Sexual reproduction in humans

Sexual reproduction in humans

Ok so, when talking about reproduction in humans, we're gonna be talking about
two things: 

sperm
egg cell/ovum
(menstrual cycle as well cx it is involved in the process)

First off, when like the sperm cell reaches the egg cell it uses digestive enzymes to
break down the jelly layer to get in the egg cell which are produced by the
acrosomes (head part of sperm cell)

then, when the sperm cell is in egg cell, the male nucleus from the sperm cell and
female nucleus from egg cell fuse, forming a zygote
this is called fertilization

How sperm reach the egg:

Through sexual intercourse, the penis goes into the vagina, and transfers a fluid
called semen which contains sperm,

then basically the sperm cell swims through the vagina, cervix and then goes into
the uterus and finally reaches the egg cell in the oviduct.
Adaptations of sperm

Lots of mitochondria :
 to provide energy by respiration to flagellum in order to propel forward

Flagellum:
 For locomotion or basically just movement

Acrosomes :
 produces digestive enzymes in order to penetrate the jelly layer

 Vast number of sperm:

 in order to increase chances of sperm fertilizing the egg
 about 100 million or so
it has a life-span of about 2-7 days

Adaptations of egg cell/ovum

 Large cytoplasm:
 contains fats and proteins
 fats acts as energy stores
 proteins available used for growth (when fertilized)

 Jelly layer:
 becomes impermeable to stop more sperm from coming into the cell after
fertilization

 one egg per month is released: 

 though, females are born with all the ova they’d ever need , about 400,000
or so

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Has a life-span of about 24 hours

Male reproductive system

prostate gland: involved in the production of seminal fluid, which also provides a
medium for sperm to travel in

Testes: involved in the production of sperm

(Male gonad)

Sperm duct: muscular tube that links the testis to the urethra to allow the passage
of semen containing sperm

Penis: to transfer semen into vagina, can become firm.

Urethra: passes semen containing sperm through the penis. carries urine from the
bladder.

Scrotum: sac that holds testis outside the body keeping them cooler than body
temp. ( in order to keep the best conditions for sperm production)

Female reproductive system 

Cervix: ring of muscle separating the vagina from the uterus

Ovary: female gonad, contains follicles in where egg cells are produced

Funnel of oviduct: directs an egg from ovary to oviduct

Oviduct: Carries an egg to uterus with the help of tiny cilia in the walls / site of
fertilization

Uterus: where embryo devolops

Vagina: receives male penis during sexual intercourse, sperm are deposited here

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(2)State that in early development, the zygote forms an embryo which is a ball of
cells that implants into the lining of the uterus

. The zygote first divides into two cells. Each of these divides again, so producing
four cells. The cells continue to divide in this way to produce a solid ball of cells 
(an early stage in the development of the embryo)

 This early embryo travels down the oviduct to the uterus. Here it implants or sinks
into the lining of the uterus .

The embryo continues to grow and produces new cells that form tissues and
organs.

(1)Identify on diagrams and state the functions of the following in the development
of the fetus: umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic sac and amniotic fluid

Inside the uterus the embryo becomes enclosed in a fluid-filled sac called the
amniotic sac, which protects it from damage and prevents unequal pressures from
acting on it and The fluid is called amniotic fluid.

 The oxygen and food needed to keep the embryo alive and growing are obtained
from the mother’s blood by the placenta.

Placenta is basically a disk like structure from which Oxygen and nutrients like
glucose, amino acids and ions pass across the placenta to the embryo’s
bloodstream through blood vessels in the umbilical cord.

So like, umbilical cord is basically what allows for the nutrients and oxygen in the
the placenta to go to the embryo

and also to transport CO2 and Urea from the baby to mothers blood. And the
substances pass from placenta to umbilical cord bt diffusion through thin walls of
blood vessels

Some pathogens like the rubella virus and HIV can pass across the placenta.
Rubella (German measles), although a mild infection for the mother, can infect the
fetus and results in major health problems. These include deafness, congenital
heart disease, diabetes and mental retardation. HIV is potentially fatal
HIV is very dangerous so that’s why we need to learn how to protect ourselves from
18. State the evidence that each type of radiation is present in or absent from the radiation
emitted by the source.

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