Reproduction Flashcards
testes
organs that produce sperm and sex hormones
scrotum
pouch of skin containing testes. It hangs outside the body to keep the sperm cooler than normal body temperature.
vas deferens
The tube through which sperm cells travel from the testes to the penis
prostate gland
Secretes some of the liquid that is added to sperm cells to form semen. The fluid secreted by the prostate gland is alkaline and contains many chemicals including enzymes. It plays an important role in keeping sperm cells alive once they enter the female reproductive system.
seminal vesicle
Also contributes some of the liquid that makes up semen. The fluid produced by the seminal vesicle contains proteins, enzymes, sugar, vitamin C and other substances. The sugar provides a source of energy for sperm cells.
urethra
The tube inside the penis through which semen leaves the male’s body
penis
The penis swells during sexual arousal. Semen containing sperm cells is ejaculated (released) from the penis into the vagina.
follicles
sacs containing egg cells
fallopian tubes
tiny tubes joining the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilisation occurs in one of these tubes
fertilisation
penetration of the ovum by a sperm
puberty
life stage when the sex glands become active and bodily changes occur to enable reproduction
hormones
chemical substances produced by glands and circulated in the blood. Hormones have specific effects in the body.
menarche
the first menstrual period
menstrual cycle
beginning of one period to the beginning of the next period
sexual reproduction
joining together of male and female reproductive cells
gametes
reproductive cells (sperm or ova) containing half the genetic information of normal cells
sperm
male reproductive cell. It consists of a head, a middle section and a tail used to swim towards the egg.
ova
female gametes or sex cells. Singular = ovum.
zygote
cell formed by the fusion of two gametes; fertilised ovum before it starts to divide into more cells
internal fertillisation
reproduction where the egg remains in the female and is fertilised by sperm inserted into the female
copulation
the act of inserting sperm into the female; also called sexual intercourse or mating
sexual intercoarse
act of inserting sperm into the female; also called copulation or mating
epigenics
a new branch of science that involves studying the effect of our experiences on the expression of our genetic information
nuclear DNA
genetic material passed on from both parents, from the nucleus of both the sperm and the ovum
mtDNA
genetic material from the mitochondria, passed on only from the mother