Human Reproduction Flashcards
What is puberty?
Stage in human development when the body changes from a child to an adult so that the person can reproduce
What are hormones?
Chemical substances, produced by glands, that regulate the activity of certain cells or organs
What is menstruation?
Monthly bleeding from the vagina causes by the shedding of the lining of the uterus
What are hormones produced by?
Glands such as the pituitary gland in your brain
Why are there emotional changes during puberty?
Your body is influenced by the hormones needed for reproduction. These hormones are causing physical changes in your brain as well as in your body
When do most people start puberty?
Girls- between 8 and 13
Boys- between 10 and 16
What physical changes do males go through during puberty?
. Hair starts growing on the face. Some males start to shave
. Hormones affect the shape of the vocal cords and the voice becomes deeper
. The shoulders become broader and the body becomes more muscular
. Hair also starts to grow under the arms and on the body
. Sex organs enlarge and pubic hair grows
What physical changes do females go through during puberty?
. Underarm hair starts to grow. Some females shave their underarm hair
. The breasts start to grow larger and most females will start to wear a bra
. The hips become wider in preparation for childbirth
. Ovulation takes place for the first time and menstruation begins
. Pubic hair starts to grow
Define ova.
Female reproductive cell (singular: ovum)
Define ovaries.
Female reproductive organ that produces the ova
Define ovulation.
Release of a ripe ovum from the ovary
Define vagina.
Muscular tube that leads to the uterus
Define testes.
Male reproductive organs that produce the sperm cells (singular: testis)
Define penis.
Male genital organ that carries sperm out of the males body
Define sperm cells.
Male reproductive cells
Define epididymis.
Large tube behind the testes that stores the sperm until they are needed
What are the three main parts of the female reproductive system?
The ovaries, uterus and vagina
What does the Fallopian tube do?
It carries the ovum from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilisation may take place in the Fallopian tube
What does the ovary do?
It stores the ova from birth. The ovaries also secrete the female hormones progesterone and oestrogen
What does the uterus do?
It is a muscular organ where the fertilised egg develops into a baby
What does the cervix do?
It is the opening to the uterus and is commonly called the neck of the womb
What does the vagina do?
It is a muscular passage leading to the cervix. The penis is placed in the vagina during sexual intercourse
What are the 2 main parts of the male reproductive system?
The testes and the penis
There are very small tubes called _______ inside the testes.
Tubules
What does the prostate gland do?
Is secretes a fluid that provides the sperm with food for energy
What does the urethra do?
It carries urine and semen out of the body
What does the scrotum do?
It contains and protects the testes
What does the seminiferous vesicles do?
They are small glands that secrete fluids that provide the correct substances to help the sperm to survive and swim to the egg
What happens to the penis during sexual intercourse?
It becomes filled with blood. This causes it to become swollen and erect so that it can be inserted into the female’s vagina
What does the Cowpers gland do?
It releases a fluid known as pre-ejaculate that cleans and lubricates the urethra
What does the epididymis do?
It store the sperm that have been formed in the testes
What fo the testicles or testes do?
They make millions of sperm cells. They also secrete the male hormone called testosterone
Define period.
More common term for menstruation
Define menstrual cycle.
The monthly series of changes in a female’s body in which ovulation and menstruation takes palce
Define uterus.
Hollow, muscular organ in females where the foetus grows and develops
Define mucus.
Thick, slimy substance secreted by the body
What happens before a female’s first period?
The lining of the uterus grows thick with blood and mucus. This is needed for an unborn baby to survive
What happens if a female does not fall pregnant?
The lining comes away and leaves the body through the vagina. The bleeding that a female experiences is actually the lining of the uterus that is leaving the body
How long does menstruation last on average?
Around five days
What do females use so that they can continue with their daily activities?
Sanitary pads or tampons yo soak up the blood
How long does the menstrual cycle usually last?
28 days, which means that menstruation usually occurs once a month
When does ovulation usually take place?
On day 14. That is halfway through the menstrual cycle.
What happens during ovulation?
The ovary releases an egg or ovum. The ovum moves into the Fallopian tube. It is slowly moved towards the uterus by special hairs called cilia. If the ovum fuses with a sperm cell while it is in the Fallopian tube, the female may fall pregnant. If the ovum is not fertilised within a few days, it dies and is released from the body
What happens between days 1 and 5?
Lining of uterus gets rapidly thinner as menstruation proceeds, until it is at its thinnest on day 4 and 5
What happens between days 6 and 10?
Lining repairs itself and starts to thicken again as the uterus prepares for ovulation
What happens between days 11 and 18?
Fertile period. Ovulation occurs on day 14. Lining gets progressively thicker
What happens between days 19 and 28?
Ovum dies and dissolves if not fertilised. Lining continues to thicken, but starts to break down on day 26. It is at its thickest on day 28
Although the average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, it may vary from _______ days to _______ days, and from month to month
…21…34
Define fertilisation.
The joining of the egg cell and the sperm cell
Define embryo.
Organism in the early stages of growth and development after fertilisation
Define implantation.
Attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus
Define birth control.
Practice preventing unplanned pregnancy
Define contraception.
Use of artificial methods to prevent pregnancy
Define contraceptive.
Device, medicine or technique that is uses to prevent pregnancy
What is fertilisation and how does it work?
It is the process where the sperm cell of a male and the ripe ovum of a female fuse together. The male sperm cells are released in the vagina near the crevix. The sperm swim from the cevix, up through the uterus, and into the Fallopian tubes. If an ovum is present in the Fallopian tube, one of the sperm cells can fuse with it. The fusing of a sperm cell with an ovum is called fertilisation. As soon as the ovum is fertilised, a membrane forms around it yo prevent any other sperm from entering it
What happens as the embryo is moved along the Fallopian tube by the cilia?
It begins to divide. By the time it reaches the uterus it has formed a ball of cells that burrows into the lining of the uterus
True or false? Condoms are the only contraceptive that is 100% effective.
False. No contraceptive is 100% effective. Condoms are the most commonly used contraceptive. They prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. If used correctly, condoms also prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS
Define gestation.
Period in which an embryo develops in the body from implantation until birth
Define foetus.
Unborn baby that is still developing inside the uterus
Define labour.
Process in which the baby is pushed out of the uterusby the mother’s body
Define caesarean section.
Surgical procedure to remove the baby from the uterus through the abdominal wall
How can you tell if you’re pregnant?
Females experience different symptoms when they are pregnant. A female’s body releases specific chemicals when they are pregnant. Their blood or urine can be tested to see whether those chemicals are present
What must you NOT do when you are pregnant?
Drink alcohol, smoke or take drugs as the substances are toxic to a developing foetus
What happens during birth?
Towards the end of the 40 weeks of pregnancy, the unborn baby turns in the uterus so that it lies with its head just above the cervix. Strong muscles in the uterus start to contract and push the baby out of the uterus. The process of pushing the baby out of the uterus is called labour. Sometimes it is not possible for the mother to give birth naturally. In this case, the doctor will perform a caesarean section or C-section. This is a special operation where an incision or cut is made through the mother’s abdominal wall and into the uterus in order to remove the baby
Give the fact for the following myth:
A woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.
Yes, she can! It doesn’t matter if it is your first time or your fifty-first time, if you ovulate while the sperm are present in your body then you can fall pregnant
Give the fact for the following myth:
A woman cannot get pregnant during her period.
Yes, she can! Although it is unlikely, it is possible that you could ovulate soon after your period. If you had sex during your period some of the sperm may still be present when you ovulate and one could fertilise the ovum
Give the fact for the following myth:
A woman cannot get pregnant if she has never had a period.
Yes, she can! Ovulation usually takes place 14 days before your period begins. This means that it is possible to fall pregnant even if you have not had a period yet
Give the fact for the following myth:
There is no method of birth control that is 100% reliable.
Yes, there is! Abstinence is 100% effective. Not having sex is a form of birth control that guarantees no pregnancies and no STDs
Give the fact for the following myth:
Condomsbcan be reused.
No, they cannot. The rubber in a condomvstarts to deteriorate when it has been removed from its packaging so it must be usee immediately or thrown away. Used condoms should be thrown away
Give the fact for the following myth:
Everyone is doing it!
No, they are not! Probably fewer people than you think are having sex. Many young people lie about sex to appear cool. You should not worry about what others are doing but rather be concerned with what is best for you
Give the fact for the following myth:
The pill prevents pregnancy from the first day a woman takes it.
No, it does not! The pill can take one whole menstrual cycle to become completely effective
Give the fact for the following myth:
You are prude if you do not want to have sex until you are older.
Actually you are pretty smart. It is up to you to choose when you want to have sex for the first time. Many teenagers who start having sex at a young age regret it later
Give the fact for the following myth:
Drinking and drugs make sex more fun.
Alcohol and drugs interfere with your ability to make logical and sensible decisions. You inhibitions disappear and you may do things that you regret later. There is also less chance that you will protect yourself from infection with STDs and avoid an unwanted pregnancy
