7. GENITOURINARY SYSTEM
The genitourinary system, also known as the urogenital system, encompasses the organs involved in reproduction and the excretion of urine. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and the reproductive organs.
| Urinary System: | The urinary system’s primary function is to filter blood, remove waste products, and regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. The kidneys, located on either side of the spine, filter blood to produce urine. The urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder via the ureters, where it is stored until excretion through the urethra. The kidneys also play a role in regulating blood pressure, red blood cell production, and calcium metabolism. | |
| Reproductive System: | The reproductive system differs between males and females and is responsible for producing and transporting gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females), facilitating fertilization, and supporting the development of offspring. | |
| Male Reproductive System: | Female Reproductive System: | |
| The male reproductive system includes the testes, which produce sperm and testosterone; the epididymis, where sperm mature; and the vas deferens, which transports sperm to the urethra. The prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and bulbourethral glands produce seminal fluid, which combines with sperm to form semen, ejaculated during sexual intercourse. | The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, which produce eggs (ova) and hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The fallopian tubes transport the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, where fertilization can occur. The uterus is the organ where a fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus. The vagina is the canal through which childbirth occurs, and it also serves as the exit for menstrual flow. | |