Reproduction in animals

Humans reproduce by sexual reproduction, which means that two parents (a male and a female) are needed to make a baby. Here's how it works:

Male and Female Gametes

1. Males produce sperm (male reproductive cells).
2. Females produce eggs (female reproductive cells, also called ova).

Sexual Intercourse

During sexual intercourse, the male places sperm inside the female's body.

Fertilization

1. The sperm travels to the fallopian tubes, where it meets the egg.
2. The sperm and egg join together (this is called fertilization), forming a zygote.

Pregnancy

1. The zygote travels to the uterus and attaches to its wall.
2. It starts growing into a baby. The baby stays in the uterus for about nine months until it is ready to be born.

The male body has parts that help create and deliver sperm:

Testes

1. The testes are inside a pouch called the scrotum.
2. They make sperm and a hormone called testosterone, which makes boys have a deep voice and grow facial hair when they get older.

Sperm Ducts

The sperm travel from the testes through tubes called sperm ducts to the urethra.

Penis

The penis is used to deposit sperm into the female's body during sexual intercourse.

The female body has parts that make eggs and carry the baby:

Ovaries

1. There are two ovaries, one on each side of the lower abdomen.
2. Ovaries make eggs and a hormone called estrogen, which helps girls develop features like breasts and wider hips as they grow older.

Fallopian Tubes

1. These tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus.
2. When the egg leaves the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube where it can meet the sperm.

Uterus

1. The uterus is where the fertilized egg (zygote) grows into a baby.
2. The baby stays in the uterus for about nine months.

Vagina

1. The vagina is the tube that connects the outside of the body to the uterus.
2. It is where sperm is deposited during intercourse and where the baby comes out during birth.

Female Reproductive system