Describe human male and female reproductive anatomies

As animals became more complex, specific organs and organ systems developed to support specific functions for the organism. The reproductive structures that evolved in land animals allow males and females to mate, fertilize internally, and support the growth and development of offspring.

The reproductive tissues of male and female humans develop similarly in utero until a low level of the hormone testosterone is released from male gonads. Testosterone causes the undeveloped tissues to differentiate into male sexual organs. When testosterone is absent, the tissues develop into female sexual tissues. Primitive gonads become testes or ovaries. Tissues that produce a penis in males produce a clitoris in females. The tissue that will become the scrotum in a male becomes the labia in a female; that is, they are homologous structures.

What You’ll Learn to Do

• Describe human male reproductive anatomies
• Describe human female reproductive anatomies
• Discuss the human sexual response
• Discuss the differences and similarities between spermatogenesis and oogenesis

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include the following:

• Male Reproductive Anatomy
• Female Reproductive Anatomy
• Sexual Response
• Gametogenesis
• Self Check: Human Reproductive Anatomy