Human Reproduction - Part 1 (T3) Flashcards
Generally speaking what are the two main types of reproduction?
Sexual: involving two parents and the Union of two gametes. Offspring resemble the parents but are not identical to them, eg. Human beings
Asexual: where one parent reproduces itself. Offspring are genetically identical to their parents, eg. Strawberry plants and spider plants
What are the four main components of the male reproductive system?
- testes (singular. Testis)
- sperm duct and glands
- urethra
- penis
Briefly describe the testes…
Two testes are contained in a sac of skin called the scrotum. They carry out two functions:
- to produce the male sex cells or gametes called sperm
- the produce the male sex hormones which affect body development
Describe the sperm duct and glands..
- once the sperm cells are produced in the testes they pass through the sperm ducts and mix with fluids produced by the glands
- these fluids provide the sperm cells with essential nutrients
- this mixture of sperm cells and fluids is called semen
Describe the penis and urethra..
The penis has two functions:
- to enable urine to be passed out of the mans body by travelling along the urethra
- during sexual intercourse, to deposit semen into the female vagina. The semen also travels through the urethra
The urethra is a tube inside the penis which carries the urine and the semen, however there is also a ring of muscle which ensures they do not mix
What are the five main components of the female reproductive system?
- ovaries
- Fallopian tubes (also known as oviducts)
- uterus (also known as the womb)
- cervix
- vagina
Describe the ovaries..
- there are two ovaries which contain hundreds of thousands of undeveloped female gametes called eggs or ova (singular. Ovum)
- these cells are present in the female body since birth
Describe the Fallopian tubes or oviducts…
- extending from each of the ovaries and connected to the uterus at the other end is a tube called the Fallopian tube or oviduct
- both Fallopian tubes are lined with cilia
- each month and ovum develops and becomes mature and is then released from the ovary
- the cilia enable the ovum to move along the Fallopian tube to the uterus
Describe the uterus and cervix…
- the uterus is also called the womb and is a big muscular bag with a soft lining
- the uterus is the place the child develops until it is born
- at the neck of the uterus is a ring of muscle which keeps the baby in place while the woman is pregnant
- this is the cervix
Describe the vagina…
- the muscular tube that leads from the cervix to the outside of the woman’s body
- the opening to the vagina has folds of skin called labia that meet to form a vulva
- the urethra also opens into the vulva but is separate from the vaginal tube
What are the male and female gametes called?
- male: sperm
- female: ova