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Concern

  Evaluating Your Fertility
  Understanding Fertility
  The Basics of Life
  DNA
  Cell Division
  Sexual Differentiation
  Anatomy & Function
  Ovulation
  Sperm Production
  Importance of Hormones
  Maximise Your Fertility
  Infertility: An Introduction
  Infertility in Females
  Infertility in Males
  Implications of Infertility
  Questions to Ask Your Doctor
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Anatomy and Function

This section deals with the basic anatomy and function of the female and male reproductive systems.

In females, sex cells (or ova) are produced by the ovaries, which are the essential sex organs in the female. The ova are transported and protected once they leave the ovaries by the accessory structures, which also serve to nourish and protect the embryo should fertilisation occur.

With the exception of the breasts and vulva, all female reproductive structures are located internally within the pelvic cavity. The structure of the female reproductive system is shown in the figure below.

The testes are the essential sex organs (gonads) in the male that serve to produce the male gametes (sperm) and the male sex hormone testosterone. The accessory male reproductive structures aid in the maturation, nourishment and transport of the sperm through the male reproductive system and into the female’s body for fertilisation. Unlike the female reproductive structures that are located within the pelvic cavity, the male reproductive organs lie outside the abdomen. The male reproductive structures and their locations are shown in the figure.


 



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