Reproductive systems Flashcards
testes
testes are organs that produce sperm and sex hormones
scrotum
scrotum pouch is clump of skin containing testes. It hangs outside the body to keep the sperm cooler than normal body temperature.
follicles
follicles are sacs containing egg cells
fallopian tube
fallopian tubes is a tiny tubes joining the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilisation occurs in one of these tubes.
fertilisation
fertilisation is the penetration of the ovum by a sperm
hormones
Hormones is a chemical substances produced by glands and circulated in the blood. Hormones have specific effects in the body.
menarche
menarche is the first menstrual period
menstrual cycle
menstrual cycle is the beginning of one period to the beginning of the next period
sexual reproduction
sexual reproduction is joining together of male and female reproductive cells
gametes
gametes are the reproductive cells (sperm or ova) containing half the genetic information of normal cells
sperm
sperm is the male reproductive cell. It consists of a head, a middle section and a tail used to swim towards the egg.
ova
ova is the female gametes or sex cells. Singular = ovum.
zygote
zygote is a cell formed by the fusion of two gametes; fertilised ovum before it starts to divide into more cells
external fertilisation
external fertilisation is reproduction where the eggs are released by the female into water and fertilised by sperm released nearby
internal fertilisation
internal fertilisation is reproduction where the egg remains in the female and is fertilised by sperm inserted into the female
copulation
copulation is the act of inserting sperm into the female; also called sexual intercourse or mating
sexual intercourse
sexual intercourse is the act of inserting sperm into the female; also called copulation or mating
meiosis
meiosis is cell division process that results in new cells with half the number of chromosomes of the original cell
epigenetics
epigenetics is a new branch of science that involves studying the effect of our experiences on the expression of our genetic information
nuclear DNA
nuclear DNA is genetic material passed on from both parents, from the nucleus of both the sperm and the ovum