction, hormones that regulate a woman's body, the menstrual
cycle, ovulation and pregnancy, the female's role in genetic division, birth control, sexually transmitted
diseases and other diseases and disorders.

Reproduction

Reproduction can be defined as the process by which an organism continues its species. In the
human reproductive process, two kinds of sex cells (gametes), are involved: the male gamete (sperm),
and the female gamete (egg or ovum). These two gametes meet within the female's uterine tubes
located one on each side of the upper pubic cavity,and begin to create a new individual. The female
needs a male to fertilize her egg; she then carries offspring through pregnancy and childbirth.

Similarities between male and female reproductive systems

The reproductive systems of the male and female have some basic similarities and some
specialized differences. They are the same in that most of the reproductive organs of both sexes
develop from similar embryonic tissue, meaning they are homologous. Both systems have gonads that
produce gametes (sperm and egg or ovum) and sex organs. And both systems experience further
development of the reproductive organs, which mature and become functional during puberty as a
result of the gonads secreting sex hormones.

In short, this is a known list of sex organs that evolve from the same tissue in a human life.

Indifferent Male Female
Gonad Testis Ovary

Mullerian duct Appendix testis Fallopian tubes
Mullerian duct Prostatic utricle Uterus, proximal vagina

Wolffian duct Rete testis Rete ovarii
Mesonephric
tubules Efferent ducts Epoophoron
Wolffian duct Epididymis Gartner's duct

Wolffian duct Vas deferens
Wolffian duct Seminal vesicle

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