By now, you know, that sexual reproduction
involves both the sexes, that is male and
female. In this lesson, we'll study about
the sexual reproduction in human beings.
We all know that in the course of
development, we grow. It means that our
bodies enlarge or we increase in our
weight, but during adolescence or teenage
new sets of changes appear in our body.
At this age, general body growth slows
down, while the growth of the
reproductive tissues increases.
This period of adolescence is known as
puberty. Some changes that take place
during puberty are common to both males
and females. While some changes are
peculiar to both the sexes. Now the
changes, that are common to both males
and females are, development of thicker hair
in armpits and in genital area.
Second, development of thinner hair on
legs, arms or even on face.
Third, development of pimples, etc. Some changes
that occur only in males are, first
development of thick hair on face.
Second, the voice of the males begin to crack,
and third, occasional enlargement and
erection of penis either in daydreams
or in night.
While some changes that occur only in
females are, enlargement of breasts.
Second, darkening of the skin of nipples at the
tip of the breast, third menstruation.
These characters, developed in both males
and females are called secondary sexual
characters. Now you might be thinking that
why these are called as secondary sexual
characters? Are these linked to the
reproduction process? Let me explain!
We know, that in
sexual reproduction, both the male
gamete and the female gamete should fuse.
And this fusion in humans occur inside
the female body, and for this the state
of maturity of both males and females
should be identifiable, and it can be
identified by identifying these
secondary sexual characters.
Now, let's first discuss about the male
reproductive system. The main function of
the male reproductive system is to
produce the germ cells or the sperm, and
to transfer them to the female
reproductive system.Based on these
functions,
the male reproductive system is made
up of two types of organs, primary
reproductive organ and accessory male
reproductive organs. The primary male
reproductive organs is a pair of testis.
They are responsible for the formation
of male germ cells or sperms.
Interesting fact about these testis is that, they are
located outside the human body in a sack,
called scrotum sack. This sack maintains
the temperature, which is below the
normal body temperature, and this lower
temperature is required for the
formation of sperms.
Besides producing the male gametes, the
testis play an important role in
secretion of a male hormone called testosterone.
Testosterone, regulates the
formation of sperms. It also brings
changes in the appearance in males
during puberty. Now, the sperms that are
formed in testis are delivered by the
two ducts arising from the testis.
These ducts are known as sperm ducts or
vas deferens. Moving forward, vas deferens
combines with urethra, which is a tube
coming out from urinary bladder.
Thus, we can say, that urethra forms a common
passage
for both, urine and the sperms.
As the sperms pass through the duct, accessory glands
like prostate and seminal vesicle
at the secretion to the sperms.
This fluid like secretion is known as semen.
It makes the transportation of sperms
easier and provides nutrition to them.
Sperms are the smallest cells in the human body.
They mainly consists of genetic
material. As you can see, that a sperm has
three parts; head, middle piece and tail.
Looking carefully, you will find that the
nucleus of the sperm is present in its
head. The middle re,gion of the sperm,
provides the energy to swim and the tail
helps the sperm to swim rapidly.
So, this was the male reproductive system which
majorly aims to produce the male gametes and
transfer these gametes to the
female body.
