Reproductive
The organs of sex, fertility and reproduction: the male organs modelled by BodyParts3D, with the female organs, the breasts and the anatomy of gender-affirming surgery in their own layers.
Overview
The reproductive system makes gametes and sex hormones and carries, delivers and feeds a pregnancy. On the female side the ovaries release an egg each cycle and make oestrogen and progesterone; the fallopian tubes carry the egg to the uterus, whose lining is shed each month as a period or supports a pregnancy; the cervix, vagina and vulva form the birth canal and external genitalia; and the breasts make milk. On the male side the testes produce sperm and testosterone, the epididymis and deferent ducts store and carry sperm, the seminal vesicles and prostate add most of the seminal fluid, and the erectile bodies of the penis deliver it. BodyParts3D, the dataset behind the 3D atlas, was built from one adult male, so this system holds the male organs. The female organs and the breasts are modelled from the NIH Human Reference Atlas and fitted into the same pelvis and chest as the Female reproductive layer, and the surgically constructed anatomy of gender-affirming surgery (neovagina, neophallus) is drawn schematically in the Vaginoplasty and Phalloplasty layers; all three are hidden by default and switch on from the systems list.
Functions
- Produce eggs or sperm and the sex hormones oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone
- Carry, nourish and deliver a pregnancy, and make milk
- Deliver sperm and seminal fluid
- Drive puberty and the secondary sexual characteristics
Clinical notes
- Endometriosis, fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome
- Breast, cervical and ovarian cancer, and the screening programmes that find them early
- Ectopic pregnancy is an emergency
- Benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancer
- Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency
- Gender-affirming hormones and surgery change which organs are present: screening and care follow the anatomy a person has
Organs & groups in this system
Prostate
A walnut-sized gland below the bladder that adds fluid to semen.
Testes & epididymis
The testes produce sperm and testosterone; the epididymis stores maturing sperm.
Penis
Erectile bodies (corpora cavernosa and spongiosum) and the glans.
All structures 12
12 modelled pieces. Click a structure to open it in the atlas.