Final answer:
The correct path that sperm take to reach the egg is vagina, cervix, uterus, and then fallopian tubes, where fertilization occurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
After sperm are released in the female reproductive system, the correct order of structures through which the sperm will pass to reach the egg is:
- Vagina
- Cervix
- Uterus
- Fallopian tubes
The sperm are deposited in the vagina during intercourse. They swim through the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus. The sperm then moves through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes, where fertilization of the egg usually occurs. The fimbriae help guide the egg into the fallopian tubes, and the ciliated epithelium along with smooth muscle contractions of the fallopian tubes facilitate the movement of the egg toward the uterus.
Fertilization typically happens within the fallopian tubes, and then the developing embryo travels to the uterus for further development. Therefore, the correct order is the first option: 1) Vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes.