Reproductive system of a flower
The flower is a plant which has an interesting reproductive system. The flower is what we know as angiosperm which means that they have seeds in a closed ovary. The flower has many parts which make it up including petals, sepals (small leaves under the flower,) carpels (female reproductive organs) and the stamens (male reproductive organs.)
The Carpels: (female reproductive organs)
Within a flower there can be many carpels. If there are more than one carpel it is reffered to as a pistil. In each carpel is an ovary, which is similar to that of a female human. In here are where the eggs are the produced. A style is found on top of the ovaries and looks like a long tube. The style is where the male gametes come down to reach the ovaries. On top of the style is the stigma. The stigma's function is to recieve the male pollen so the flower can undergo fertilisation.
The Stamens: (male reproductive organs)
A stamen is basically the male reproductive organs. Within the stamen is an anther. An anther's function is to create pollen. It also contains filaments. Filaments hold the pollen in place making it easier for the pollen to be taken with the wind. Within the pollen is the male reproductive cells. This pollen finds the stigma, goes down the style where it will find and bind with the ovaries.
Fertilisation:
Of course, pollen must fuse with the egg to start fertilisation, but how does this process actually work? The process is known as pollination. This process is helped by animals such as bees which carry pollen from all kinds of different flowers. As they buzz around the bees drop some of the pollen on the stigma. Once the stigma feels the pollen, the style creates tubes which lead to the ovaries. The pollen makes its way down these tubes and fuses with the eggs and then the flower starts to pollinate and create a seed.
Types of Flowers:
There are many types of flowers all over the world and not all of them have both of these reproductive organs in them. Some flowers have only one and therefore depend on other animals in order to rreproduce. These flowers are known as Imperfect flowers. The flowers which have both of these organs are known as perfect flowers.
The image below shows a labelled diagram of the reproductive parts of the flower and briefly outlines its function.
The Carpels: (female reproductive organs)
Within a flower there can be many carpels. If there are more than one carpel it is reffered to as a pistil. In each carpel is an ovary, which is similar to that of a female human. In here are where the eggs are the produced. A style is found on top of the ovaries and looks like a long tube. The style is where the male gametes come down to reach the ovaries. On top of the style is the stigma. The stigma's function is to recieve the male pollen so the flower can undergo fertilisation.
The Stamens: (male reproductive organs)
A stamen is basically the male reproductive organs. Within the stamen is an anther. An anther's function is to create pollen. It also contains filaments. Filaments hold the pollen in place making it easier for the pollen to be taken with the wind. Within the pollen is the male reproductive cells. This pollen finds the stigma, goes down the style where it will find and bind with the ovaries.
Fertilisation:
Of course, pollen must fuse with the egg to start fertilisation, but how does this process actually work? The process is known as pollination. This process is helped by animals such as bees which carry pollen from all kinds of different flowers. As they buzz around the bees drop some of the pollen on the stigma. Once the stigma feels the pollen, the style creates tubes which lead to the ovaries. The pollen makes its way down these tubes and fuses with the eggs and then the flower starts to pollinate and create a seed.
Types of Flowers:
There are many types of flowers all over the world and not all of them have both of these reproductive organs in them. Some flowers have only one and therefore depend on other animals in order to rreproduce. These flowers are known as Imperfect flowers. The flowers which have both of these organs are known as perfect flowers.
The image below shows a labelled diagram of the reproductive parts of the flower and briefly outlines its function.
Imaged sourced from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/printouts/floweranatomy.shtml
Reproductive system of Animals.
The reproductive system of animals depends on what animal they are. Most animals have reproductive systems similar to that of humans. Animals must pair with a partner of the opposite sex in order to reproduce. Quite opposite to the flower, animals have either the male reproductive system or the female reproductive system. Lets take a closer look into both these systems and how they interact.
The Female Reproductive System:
The overall aim of the femal reproductive system is to produce egg cells and to carry the fetus untill it is ready to be born. The vulva is the external area where the female has sex. Inside the vulva is the clitoris which is the sensitive area for women. However, before the vulva is the vagina. This is where mating occurs. During sexual intercourse, semen is released into the vagina. Later the fetus is pushed out via the vagina as well. The cervix is a muscular structure foudn between the vagina and the uterus. Mucus lines the uterus to stop infection reaching the fetus. The uterus is the place where the embryo develops into a fetus. The uterus has two uterine horns. The size of these horns depend on how many offspring the animal will produce. The fallopian tubes are tubes which connect the uterus to the ovaries. There are two fallopian tubes with one joining the ovary to the uterine horn and the other doing the same on the other side. In the fallopian tubes is where the egg and sperm fuse. From here the zygote travels to the uterus where it embeds itself in the uterine wall and over time will grow into an embryo then a fetus.The ovaries are the organ which produces the eggs. Each animal has two ovaries. This is how the female reproductive system works in animals.
Below is an image of a rats female reproductive organs.
The Female Reproductive System:
The overall aim of the femal reproductive system is to produce egg cells and to carry the fetus untill it is ready to be born. The vulva is the external area where the female has sex. Inside the vulva is the clitoris which is the sensitive area for women. However, before the vulva is the vagina. This is where mating occurs. During sexual intercourse, semen is released into the vagina. Later the fetus is pushed out via the vagina as well. The cervix is a muscular structure foudn between the vagina and the uterus. Mucus lines the uterus to stop infection reaching the fetus. The uterus is the place where the embryo develops into a fetus. The uterus has two uterine horns. The size of these horns depend on how many offspring the animal will produce. The fallopian tubes are tubes which connect the uterus to the ovaries. There are two fallopian tubes with one joining the ovary to the uterine horn and the other doing the same on the other side. In the fallopian tubes is where the egg and sperm fuse. From here the zygote travels to the uterus where it embeds itself in the uterine wall and over time will grow into an embryo then a fetus.The ovaries are the organ which produces the eggs. Each animal has two ovaries. This is how the female reproductive system works in animals.
Below is an image of a rats female reproductive organs.
Imaged sourced from http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iii/animal-morphology/respiratory-excretory-nervous-reproductive-system-rat.php
The Male Reproductive System:
The male reproductive system aim is to store semen and deposit it into the female reproductive system. The penis is the organ which deposits semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse. Within the semen is sperm. This is what fuses with the egg to make a zygote. During sexual intercourse the male ejaculates. This is when the sperm and semen are deposited. The urethra is the tube which goes through the penis which is used for when the male needs to release his urine. The accessory glands are where the fluid is produced to assist sperm. The prostate gland is fluid which helps push the sperm along. The testicles produces the male gametes and produces testosterone. The two testicles are found in the scrotum. This scrotum encourages the male to produce sperm.
Below is an image showing the male reproductive system of a stallion..
The male reproductive system aim is to store semen and deposit it into the female reproductive system. The penis is the organ which deposits semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse. Within the semen is sperm. This is what fuses with the egg to make a zygote. During sexual intercourse the male ejaculates. This is when the sperm and semen are deposited. The urethra is the tube which goes through the penis which is used for when the male needs to release his urine. The accessory glands are where the fluid is produced to assist sperm. The prostate gland is fluid which helps push the sperm along. The testicles produces the male gametes and produces testosterone. The two testicles are found in the scrotum. This scrotum encourages the male to produce sperm.
Below is an image showing the male reproductive system of a stallion..
Image sourced from: http://www.lemars.k12.ia.us/ag/AgriScience%202%20class/Animal%20Reproductive%20anatomy.pdf