Reproduction in Humans Flashcards
Describe sexual reproduction
- Gametes (sperm and ova) are produced
- The male gamete is transferred to the female gamete
- Fertilisation must occur, the sperm fuses with the ovum
- The zygote formed develops into a new individual
Describe the function of the ovary
Contains follicles which develop the ova and produce oestrogen and progesterone
Describe the function of the cervix
The neck of the uterus, it is a hole where the sperm can reach the eggs
Describe the function of the oviduct (or Fallopian tube)
A muscular tube that carries the ovum from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilisation usually occurs it the first third of the oviduct
Describe the function of the uterus
The organ where the embryo grows (womb)
Describe the function of the funnel of oviduct
It collects ovum released from the ovary at
Describe the function of the vagina
It receives the penis during intercourse and is the “way out” for the baby at birth
Describe the function of the penis
It becomes erect when spaces around its structure fill with blood
Describe the function of the glands
Produce the liquid that is added to sperm to make it semen
Describe the function of the urethra
A tube which carries sperm through the penis during ejaculation. Urine also passes through the urethra to exit the body
Describe the function of the testis
It is made up of many coiled tubes which produce sperm.
Describe the function of the sperm duct
Muscular tube that carries sperm from the testis to the urethra
Describe the function of the Endometrium (lining of the uterus)
Has good blood supply for implantation of the embryo
What is a gene?
Is a section of DNA that codes for one protein
What is an allele?
It is alternate versions of a gene
Why do we need to make new copies of cells?
Mitosis: -Development -Growth and repair Meiosis: -Produce gametes
What happens in mitosis?
Is when a cell reproduces itself by splitting to form two cells with identical sets of chromosomes (1 split of into two genetically identical ‘daughter cells’)
How many chromosomes does a human have?
46 (diploid) (2 sets of 23)
Where is DNA stored?
In the chromosomes
Explain Mitosis
- In a cell that is not dividing the DNA is all spread out in long strings
1. If a cell gets a signal to divide, it needs to duplicate its DNA so there is one copy for each new cell. The DNA forms X-shaped chromosomes. Each ‘arm’ of the chromosome is an exact duplicate of the other (the left arm has the same DNA as the right arm of the chromosome)
2. The chromosomes then line up at the centre of the cell and cell fibres pull them apart. The two arms of each chromosome go to opposite ends of the cell
3. Membranes from around each of the sets of chromosomes. These become the nuclei of the two new cells
4. Lastly the cytoplasm divides
5. You now have two new cells containing exactly the same DNA, they are genetically identical
Where and when does mitosis happen? What is it controlled by?
- Happens all the time all around your body and occurs:
- During growth, repair, cloning and asexual reproduction - Controlled by your genes (oncogenes)
- If damage to oncogenes they cannot control mitosis can from tumour malign of benign
Where does meiosis happen?
- In testes (after puberty)
- In ovaries (before birth)
What are gametes?
They are haploid which means they have half the number of chromosomes in a normal cell, in humans each gamete contains 23 chromosomes so the haploid number is 23
What happens in meiosis?
Meiosis produces four haploid cells whose chromosomes are not identical