28-5
Comparison of the Female and Male
Reproductive Systems
nPrimarily nonfunctional and “dormant” until puberty.
nAt puberty, external sex characteristics become more prominent.
nbreast enlargement in females
npubic hair in both sexes
nreproductive organs become fully functional
ngametes mature
ngonads secrete
sex hormones
nBoth reproductive systems produce gametes.
nFemale typically produces and releases a single oocyte monthly.
nMale produces
100,000,000’s of (sperm) daily.
nmale gametes are stored for a short time
nif they are not expelled from the body within that period, they are resorbed