Reproduction

• Sperm cells


  Made in the testes
• Scrotum


  Bag of skin that contains the testes and keeps them at the right temperature
• Sperm ducts


  Tubes that carry sperm from the testes
• Semen


  Mixture of sperm and liquids added from glands
• Urethra


  Tube that extends through the penis and allows urine or semen to be released outside the body
• Penis


  Male organ involved in sexual intercourse
• Ovaries


  Produce female hormones and contain the egg cells, release one egg per month
• Fallopian tubes (oviducts)


  Carry the egg to the uterus, where fertilization may occur
• Uterus (womb)


  Where the fertilized egg implants and the embryo develops into a baby
• Cervix


  Ring of muscles between the vagina and uterus, keeps the baby in place during pregnancy
• Vagina


  Receives the penis and sperm during sexual intercourse, acts as birth canal, where menstrual flow passes
• Vulva


  External parts of the female reproductive system
• Urethra


  Tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
• Puberty is the natural process of physical changes through which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction
• Puberty is triggered by sex hormones produced in the testes for males, and in the ovaries for females
• The average age for girls to begin puberty is 11, while for boys the average age is 12
• Puberty can take up to 4 years to complete
• Fertilisation


  If sperm meets an egg in the oviduct, fertilisation occurs
• Fertilisation process


  1. Sperm cells swim into the mucus trying to reach the oviducts

  2. One sperm cell enters the egg membrane

  3. Sperm and egg nuclei join together
• Sperm cells


  • Millions produced
  • Swim with a tail
  • Head contains enzymes to break through egg membrane
• Egg cell


  • Only a few produced
  • Large
  • Contains large food stores
  • Specially strengthened membrane
• Usually, only one egg is released, whilst at least 250 million sperm cells are deposited
• Of the 200 or so sperm cells that make it to the correct oviduct, only about 100 will reach the egg
• Fertilised egg development


  1. Travels down the oviduct

  2. Starts dividing

  3. Becomes a blastocyst with over 300 cells

  4. Implants in the uterus lining

  5. Develops into an embryo and then a foetus
• Amniotic


  Relating to the amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects the fetus
• Umbilical cord


  Connects the foetus to the placenta
• Embryo


  The stage between fertilisation and eight weeks into pregnancy
• Ultrasound


  Imaging technique that produces an image of the foetus inside the womb
• Before fom/buron
• Foetus


  An unborn human more than eight weeks after conception
• Prenatal visits


  1. Expectant mothers attend with midwife or obstetrician

  2. Ensure health of mother and baby

  3. Provide information for healthy pregnancy

  4. Address questions about delivery
• Initial prenatal visit


  1. Occurs around 6-8 weeks

  2. Includes weight assessment, blood tests, blood pressure, urine analysis

  3. Aims to identify potential health risks
• Prenatal visits ensure the health of both mother and baby, provide crucial information for a healthy pregnancy including advice on diet and exercise, and address any questions about the delivery
• The initial prenatal visit should occur early, typically around 6 to 8 weeks into the pregnancy, and includes weight assessment, blood tests, blood pressure, and urine analysis
• This visit aims to identify any potential health risks for the mother or baby, as soon as possible, so that doctors can take the necessary precautions and provide appropriate care to ensure a healthy pregnancy
• Placenta


  Provides oxygen and nutrients to the foetus, removes waste products into the mother's blood, acts as a barrier to stop infections
• Amniotic fluid


  Acts as a shock absorber, protecting the foetus from any bumps
• Drinking too much alcohol during pregnancy

  Can affect the development of the foetus's brain and spinal cord, causing foetal alcohol syndrome
• Smoking during pregnancy


  Reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the foetus, making it grow more slowly, causing babies to be born underweight, prematurely, and have serious health problems
• Number of cigarettes smoked

  • 1-5
  • 6-10
  • 11-20
  • 21 or more