year 2 chap 16 Flashcards
what is the fusion of sex cells called?
fertilisation
what happens when an egg is fertilised?
it develops into an embryo and eventually into a new individual
what is a fertilised egg also known as?
a zygote
what is a zygote?
an egg that has been fertilised by sperm, and which could develop into an embryo
define “heredity” please
the passing down of genetic material from one generation to the next during sexual reproduction
what happens to the genetic material in the sex cells during reproduction?
the genetic material in the sex cells is passed down and acts like a set of instructions for the cells to form a specific organism
do children look exactly like their parents?
children often possess a mix of traits from both their parents but they do not look identical to their parents
inheriting any trait is a ___ process
random
what are examples of heredity diseases?
sickle cell anaemia (a blood disorder)
cystic fibrosis (a diseases of the lungs and other internal organs)
when does the body develop into that of an adult?
during the teenage years or adolescence
at what age does puberty usually begin?
around the age of 11 to 14 but it can occur earlier or later depending on the individual
define “puberty” please
the process where the body undergoes various physical changes and matures sexually
what happens when puberty begins?
different hormones are produced by the body
what are hormones?
- chemicals produced by different parts of the body
- control and coordinate activities throughout the body by triggering other organs to function
- found in very small quantities in the blood but they have a huge effect on many organ systems such as the human reproductive system
what are some changes that men may go through during puberty?
- height and weight increase
- voice deepens
- facial hair, armpit hair and pubic hair (hair around the sex organs) appear
- muscle strength increases
- production of sperm begins
what are some changes that women may go through during puberty?
- height and weight increase
- breasts begin to develop
- hips become broader and rounder
- armpit hair and pubic hair around the sex organs appear
- maturation of eggs begins
what are the different parts of the male reproductive system?
sex glands ; sperm duct ; urethra ; testis ; penis
what is the function of the sex glands in the male reproductive system?
the sex glands produce nutrient fluid to nourish the sperm
what is the function of the sperm ducts in the male reproductive system?
the sperm ducts carries sperm from the testes to the urethra
what are the functions of the urethra in the male reproductive system?
- a tube that allows sperm to pass through during ejaculation
- allows urine to be removed from the body
what is the function of the testis in the male reproductive system?
- produces sperm
- produces male sex hormones that control sexual development in the body
what is the function of the penis in the male reproductive system?
deposits semen in the vagina during ejaculation
what is semen?
a white liquid made up of nutrient fluid and sperm
what happens to the sperm in the male reproductive system during sexual intercourse?
- sperm produced by both testes travel along the sperm ducts and enter the urethra
- the penis deposits semen containing millions of sperm cells deep into the vagina
define “ejaculation” please
the process in which the semen leaves the male reproductive system
what are the different parts of the female reproductive system?
oviduct ; ovary ; uterus ; cervix ; vagina
what are the functions of the oviduct in the female reproductive system?
- a tube through which an egg is released from the ovary
- fertilisation usually takes place here
what are the functions of the ovary in the female reproductive system?
- produces eggs
- produces female sex hormones that control sexual development in the body
what are the functions of the uterus in the female reproductive system?
- a muscular organ where an embryo develops into a foetus during pregnancy
- contains a lining called the uterine lining, which thickens to prepare for implantation and breaks down when no fertilisation occurs
what are the functions of the cervix in the female reproductive system?
- opening of the uterus
- connects the uterus to the vagina
what is the function of the vagina in the female reproductive system?
sperm is deposited here
what is the vagina also known as?
the birth canal
what happens during ovulation?
an ovary releases an egg cell that enters the oviduct
what happens if the egg in the female reproductive system is fertilised?
it will travel towards the uterus to be implanted in its wall
what happens to the egg if fertilisation does not occur?
if fertilisation does not occur, the egg will simply disintegrate or break down
what does the uterus do when the mother is giving birth?
the uterus has strong contractions to push the baby past the cervix and out of the mother’s body through the vagina
define “fertilisation” please
the fusion of the male and female sex cells
what are the steps in the process of fertilisation?
- the penis deposits semen containing sperm cells into the vagina
- the sperm cells swim through the cervix, into the uterus and into the oviduct
- a sperm cell meets an egg cell in the oviduct
- fertilisation occurs when the nucleus of the sperm cell fuses with the nucleus of the egg cell (all the other sperm cells die)
the embryo travels down the ___ towards the ___ where it is implanted in ___ and develops into a ___
oviduct ; uterus ; the wall of the uterus ; foetus
what factors can affect the function of the reproductive systems?
age, diet and lifestyle
define “twins” please
two individuals born from the same pregnancy
what are the 2 types of twins?
identical and fraternal (non-identical) twins