Puberty

Question 1

Puberty

Answer 1

describes when the body starts becoming sexually mature (reproductive organs develop). It normally happens between the ages of 10 and 16

Question 2

Male puberty

Answer 2

In males, sex hormones (testosterone) are released causing the voice to deepen, hair grows around the sex organs, face, chest and underarms, the testes and penis grow bigger and start to produce sperm.

Question 3

Female puberty

Answer 3

In females when the sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) are released the breasts develop, hips widen, and hair begins to grow on the body
• The first egg is released from the ovaries which leads to the first period occurring
• An egg will be released every month until the menopause

Question 4

During intercourse

Answer 4

the man’s penis fills with blood and becomes hard enough to be placed inside the woman’s vagina

Question 5

semen

Answer 5

A mixture of sperm cells and seminal fluid called semen is released into the vagina

Question 6

The sperm swim

Answer 6

up the uterus and into the fallopian tubes

Question 7

Fertilisation

Answer 7

If an egg is present in the fallopian tube, and a couple have sexual intercourse, then one of the sperm cells may fuse with it

Question 8

fertilised egg

Answer 8

The nuclei of the sperm and egg fuse together to form a fertilised egg
• The woman is now pregnant

Question 9

Stages of baby development

Answer 9

• The fertilised egg then divides a number of times and the tiny group of cells moves down the fallopian tubes to the uterus
• This group of cells settles into the lining of the uterus and continues to divide to form an embryo

Question 10

Egg and sperm fuse to form a single

Answer 10

Zygote, Cell division occurs and growth

Question 11

→ Embryo, which attaches to the lining of the uterus (implantation) grows more, and after 8 weeks looks like a human

Answer 11

Foetus

Question 12

Pregnancy

Answer 12

The average length of a human pregnancy is 40 weeks

Question 13

amniotic fluid

Answer 13

• As the embryo develops in the uterus it is protected inside a bag of fluid called amniotic fluid
• This fluid provides a cushion for the embryo

Question 14

umbilical cord

Answer 14

• A tube called the umbilical cord joins the embryo to the placenta

Question 15

placenta

Answer 15

• The placenta is rich in blood vessels
• It is here at the placenta that food and oxygen from the mothers blood pass into the baby’s blood
• Also wastes such as Carbon dioxide pass from the baby’s blood into the mothers

Question 16

labour

Answer 16

The birth of a baby begins when the uterus muscles start to contract

Question 17

waters break

Answer 17

The bag of amniotic fluid bursts “waters break” and further contractions push the baby out usually head first, through the vagina

Question 18

afterbirth

Answer 18

The umbilical cord is cut and the placenta (afterbirth) comes out after

Question 19

lactation

Answer 19

The production of breast milk is called lactation

Question 20

colostrum

Answer 20

The first three days of milk is called colostrum – very nutritious, and helps protect the baby from infection

Question 21

Natural methods of contraception

Answer 21

Natural methods of contraception aim to detect the day ovulation takes place and avoid intercourse during the fertile period

Question 22

Artificial methods of contraception

Answer 22

prevent the sperm and egg meeting