Excerpts from the REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM:
Her role in reproduction (diagrams have been omitted)
At puberty the female reproductive organs mature and menstruation begins. Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the inner lining of the uterus. The female egg cells which develop in the ovaries are called ova (plural of ovum). Every month an ovum matures and leaves from either the right or left ovary, usually alternating each month. It is possible for more than one ovum to leave the ovaries at a time. Small finger-like ends on the fallopian tubes, called fimbriae (fim-bre-a), draw the ovum into the fallopian tube with gentle, wave-like motions. The ovum then travels down the fallopian and gets washed away with the blood at menstruation.
The purpose of this system is to reproduce, although it’s also been known to provide pleasure. Babies are conceived during sexual intercourse, which is the act of the erect male penis being inserted into the female vagina. When the male ejaculates, sperm cells in semen pass through the female cervix, into the uterine cavity. Although a man might produce millions of sperm cells at each ejaculation, it takes only one to fertilize an ovum. As they travel through the uterine cavity, and up the fallopian tubes, many of the sperm cells get lost, lose their energy, or die off. However, when a sperm cell comes into contact with an ovum and enters it, fertilization occurs.
The man’s role in reproduction is only to supply semen during sexual intercourse. The production of semen begins in the testicles, which are two masses of tiny tubes. These tubes are called seminiferous tubules and are located inside of the scrotum. The seminiferous tubules produce sperm cells.
Once the sperm cells are formed, they begin movement toward the epididymis (ep-i-did-i-mis). The epididymis is a large tube at the back and top of each testicle. It is here that the sperm cells are stored while they mature. Where the epididymis narrows, near the top of each testicle, the tube becomes the vas deferens (vaz def-er-enz). The vas deferens is approximately 60 cm long and extends up and over the bladder. At the point where the vas deferens comes down at the back of the bladder, seminal vesicles add a thick sugary substance to the sperm that have come through the tubes. This substance supplies nourishment to the sperm cells and makes up much of the volume of semen. The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder and almost completely surrounds the urethra. The prostate gland also adds fluids to the semen, and has muscles that help in the ejection of semen during ejaculation. The semen travels down the urethra and is ejaculated through the urinary meatus (me-a-tus).
Excerpt from VOCABULARY: *The foreskin is the skin that covers the end of the penis on boys and men. It is the foreskin that is removed during circumcision which leaves the penis with a different appearance. It’s said that a man gets more pleasure from sexual activity if he has not had a circumcision. Men who have been circumcised may disagree.
*Testosterone is a male hormone produced in the testicles. Testosterone is responsible for the male characteristics of a man’s body. Body hair, facial hair, deep voice, and muscle shape are determined by testosterone.
*An erection refers to an erect penis. The penis is made of erectile tissue which swells up with blood when a man is sexually stimulated. Also commonly referred to as a hard-on, a boner, a woody, or Mr. Big. The penis must be erect, or at least semi-erect, in order to enter the vagina. Otherwise it’s like trying to shove a marshmallow into a keyhole.
*Masturbation is a perfectly normal, healthy activity whereby one relieves his or her own sexual urges. Also sometimes called “milking the monkey”, “choking the chicken”, “a date with Mr. Big”…actually, it’s a very long list. For women? Flickin’ the bean…
*Vasectomy is removal of a part of the vas deferens. Two small incisions are made high on the scrotum. The vas deferens from each testicle is identified, cut and clamped so sperm can no longer leave the testicles. This procedure is permanent sterilization in the male. Many men are very, very afraid of this procedure and would rather have their tongues cut out than undergo vasectomy.