What female structure is equivalent to the male testes?

The ovaries are the female structures that are equivalent to the male testes. Both the ovaries and testes are involved in the production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells necessary for sexual reproduction. In males, the testes produce sperm, while in females, the ovaries produce eggs (ova).

Additionally, both organs are also involved in the production of sex hormones; the testes produce testosterone, and the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. This similarity in function highlights their equivalence in the reproductive systems of males and females.

The other structures listed do not serve this equivalent role. The uterus is involved in housing and nourishing a developing fetus, the fallopian tubes are pathways for the egg to travel from the ovaries to the uterus, and the vagina serves as the canal for childbirth and sexual intercourse. None of these functions align with the primary roles of the testes and ovaries as gonadal structures responsible for gamete production and hormone secretion.