Reproduction In Humans (Females).

Question 1

What do the ovaries produce and what do these things do inside the body?

Answer 1

• The ovaries produce female sex cells, ova.
• The ovaries also produce the female hormones, oestrogen, which produces secondary sexual characteristics, such as the development of breasts, and progesterone, which prevents the release of ova during the pregnancy.

Question 2

What is the purpose of the fimbriae?

Answer 2

The fimbriae help sweep the ovum into the oviduct.

Question 3

What are the fimbriae (singular fimbria)?

Answer 3

At the end of the oviduct is a funnel-shaped structure with projections called the fimbriae (singular fimbria).

Question 4

What does the oviduct (fallopian tube) do?

Answer 4

The oviduct collects the ovum released by the ovary.

Question 5

What does the movement of cilia and muscles in the oviduct do?

Answer 5

The movement of cilia and muscles sweep up the egg towards the uterus, increasing its chances of meeting with a sperm.

Question 6

Define fertilisation.

Answer 6

When the nucleus of the male sex cell has fused with the nucleus of the female sex cell, fertilization is complete.

Question 7

Where is the uterus located and what can it do?

Answer 7

The uterus is located behind the urinary bladder and can grow to accommodate a growing fetus during pregnancy.

Question 8

Define menstruation (easy definition).

Answer 8

Menstruation is the passing out of the unfertilized egg and the lining of the uterus with some blood.

Question 9

What are the cervix’s three purposes?

Answer 9

• The ring of muscles in the cervix closes off the uterus from the vagina.
• During childbirth the cervix can dilate to become bigger to accommodate the passage of the baby.
• The cervix keeps the uterus firmly closed during pregnancy and only relaxes when the baby is being born.

Question 10

What does the elastic tissue in the vagina do?

Answer 10

The vagina expands to become bigger to accommodate an erect penis or the exit of a baby during childbirth

Question 11

What does the wall of the vagina contain?

Answer 11

The wall of the vagina contains elastic tissue.

Question 12

What does the epithelium in the vagina lining do?

Answer 12

The epithelium produces acids that prevent the growth and multiplication of micro-organisms, such as bacteria.

Question 13

What does the vagina produce during sexual intercourse?

Answer 13

The vagina produces fluid which increases during sexual arousal to ensure comfort during sexual intercourse.

Question 14

The external genital organ is known as the vulva. What does the vulva consist of?

Answer 14

This consists of the larger outer lips (labia majora), inner smaller lips (labia minora), and the clitoris.

Question 15

What do the labia majora and labia minora lips do?

Answer 15

The lips protect the openings of the vagina and the urethra.

Question 16

Define ovulation.

Answer 16

Ovulation is the release of an egg (ovum) from the ovary each month. The ovum is released on day 14 of the cycle.

Question 17

What is meant by the menstrual cycle?

Answer 17

The menstrual cycle is a 28-day cycle in women including ovulation and menstruation.

Question 18

Fill in the missing answers:
When a girl reaches _______, her menstrual/monthly cycle begins. It will continue except during ________ until the woman is about __ or __ years old. The monthly cycle prepares the uterus to receive a _______ ____. If fertilization does not take place, the ________ _______ and ______/_____ ovum pass out as the “____” (another name for it is _______). The cycle is repeated until an ovum is _______.

Answer 18

When a girl reaches puberty, her menstrual/monthly cycle begins. It will continue except during pregnancies until the woman is about 50 or 60 years old. The monthly cycle prepares the uterus to receive a fertilized ovum. If fertilization does not take place, the prepared lining and unfertilized/dead ovum pass out as the “flow” (period). The cycle is repeated until an ovum is fertilized.

Question 19

Define puberty.

Answer 19

This is the time when girls develop into young women and boys become young men.

Question 20

Name the 4 secondary sexual characteristics in girls.

Answer 20

• Pubic hair grows.
• The breasts develop.
• The hips widen.
• Her menstrual cycle begins.

Question 21

What happens after the ovum is fertilized?

Answer 21

• Once an ovum is fertilized, it starts to divide into many cells.
• The ball of dividing cells takes a few days to travel down into the uterus.
• In the uterus, the embryo becomes attached to the lining inside the uterus (womb) and this is called implantation.
• The fertilized ovum now receives nutrients from the mother.
• It carries on dividing as it grows into a human embryo.

Question 22

Define implantation.

Answer 22

In the uterus, the embryo becomes attached to the lining inside the uterus (womb) and this is called implantation.

Question 23

What is the placenta’s purpose?

Answer 23

Nutrients (e.g. glucose) and oxygen from the mother’s blood diffuse through the placenta into a tube called the umbilical cord which carries them to the embryo.

Question 24

What is the purpose of the amniotic bag/bag of waters?

Answer 24

During pregnancy, the fetus is enclosed by a bag of fluid called the amniotic bag/bag of waters and here it has space to grow and move and is protected from mechanical shock.

Question 25

Define miscarriage.

Answer 25

A miscarriage is when the fetus comes out of the womb in the early stages of pregnancy for some reason.

Question 26

How long is this period before the baby is developed enough to be born?

Answer 26

This period is about 40 weeks or 9 months.

Question 27

What happens before labor?

Answer 27

• The first signs that the baby is coming are the breaking of the amniotic bag and contractions of the uterus muscles.
• The contractions are small at first, but they get stronger and quicker as the birth time gets closer. This time is called labor and may last on average from 10 - 20 hours.

Question 28

What happens after the baby is born?

Answer 28

• A few minutes after the baby is born the uterus contracts again and the placenta and umbilical cord come out as the afterbirth.
• The baby will take its first breath when it is born. The doctor or nurse cuts the umbilical cord, and the baby then has its first meal - milk from the mother’s breast.

Question 29

What happens if the baby is not born through the vagina?

Answer 29

If a baby is not born through the vagina, it can be removed by a doctor in an operation called a Cesarean.

Question 30

What is labor (pregnancy)?

Answer 30

The contractions are small at first, but they get stronger and quicker as the birth time gets closer. This time is called labor and may last on average from 10 - 20 hours.

Question 31

What is afterbirth?

Answer 31

A few minutes after the baby is born the uterus contracts again and the placenta and umbilical cord come out as the afterbirth.

Question 32

What are the 5 ways of preventing unwanted pregnancy?

Answer 32

• Rhythm method (unreliable).
• Chemical.
• Barrier.
• Permanent.
• Abstinence.

Question 33

What are the diagrams that need to revised?

Answer 33

• Ovum Diagram.
• Diagram of Fertilization.
• Diagram of Implantation.
• Diagram of the Placenta.
• Diagram of Contraception.
• Female Reproductive System from the front (page 78).
• Female Reproductive System from the side (page 76).

Question 34

Define adolescence.

Answer 34

Adolescence is a transition of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood.

Question 35

What happens during the long period called adolescence?

Answer 35

All the changes are controlled by the chemicals (hormones) produced in the ovaries and the testes and other glands in the body. These chemicals affect the behaviour of the boy or girl and changes may occur over a long period called adolescence.

Question 36

What happens during labor?

Answer 36

The mother’s abdomen muscles contract to push the baby out in the final stages of labor. The cervix dilates to allow the baby out.