Reproductive System Flashcards
Male gamete
Sperm
Female gamete
Egg/ovum
Ovulation
An egg is released from the ovary an average of every 28 days
Gamete
Sex cell
Testes
Produce sperm
Sperm duct
Brings the sperm from the testes to the penis
Glands and vesicles
Produces seminal fluid which mixes with sperm to form semen (allows sperm to swim)
Penis
Enters the female and ejaculates semen
puberty
Describes when the body starts becoming sexually mature (normally happens between 10-15)
Puberty in males
Sex hormones(testosterone) are realised 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.
Puberty 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 lead to the first period occurring, an egg
Copulation
Is another name for sexual intercourse
Implantation
Occurs when the fertilised egg lodges itself on the lining of the uterus
Zygote
Egg and sperm fuse to form a single cell
Embryo
Division of the zygote occurs and it grows. Attaches to the lining of the uterus (implantation) grows more, and after 8 weeks looks like a human
Foetus
After 8 weeks looks like a human
Pregnancy
The average length of a human pregnancy is 40 weeks
Amniotic fluid
This fluid provides a cushion for the embryo, this bursts during delivery of the baby “waters breaking”
Umbilical cord
A tube called the umbilical cord joins the embryo to the placenta
placenta
Is rich in blood vessel, it is here 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.
Birth
Begins when the uterus muscles start to contract
Labour
Muscles of the uterus contract. The bag of amniotic fluid bursts “water bursting” and further contractions push the baby out usually head first. The umbilical cord is cut and the placenta (afterbirth) comes out after
Labour
Muscles of the uterus contract
Family planning
To control the number of children you have, you need to control the number of times fertilisation takes place
Natural methods of contraception
Aim to detect the day ovulation takes place and avoid intercourse during the fertile period
Artificial methods of contraception
Prevent the sperm and egg meeting eg, condom which prevents sperm entering the vagina
Eg, contraceptive pill which prevents ovulation
Family planning
To control the number of children you have, you need to control the number of times fertilisation takes place
Abstain
No method is 100% reliable to abstain (to not have sexual intercourse) is the only way to avoid pregnancy
Condoms
•Condoms can prevent pregnancy, they can also prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) or sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)
Fertile period
These are the days of the menstrual cycle when the women is most likely to become pregnant (sperm can survive in the women)
