480 Chapter 19
Career
Focus
There are many careers available to individuals who are interested in the reproduc-tive
system.
●● Gynecologists are physicians who specialize in caring for women by diagnosing and
treating disorders of the reproductive organs and breasts. This specialty re-quires
surgical and nonsurgical expertise.^
●● Obstetricians are physicians who specialize in obstetrics, the branch of medicine
concerned with caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium (the
time after childbirth, about 6 weeks).^
●● Pediatricians are physicians who specialize in pediatrics, the branch of medicine that
treats and diagnoses disease and prevents disorders of infants and children.^
●● Pediatric nurse practitioners are nurse practitioners who specialize in the nurs-ing
care of infants and children.^
●● Neonatalists are physicians who specialize in the care of the neonate and are trained
to diagnose and treat disorders of the newborn.^
●● Genetic counselors are professionals who have special training in counseling and
genetics, the branch of biology that deals with the principles and mechanics of he-
redity, in particular the process by which genes, which control traits, are passed from
parents to offspring. These individuals can determine the occurrence of a ge-netic
disorder within a family and provide information and advice about possible courses of
action to potential parents.Digestive System
●● Proper nutrients are made available to the developing
fetus through the mother’s digestive system via the
placenta and umbilical cord.
Respiratory System
●● The interaction between the respiratory system and
the placenta provides the fetus with oxygen and
removes carbon dioxide.
Urinary System
●● The male urethra functions in both the urinary
system to transport urine and the reproductive
system to transport sperm.^
●● The kidneys compensate for fluid loss in the
reproductive system.^
●● Pregnancy can result in fluid retention, so the kidneys
compensate by working harder to eliminate the excess
fluid.^
●● The developing fetus causes compression of the
bladder, resulting in messages to the brain initiating
frequent and urgent urination.
Summary Outline
The Male Reproductive System- The primary sex organs of the male reproductive
system are the testes or male gonads, which pro-
duce sperm and the male sex hormones.^ - Accessory glands produce secretions that make up
the semen.^ - Accessory organs, like the scrotum, support the tes-
tes and ducts transport the sperm.^ - The penis is a transporting and supporting
structure.
The Scrotum- The scrotum is an outpouching of the abdominal
wall that supports the testes.^ - Internally, it is divided by a septum into two lateral
pouches, each containing a single testis.