Fertilisation Flashcards
What is fertilisation?
When male and female gametes meet and fuse together.
What are gametes?
Gametes are referred to as sex cells.
What are Sperm cells?
Sperm are highly specialised cells that contain and carry the genetic material of the male.
A sperm cell has three main parts
- Head ( there is a nucleus which contains chromosomes ie, the genetic information from the father. It also contains enzymes in acrosome which break through the egg membrane)
- Body ( contains mitochondria)
- Tail ( plays an important role - it beats and helps drive the sperm forward and swim towards the egg)
What are Egg cells?
An Egg cell is a female sex cell.
- Much bigger in size than the sperm.
- Has a nucleus which contains the female genetic information.
- The egg has a large food store contained in the cytoplasm, to provide energy for cell division once the egg cell has been fertilised ( key difference from sperm cell).
Sperm duct?
These are two thin tubes which carry sperm from the testicles to the seminal vesticles
Urethra?
Both semen and urine are released from the body through this tube
Seminal vesicles?
This is where sperm is mixed with semen.
Prostate?
Some of the fluid in semen is produced here.
Testicles?
This is the organ which produces sperm, as well as the male hormone, testosterone.
Uterus?
The Uterus is also known as the womb.
This is where a fertilised egg will become a foetus.
Fallopian tube?
Once a month, an ovum will travel along on of the fallopian tubes from the ovary to the uterus.
Ovaries?
This is where eggs ( also known as ovum) develop.
Eggs are released from the ovaries and travel down the fallopian tubes, into the uterus.
Endometrium?
This is a layer of tissue which lines the uterus.
During menstrual cycle, the uterine lining thickens and prepares for fertilisation of the ovum.
If an ovum is not fertilised, the uterine lining is shed, this is our period.
Ovum
Also known as an egg.
An ovum is a reproductive cell which will develop in to a foetus if it is fertilised by sperm.
One ovum is released each month during our menstrual cycle.
Vagina?
The vagina is an elastic muscular canal that joins the outer sexual organs with the uterus.
