Topic 16.4A–16.4B · Core
Human Reproductive System
Ten structures, ten functions, and one distinction worth getting exactly right before anything else: sperm are cells, semen is the fluid that carries them. Mixing those two up is a surprisingly common way to lose an otherwise easy mark here.
The male reproductive system
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| Testes | Produce sperm cells and the hormone testosterone |
| Scrotum | Holds the testes outside the main body cavity, helping maintain a temperature suitable for sperm production |
| Sperm ducts | Carry sperm from the testes towards the urethra |
| Prostate gland | Adds fluid to sperm, which together make up semen |
| Urethra | Carries semen out through the penis, and carries urine at other times — never both at once |
| Penis | Transfers semen containing sperm into the vagina during sexual intercourse |
The urethra’s dual role is worth stating precisely if it comes up: it carries semen during ejaculation and urine at other times, but never both together — the body’s own reflexes prevent urine flow during that process. And it’s worth keeping sperm and semen as separate terms: sperm are the reproductive cells themselves, while semen is the fluid that carries them, made up of sperm plus the secretions added by glands such as the prostate.
The female reproductive system
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| Ovaries | Produce and release egg cells, and produce reproductive hormones including oestrogen and progesterone |
| Oviducts | Carry an egg from an ovary towards the uterus; fertilisation usually happens here |
| Uterus | Has a lining in which an embryo implants and develops |
| Cervix | The muscular opening at the lower end of the uterus |
| Vagina | Receives the penis and semen during sexual intercourse |
Cambridge uses the term oviduct rather than fallopian tube, so it’s worth using that word in an exam answer even though you’ll see “fallopian tube” used interchangeably elsewhere. Keep three structures and their roles clearly separated, since they’re often confused with each other: the ovary makes and releases eggs, the oviduct is where fertilisation usually happens, and the uterus is where implantation and development happen afterwards — three different locations, three different jobs.
What Cambridge actually asks for
You need to be able to identify each of these eleven structures on an anatomical diagram and state its function accurately — not just recognise the diagram as “the reproductive system,” but connect each individually labelled part to what it specifically does.
Where this leads next
These organs exist to produce and deliver two very differently built cells — covered on sperm and egg cells — which then meet at fertilisation, covered on fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy.