Question

1. Trace the passage of an egg from the surface of the ovary through the female reproductive tract & its
exit from the body.
2. Trace the passage of sperm from the testis through the male reproductive tract & their exit from the
body.

Answer 1

1. Female reproductive cycle has four phases, usually in a duration within in 24 to 35 days . The menstrual phase, the preovulatory phase, ovulation, and the post ovulatory phase. The menstrual phase is the first five days of the cycle, the endometrium sheds and the menstrual bleeding occur. The pre ovulatory phase is the time from the bleeding stops and till the time of ovulation. In the ovulation phase, the matured ovum released from the ovary( any one of the two ovaries) and travel to the fallopian tube. If not fertilized within 12 to 24 hours, it degenerates. If fertilized, it will start to move towards the uterus and the embryo developed into a fetus through different developmental stages.

As explained above, during the ovulation phase, the ovum is matured in the ovary from primary oocyte to the secondary oocyte with the help of follicular stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Under the influence of the high levels of luteinizing hormone, the mature graafian follicle rupture and release the ovum to the pelvic cavity. From the pelvic cavity, the ovum is captured by the finger like projections of the fallopian tube, fimbriae. The ovum stays in the ampula of the fallopian tube and disintegrates if not fertilized within 12 to 24 hours.

Ovary ( Mature graafian follicle) Release into pelvic cavity fimbriae of fallopian tube Infundibulum of the fallopian tube Ampula of the fallopian tube degenerates if not fertilized.

2. In the male reproductive system, The testes produce sperms and male sex hormones. The sperms travel through a network od ducts and finally ejaculate through the urethra to out of the body.

Testes(Seminiferous tubules Straight tubules    Rete testes ductus epididymis vas deferens Spermatic cord Ejaculatory duct urethra out of the body.