Reproduction in Humans Flashcards
What are ovaries?
Organs that produce female gametes (eggs)
What are oviducts?
Tubes from ovary to uterus (AKA fallopian tubes)
What is the uterus?
The organ where a foetus develops before birth
What is the vagina?
An opening from the uterus to the outside of the body
What is the cervix?
A small hole between the uterus and vagina
What are the testes?
The organs where the sperm is made
What is the scrotum?
The ballsack
What is the sperm duct?
A tube that transports sperm from testes to urethra
What is the prostate gland?
The gland responsible for producing fluid in which sperm is transported
What is the epididymis
The part of the testes where sperm is stored
Describe an egg cell
Nucleus with chromosomes
Cytoplasm with yolk (energy stores)
Cell membrane
Jelly coat surrounding cell membrane
Describe a sperm cell
Head contains nucleus to produce energy for swimming and acrosome, to dissolve the jelly coat of the egg (it contains enzymes)
Middle piece containing mitochondria to produce energy for swimming
Tail (Flagellum) to move faster
What is implantation?
The attachment of the embryo to the lining to the uterus
What is an embryo?
A ball of cells produced by repeated division of the zygote
When does an embryo become a foetus?
When all the organs are formed
What is the placenta?
A temporary organ inside the mother, used to transport nutrients from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood, but ensuring there is no direct blood contact.
What is the amniotic sac?
A membrane surrounding a developing foetus in the uterus.
What is amniotic fluid?
Liquid secreted by the amniotic sac, to support and protect the foetus.
What is a follicle?
A structure in the ovary, where the egg develops
What is menstruation?
When uterus lining is shed through the vagina
What is puberty?
The time at which sexual maturity is reached (able to reproduce)
(Triple) What are the two hormones secreted by the pituitary gland?
FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinising hormone)
(Triple) What are the two hormones secreted by the ovaries?
Progesterone and oestrogen
(Triple) What is the function of FSH
Causes a follicle to develop in an ovary
(Triple) What is the function of LH
Causes ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
(Triple) What is the function of oestrogen
Causes uterus lining to thicken
(Triple) What is the function of progesterone
Keeps uterus lining thick and spongy (to receive a fertilised egg)
What is a corpus luteum?
A structure formed from the follicle after ovulation, which secretes progesterone. (If an egg is released, keep the uterus lining thick)
What are the stages of the menstrual cycle?
Day 0 - Follicle develops
Day 14 - Ovulation
Day 24 - Corpus luteum develops
Day 28 - Restart
What happens to the uterus wall throughout the menstrual cycle?
Day 0-5: Shedding (Menstruation)
Day 5-24 Thickening
Day 24-28 Maintenance
Describe the patterns among LSH, FH, progesterone and oestrogen throughout the menstrual cycle
FSH and LH are relatively constant but peak at day 14 (ovulation)
Oestrogen peaks at day 14 and day 23
Progesterone peaks at day 23.
Oestrogen is not present days 0-7.
Progesterone is not present days 0-14
What is an STI?
A disease that is transmitted by sexual contact
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV is transmitted through contact of bodily fluids, and if not attended to, develops into AIDS after about 10 years.
AIDS destroys white blood cells, sabotaging the immune system.
A person with AIDS can die from a disease that is normally easily stopped
What are the three ways HIV can be transmitted?
Sexual contact
Blood contact
Breast feeding
(interacting with someone with HIV otherwise is safe)
