The Human Body and Development

Discover the wonders of the human body, from anatomy and development to sexual identity.

Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology 

Both male and female have reproductive organs that are unique to them, and understanding the roles and functions of these organs will help you to:

  1. Assert with confidence that your body belongs to you.
  2. Be able to anticipate and manage the stages of development and the changes that come with it.
  3. Communicate with others about your sexuality.
  4. Love your body and take control of your body and protect your right to dignity and respect.

The reproductive organs are generally classified into two groups—the external genitalia, i.e., reproductive organs that extend outside the body, and the internal genitalia, i.e., reproductive organs that are within the body. It is natural and okay for you to be curious about your body, including your genitals. Find a trusted adult👴 around you to ask questions about the growth and developmental changes happening in your body. There are chemical messengers secreted by some glands in your body called hormones that play important roles in the proper development and functioning of your body organs. Both males and females secrete these hormones, but the reproductive hormones secreted in both sexes are different and unique to them.

Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system has different organs responsible for the process of reproduction through the production and release of sperm (ejaculation) and the process of urination.

The external genitalia include:

  1. THE PENIS: is an erectile organ with dual function—delivers semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse and also allows for urination. It can be filled up with blood to cause an erection. At birth, the penis has some loose skin at its tip called the foreskin and is usually removed in some cultures shortly after birth, known as male circumcision.
  2. THE SCROTUM: is a loose bag of skin that hangs outside the body behind the penis and holds the testes in place. It keeps the testes at the right temperature so as to aid sperm production.

The internal genitalia include:

  1. TESTES: is also known as the testicles. It sits inside the scrotum and is responsible for the production of sperm and the male sex hormone called testosterone.
  2. TESTOSTERONE: is primarily responsible for regulating sex differentiation in foetus, spermatogenesis (sperm production), maintaining sex drive, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as facial hair, pubic hair, increased muscular build💪, and deep voice during puberty.
  3. EPIDIDYMIS: is a coiled tube that lies on each testicle. It stores sperm temporarily and matures the sperm as they pass through the tube.
  4. VAS DEFERENS: is a thin tube that carries sperm from the epididymis up to the prostate gland and the urethra.
  5. URETHRA: is a tube that extends from the bladder through the penis. It carries both urine and sperm.
  6. PROSTATE GLAND: Secretes a fluid that makes part of the semen and helps the sperm to move;SEMINAL
  7. VESICLES: Produces additional fluid called seminal fluid.

Amazing facts about the male reproductive organs

  1. A normal sperm count is tens of millions of sperm with each ejaculation.
  2. Most boys👦 have wet dreams during puberty.
  3. The sex of the foetus is determined by the sperm (i.e.,. from the father).
  4. Men are fertile continuously from puberty onward.
  5. Proper sperm development requires a cooler than normal body temperature.
  6. The cause of infertility is as likely to be of male origin as of female origin.
  7. Don’t worry about your penis size; it does not matter!

Caring for a Male Reproductive Organs

  1. Wash🧼 your genital areas regularly and thoroughly—the penis, scrotum, between the scrotum and the thighs, in between buttocks, and the anus with soap and water everyday whether circumcised or not.
  2. Change your undergarments regularly.
  3. Avoid unprotected sexual activity to avoid infections.

Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system has different organs that are responsible for reproduction, menstruation, and sexual activities. The external genitalia include:

  1. The Labia Majora: Is also known as the outer lips. Its function is to cover and protect the vaginal opening, clitoris, and urethra.
  2. The Labia Minora: Is also known as the inner lips, and it also covers and protects the vaginal opening.
  3. The Clitoris: is an erectile tissue that contains many sensory nerves as a source of stimulation and pleasure during sexual intercourse.
  4. The Vulva: refers to all the visible external genital organs of a female.

The internal genitalia include:

    1. Vagina: is a soft, flexible passage that is elastic and provides lubrication and sensation. It receives the sperm during intercourse and is also part of the birth canal through which delivery takes place.  It also connects the external genitals to the uterus in females.
    2. Fallopian tube: are tubes where the sperm come in contact with a mature egg in a process known as fertilisation.
    3. Uterus: is also known as the womb, and it functions to provide nourishment and protection for the baby until it is fully developed and delivered.
    4. Cervix: is a cylinder-shaped tissue neck that connects the uterus to the vagina. It protects the uterus from germs and also plays an important role in keeping the baby alive during pregnancy🤰 until it is time to deliver.
    5. Pregnancy: is used to describe the period of development of the foetus in the uterus from the time of fertilisation of the egg by the sperm till delivery time. It usually lasts for 40 weeks.
    6. Ovaries: serves dual function – produce and store eggs; and also produce hormones (oestrogen and progesterone)  that regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
    7. Hymen: is a piece of tissue covering part of the vaginal opening.
    8. Urethra: is a smaller opening just above the vaginal opening that allows for the passage of urine.

Caring for a Female External Genitals

  1. Always clean🛀 your genital area from the front to the back.
  2. Wear clean and comfortable clothing.
  3. Practice and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
  4. Do not use soap🧼 to wash your vaginal area, as it is a self-cleansing zone.
  5. Eat a healthy diet🍵.

Amazing facts about the Female reproductive organs

  1. The female reproductive system cleanses and refreshes itself through the process of menstruation and mucus secretion.
  2. Women are fertile only for a few days of the menstrual cycle.
  1. An intact hymen is not a virginity test. The hymen can be easily torn during sports or other physical activity and can be stretched open if a girl uses tampons. Therefore, a torn or stretched hymen is not an indication of whether a girl or woman has engaged in sexual activity.
  2. A female can learn how to tell when she is ovulating by observing simple changes in the mucus that comes out of her vagina. This way, she can know when she is fertile (can become pregnant) and can predict on which day her menstrual period is due.
  3. In rare instances, a woman can release two eggs rather than one. If both are fertilised, fraternal (non-identical) twins will develop. If a single egg is fertilised and then undergoes an extra cell division at a very early stage, identical twins will develop.

It is important to note that the male and female bodies change overtime, and this can affect their reproductive and sexual capacities and functions, e.g., while the male is continuously fertile from puberty onward, the female is mostly fertile during the ovulatory phase of her menstrual cycle.
Also, have you ever wondered the difference between the words ‘sex” and ‘gender’? Well, Sex is the biological characteristic that differentiates human beings as males or females, and gender is used to describe the differences in the social roles expected from males or females by the society (culture, history, tradition, societal norms, and religion). For example, women can breastfeed babies, men cannot—it is a function of biological differences and is attributed to sex.
Little girls are gentle, boys are tough—is a function of social differences determined by social factors and is attributed to gender🧑👩.

Glossary words and their meanings

  1. Anatomy: the study of different parts/structures of the body.
  2. Physiology: the study of the function of the different structures of the body.
  3. Circumcision: the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

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Do you Know?

 Menstruation is a process that occurs regularly, usually once in a month where the lining of the uterus is shed off because a mature egg is not fertilised during ovulation and there is no implantation occurring in the uterus. It is one of the changes that comes with puberty in females

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