Reproduction

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Reproduction Objectives

List factors that can cause infertility, including reproductive age limits.
Describe male reproductive structures, including their role in producing and delivering sperm.
Describe female reproductive structures, including their role in egg and milk production.

We will start our look at reproduction by comparing and contrasting genetic male and female pelvises.

We are using the term “male” related to having specific hormonal and reproductive structures, including testicles and a penis, and “female” related to having specific hormonal and reproductive structures including ovaries and a uterus. In the future we think there will be more universally available and shared terminology and research to encompass the broad range of physical, sexual, and gender-related identities that are currently limited to male, female, man, woman, etc. In the mean time, we are using the nomenclature often used in medicine in the context of discussing puberty, pregnancy, infertility, and diseases of the reproductive organs.

While watching this video of male reproductive structures, write down the functions of the various structures in your notes.

Now, record the functions of female reproductive structures, noting the similarities to, and differences from, male reproductive organs.

Although not technically an organ involved in reproduction, female breasts are critical in supplying nutrients to a baby. Adipose tissue in replaced with lobular glands that produce milk.

Early as adults we often focus on behaviors that reduce the possibility of conception. Schooling, work commitments, and finances sometimes delay starting a family for many years.

For individuals who want to give birth to children, time can become an issue as this video explains.

Individuals are increasingly relying on medical procedures like in vitro fertilization to increase reproductive success with advancing age. These techniques are expensive, not available to everyone, and do not guarantee success.

The next section starts with a sperm fertilizing an egg and continues through pregnancy and birth.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

list factors that can cause infertility, including reproductive age limits?
describe male reproductive structures, including their role in producing and delivering sperm?
describe female reproductive structures, including their role in egg and milk production?