Lesson · S.1.7
The reproductive system
The structures of the male and female reproductive systems, and how hormones from the endocrine system drive both.
ObjectiveS.1.7Read2 minExam weightHuman Anatomy and Physiology ≈ 41% of Science
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See editions and pricing →What you will be able to do
- Name the major structures of the male and female reproductive systems.
- Trace the hormone signals, from the hypothalamus to the gonads, that drive puberty and reproduction.
- Contrast continuous sperm production with the cyclical maturation of eggs.
What the lesson concludes
- Testes produce sperm, ovaries produce eggs, both under hormonal control from the pituitary.
- Fertilisation normally happens in the Fallopian tubes, not the uterus.
- LH triggers testosterone in males and egg release in females, a single hormone with two different targets.
- Sperm production in males is continuous, while egg maturation in females is cyclical, a contrast the TEAS likes to test.
- The endocrine system, not the reproductive organs alone, sets the timing for puberty, the menstrual cycle, and sperm production.