The male reproductive system isn’t like all of the other body parts talked about so far. The male reproductive system risks everything in an attempt to provide healthy genes to future generation’s offspring. Everything from the creation of sperm to placental development and even infertility can be affected by problems with the male reproductive system. One problem can lead to another or even cause some men not to produce sperm at all. The human race is literally dependent on the ability of its men to produce healthy sperm.
Sperm production can be stimulated by a variety of factors including environmental toxins, injury to the male genitalia, drugs, and even poor diet. The most common factor that stimulates sperm production is the presence of a sperm-generating follicle (zona near the head of the ejaculate). This follicle is called the sperms that live and die inside the testicles. When the sperms are ready to be fertilized they go into the fallopian tube. This is where they are killed off by a female’s acidic saliva. The acidic saliva kills off any possibility of a sperm being fertilized.
After the gamete has passed from the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus where it stays until it implantates itself in the endometrial lining. The implantation takes place outside of the body so there is no risk of the fertilized egg getting killed by the acidic juices. The implantation then occurs within the body and in a very short amount of time a baby is born. If no implantation occurs then either the normal procedure for infertility doesn’t occur or the egg cannot implant on the uterine lining.
Male reproductive organs also differ somewhat from the ovaries. Most males have only one set of reproductive organs – the testes. They are also enclosed in a thick, fluid-filled sac called the corpus cavernosa. Because of this structure, it is difficult for the oocytes to reach the testes. Therefore, they are rarely fertilized outside of the body.
The difference between a male reproductive organ and a female reproductive system is that there are no ovaries. The sperm must swim through the females vaginal cavity in order to fertilize an egg. Once the sperm reaches the egg it lives for about two to three days. Then it dies off and is expelled along with the menstrual fluid. Once the oocyte is released from the ovarian follicle, it is similar to a pebble in the ocean where it can easily be missed by even the most seasoned swimmer.
The male reproductive organs are not entirely separated from the testicles. The penis can become erect just before the sperm is released and can cause the testicles to twist and move into position to produce sperm. This twisting motion also applies to the uterus and the fallopian tubes. When a man is not experiencing menses his penis can remain erect throughout the day, even after he has had sexual intercourse.
When a man is experiencing menses, the ovaries release an egg called an oocyte. The egg has the genetic makeup of either a male or a female. An egg can be fertilized in the fallopian tubes by a male sperm or by a female sperm. If the egg is fertilized in the uterus, the male (Y sperm) is able to fertilize the egg.
After the fertilization occurs, the male (Y sperm) is expelled as well. An egg then must be fertilized by a female (Z sperm) in order to generate a pregnancy. The Z sperm is slower than the Y sperm, which results in a longer time for the egg to be fertilized. This allows the Z sperm to implant where it is most likely to survive. Once a pregnancy begins, it is usually up to the woman to make sure that the baby grows and develops properly.