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Reproduction

the process by which new organisms are produced Human reproductive cells, called gametes (GA meets), are made by the male and female reproductive systems. Male gametes are called sperm. Female gametes are called ova (OH vah; singular, ovum), or eggs. A sperm joins with an egg in a reproductive process called fertilization. The cell that forms when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell is called a zygote (ZI goht). A zygote is the first cell of a new human. It contains genetic information from the sperm and the ovum. The zygote will grow and develop in the female's reproductive system

Fertilization Sperm enter the female reproductive system through the vagina. The vagina is a tube-shaped organ that leads to the uterus. A fertilized egg, or zygote, can move through the fallopian tube and attach inside the uterus. If there are no sperm in the fallopian tube, the egg will not be fertilized. But the egg will still travel through the fallopian tube and uterus. Then it will break down

If sperm are also present in the fallopian tube, fertilization can occur as the egg enters the fallopian tube.

The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, where eggs grow and mature. Two hormones are made by the ovaries—estrogen (ES truh jun) and progesterone (proh JES tuh rohn). These hormones help eggs mature. When eggs are mature, they are released from the ovaries and enter the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus.

The female reproductive system produces eggs and provides a place for a new human to grow and develop before birth

Sperm are produced in the testes (TES teez; singular, testis). Sperm develop inside each testis and then are stored in tubes called sperm ducts. Sperm mature in the sperm ducts. The testes also produce a hormone called testosterone. Testosterone helps sperm change from round cells to long, slender cells that can swim. When sperm are fully developed, they can travel to the penis. The penis is a tubelike structure that delivers sperm to the female reproductive system. Sperm are transported in a fluid called semen (SEE mun). Semen contains millions of sperm and nutrients. The nutrients provide the sperm with energy

The organs of the male reproductive system produce sperm and deliver it to the female reproductive system.