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Interactions
Integumentary System
- The skin serves as a sexual
stimulant and helps to protect the
body from pathogens (p. 494) - Sex hormones affect the
distribution of body hair, deposition
of subcutaneous fat, and other
secondary sexual characteristics
(p. 711)
Skeletal System
- The pelvic girdle supports and
protects some reproductive organs
(p. 723) - Sex hormones stimulate bone
growth and maintenance (p. 692)
Muscular System
- Contractions of smooth muscles
aid the movement of gametes
(p. 393) - Contractions of the myometrium
aid labor and delivery (p. 744) - Cremaster muscles help to
maintain proper temperature of the
testes (p. 705) - Testosterone promotes an increase
in muscle mass (p. 322)
Nervous System
- Autonomic nerves innervate the
organs of male reproduction to
stimulate erection and ejaculation
(p. 720) - Autonomic nerves promote aspects
of the human sexual response (p. 712) - The CNS, acting through the
pituitary, coordinates different
aspects of reproduction (p. 336) - The limbic system of the brain is
involved in sexual drive (p. 219) - Gonadal sex hormones influence
brain activity (p. 337)
Endocrine System
- The anterior pituitary controls the
activity of the gonads (p. 332)- Testosterone secreted by the
testes maintains the structure and
function of the male reproductive
system (p. 714) - Estradiol and progesterone
secreted by the ovaries regulates
the female accessory sex organs,
including the endometrium of the
uterus (p. 731) - Hormones secreted by the
placenta are needed to maintain a
pregnancy (p. 743) - Prolactin and oxytocin are required
for production of breast milk and
the milk-ejection reflex (p. 746)
- Testosterone secreted by the
Circulatory System
- The circulatory system transports
oxygen and nutrients to the
reproductive organs (p. 405) - The fetal circulation permits
the fetus to obtain oxygen and
nutrients from the placenta (p. 742) - Estrogen secreted by the ovaries
helps raise the level of
HDL-cholesterol carriers in
the blood, lowering the risk of
atherosclerosis (p. 438)
Immune System
- The immune system protects the
body, including the reproductive
system, against infections (p. 494) - The blood-testis barrier prevents
the immune system from attacking
sperm in the testes (p. 716) - The placenta is an immunologically
privileged site; it is protected
against rejection by the mother’s
immune system (p. 741)
Respiratory System
- The lungs provide oxygen for
all body systems, including the
reproductive system, and provide
for the elimination of carbon
dioxide (p. 533)- The red blood cells of a fetus
contain hemoglobin F, which has a
high affinity for oxygen (p. 563)
- The red blood cells of a fetus
Urinary System
- The kidneys regulate the volume,
pH, and electrolyte balance of the
blood and eliminate wastes (p. 582) - The male urethra transports urine
as well as semen (p. 584)
Digestive System
- The GI tract provides nutrients
for all of the organs of the body,
including those of the reproductive
system (p. 620) - Nutrients obtained from the GI
tract of the mother can cross the
placenta to the embryo and fetus
(p. 743)
HPer Links of the Reproductive System with Other Body Systems
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