8 All the egg cells (or ova) are present when a woman is born. The number continues to drop from 2 million at birth to 200,000 when a woman begins her reproductive life. On average, women menstruate for 40 years and ovulate 13 times a year. So, about 500 eggs come to full development. Reproductive organs are also called genitals. Sperm can survive inside the uterus of a female s body for about 5 days. Is it true that a small number of women in the world can be born with two uteruses? THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Function and processes The function of the reproductive system is the reproduction of new human beings by means of sexual intercourse and the transmission of hereditary traits. There are different processes involved: of producing sperm , which is carried to the penis by a system of ducts. The testicles hang in a pouchlike structure outside the pelvis called the scrotum, a bag of skin which helps to regulate their temperature; the duct system; the accessory glands (e.g. the prostate gland), which provide fluids that lubricate the duct system and nourish the sperm; the penis, made up of two parts: the shaft, which is the main part, and the glans, which is the tip, or head. gametogenesis: sex cells (sperm cells for males and ova for females) are produced; insemination: the male system delivers sperm cells to the female reproductive trait; fertilisation: a sperm cell unites with a female ovum; implantation: the sperm and ovum unite in one of the female tubes to form a zygote which travels to reach the uterus and burrows into the uterine wall; The female reproductive system The female reproductive system consists of: ovaries, glands the size of an almond which produce both ova and hormones; fallopian (or uterine) tubes, which carry egg cells from the ovaries to the uterus; uterus, muscular organ made of three layers of tissue which accommodates the embryo and future foetus; vagina, the canal both for menstrual flow and childbirth; vulva, the external genital apparatus; mammary glands (or breasts), modified sweat glands that produce milk after childbirth. gestation: the period in which the female reproductive system carries the embryo which develops into a foetus 11 weeks after implantation; parturition: the process of delivering the baby and placenta from the uterus. The male reproductive system The male reproductive organs are both inside and outside the pelvis. They include: the testicles, which are paired oval shaped organs whose function is that Male Reproductive System Female Reproductive System prostate gland seminal vescicle to burrow: impiantarsi egg cell: ovulo paired: appaiato pouch: sacca shaft: corpo sweat: sudore 26 BODY AND MIND penis fallopian tube vas deferens uterus ovary cervix testis urethra scrotum vagina