bIO 2

• Reproductive system


  In humans, female and male reproductive systems work together to reproduce
• Female reproductive system


  • Responsible for producing gametes (called eggs or ova), certain sex hormones, and maintaining fertilized eggs as they develop into mature fetuses and become ready for delivery
• Male reproductive system


  • Produce androgens such as testosterone that maintain male reproductive function and produce sperm cell (promote spermatogenesis) and transport into the female reproductive system for fertilization
• Labia minora


  The two inner skin folds that surround the opening of the vagina. Their main function is to protect the vaginal and urethral openings from mechanical irritation, dryness, and infections
• Labia majora


  Relatively large, fleshy folds of tissue that enclose and protect the other external genital organs. The labia majora contain sweat and sebaceous glands, which produce lubricating secretions. During puberty, hair appears on the labia majora
• (A developing egg is called an oocyte.)
• Eggs a woman has

  You're born with all the eggs you'll ever produce. During fetal development, you have about 6 million eggs. At birth, there are approximately 1 million eggs left. By the time you reach puberty, only about 300,000 remain. The number of eggs you have continues to decline as you age and menstruate each cycle. Fertility also declines with age due to the decreasing number and quality of your remaining eggs
• Penis

  • Fertilize the an egg
  • Regulates sex drive (libido)
  • Transport mature sperm to the urethra preparation for ejaculation
  • Store and produce majority fluid that makes up semen

  
• Sperm count

  20 million – 300 million per ejaculation
• Acrosome

  • Responsible for binding of sperm to unfertilized egg. Including sperm to undergo acrosomal exocytosis. (genetic material ejects from the egg cell cytoplasm)
• Conception to Fetus

  Watch video
• Fetal Development

  Watch video
• Normal Delivery

  Watch video
• Caesarian Delivery

  Watch video
• Menstrual cycle

  A natural process. It is a complex cycle controlled by female hormones that cause regular bleeding (periods). The menstrual cycle has four phases: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

  Stimulates ovulation
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

  Stimulates production of estrogen
• Menstrual cycle (Part 1)

  Watch video
• Menstrual cycle (Part 2)

  Watch video
• Conception to labour


  1. Baby constantly growing and developing

  2. Baby's heart begins to beat at 5 weeks

  3. Baby has regular sleep and wake cycles at 27 weeks

  4. Baby is physically developed at 39 weeks
• For the first few weeks of what is counted as your pregnancy, you're not pregnant yet
• Fertilized egg development


  1. Egg divides into multiple cells

  2. Travels down fallopian tube

  3. Enters uterus

  4. Burrows into uterine lining
• Blastocyst


  Ball of cells that begins to produce pregnancy hormone hCG
• Neural plate formation


  1. Occurs 16 days after conception

  2. Forms foundation of baby's brain and spinal cord

  3. Neural plate folds to form neural tube

  4. Neural tube closes by week 6 to become brain and spinal cord
• Folic acid


  B vitamin that helps form neural tube
• Consuming 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before pregnancy and 600 micrograms once pregnant can reduce certain defects of the brain and spinal cord by more than 70 percent
• 2 months pregnant


  1. Cluster of cells that will become baby's heart begins to develop and pulse

  2. Baby's face and limb buds begin to develop

  3. Organs like brain, sensory organs, and digestive tract begin to take shape

  4. Baby has a tail that will recede
• 3 months pregnant


  1. Baby has human appearance with recognizable limbs, hands, feet, fingers, and toes

  2. Skin is thin, allowing blood vessels to be seen

  3. Reproductive organs begin to form but can't be determined on ultrasound

  4. Baby is fully formed, weighs about an ounce, and is 4 inches long
• Chance of miscarriage drops considerably after 3 months into the pregnancy
• Second trimester


  1. Fine wisps of hair (lanugo) appear on baby's body to protect from amniotic fluid

  2. Baby's senses (smell, vision, touch, taste, hearing) develop

  3. Baby can sense light and move away from a flashlight beam

  4. Baby's movements progress from flutters to kicks and jabs

  5. Baby's sex may be revealed on 4 month ultrasound
• Third trimester


  1. Baby continues to grow in size and weight

  2. Baby's lungs begin to reach maturity

  3. Baby gains about half a pound and grows half an inch per week starting in week 36

  4. Many babies turn head-down and stay in that position until birth