Human Reproduction

Ovum

Search Bio-Logical Life Sciences Adapted from: www.bioats.weebly.com

Male reproductive
system
IMPORTANT:
You must know functions of the testis,
epididymis, vas deferens/sperm duct, seminal
vesicle, prostate gland, Cowper’s gland and the
urethra
 Side view
Produces alkaline fluid to Tube which carries sperm from
neutralize the acidity of testes to the urethra
the vagina.

Carries semen
Provides nutrient rich
out of the body
fluid

Produces mucus which Stores sperm and

assists with movement. matures here

Produces
sperm and
Sac containing testosterone
testes
 Front view

Cowpers
gland
 Cross section through TESTIS

Functions
 Scrotum – Protects and holds testes outside of
the body at 2°C lower than body temp.
 Testes- produce sperm cells and the hormone
testosterone
Scrotum hangs outside of the body to keep the testes at 35°C which is 2°C below body
temperature. This temperature is needed for the production of normal healthy sperm.
Homework DBE Textbook

Q3.2 PG 99
 SYSTEM OF TUBES
 Epididymis – stores sperm cell and where they
mature
Vas Deferens (sperm duct) – transports sperm
from the epididymis to the urethra
Urethra – passes urine and semen out of the body
 Three accessory glands
Contributes fluid to the sperm to form
semen
• 2 Seminal vesicles: produces alkaline
fluid to neutralize vaginal acids which
would kill sperm
• A Prostate gland: produces a nutrient-
rich fluid that provides energy for the
sperm cells
• 2 Cowper’s gland: provides mucus to
help with sperm movement.
 Male hormones
• Testosterone:
– Development of male secondary sex
characteristics at puberty
– Stimulates sperm production
– maintain reproductive organs
– sex drive or libido

• FSH:
– Produced by Pituitary gland
– Stimulates spermatogenesis
Don’t worry
• LH: about these
– Produced by Pituitary for now…
– Stimulates the secretion of testosterone
 PUBERTY
It is a time of life when a person
becomes sexually mature.

Physical changes occur between 10 and

14 in girls and 12 and 16 for boys.
List the main changes that occur in male
characteristics during puberty under the influence of
testosterone.
Rapid increase in height, size and strength of muscles,
shoulders become wider.
Development and functioning of the prostate gland,
seminal vesicles and Cowper’s glands
Voice deepens
Hair grows in the pubic area, armpits and on the face
Testes and penis increase in size
 Gametogenesis

Gamete Creation

Spermatogenesis:
Under the influence of testosterone, diploid cells in
the seminiferous tubules of the testes undergo
meiosis to form haploid sperm cells
 Each testis contains seminiferous tubules
 Each seminiferous tubule is lined with a germinal
epithelium layer
 The cells in this layer undergo meiosis to produce many
haploid spermatozoa (sperm cells)
**Don’t worry about terms mentioned here most are not in the examination
guidelines
HUMAN SPERM CELL (SPERMATOZOA)
Germinal epithelium
undergoes meiosis

Producing 4 haploid
cells

Mature to form a
sperm cells

Each sperm cell is

made of a head,
middle portion and a
tail.
 ACROSOME –
produces enzymes to
digest jelly layer of
ovum
NUCLEUS –
HEAD haploid, contains
23 chromosomes to
NECK
be passed from
father to child

MITOCHONDRIA
– supplies energy for
swimming

TAIL – for
swimming
Homework
1.5 PG 95-96
Female reproductive
system
Internal reproductive structures
Ovarium Werwelkolom
Spinal column
Fallopian tube
Fimbrae

Uterus

Cervix
Bladder
Rectum
Pubic bone
Urethra Vagina
Clitoris
Labia minora
Anus
Labia majora

Side view
 Front view

PG 18

Endometrium

IMPORTANT
You must know functions of the ovary; Fallopian tubes; uterus lined by
endometrium; cervix; vagina and its external opening; and the vulva
 A pair of ovaries , female sex organ where ova are
produced. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone and
are also secreted from here.
 The fallopian tube transports ova from the ovary to the
uterus and it is the site where fertilization takes place.
 The uterus is a muscular structure which serves for the
attachment of embryo if fertilization takes place. It houses
and protects the foetus and it also contracts to eject the
foetus during child birth.
 The lining the uterus is called the endometrium.
 The endometrium is a membrane lining filled with
blood vessels which assist in the implantation of the
embryo. It forms part of the placenta.
 The base of the uterus is called the cervix, it connects
the uterus to the vagina. It dilates (stretches) during
labour.
 The vagina is the canal where semen is deposited, it
also acts as the birth canal.
 The vulva is the external female genital folds. They
protect the entrance of the vagina.
 Class activity: Label the following.
FALLOPIANA tube
Fallopian tubes

Fimbrae B

Ovary C

Uterus
Uterus D

Cervix E

Vagina F

 What are the structural suitabilities of the uterus?

 Muscular for contractions, it is elastic to stretch
G during gestation (pregnancy)
 COMPLETE THE FOLOWING TABLE
STRUCTURE MALE FEMALE
Site of
gametogenesis

Copulatory organ

gamete
Homework

ACTIVITY 1PG 76-77

 List the main changes that occur in
female characteristics during
puberty under the influence of
oestrogen.
Rapid increase in height and breast development
Hair growth in the pubic area and armpits
Increase in size of the vagina
Uterine and endometrial growth
Onset of menstruation
Increase in body fat
 oogenesis

Ovum Creation
Oogenesis:
Diploid cells in the ovary undergo mitosis to form
numerous follicles (before birth).

Under the influence of FSH, One cell inside a follicle

enlarges and undergoes meiosis. Of the four cells that
are produced, only one survives to form a mature,
haploid ovum (at puberty). This then occurs as a
monthly cycle.
 One cell inside a follicle

Meiosis

4 haploid cells formed

3 cells disintegrate (break

up); one cell matures

Mature ovum
THE OVUM

CYTOPLASM – keeps the

ovum alive, provides nutrients
for the embryo

NUCLEUS – haploid, 23
chromosomes to be passed from
mother to child
JELLY LIKE LAYER –
encloses delicate parts
(protection) and allows enzymes
of acrosome to digest a pathway
into the ovum
Menstrual cycle
Includes uterine (uterus lining) and ovarian (ovary) cycles
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle
Copy and complete the table below.

Gland Hormone Function

 Information shown in the graph:

Pituitary
 Link to video
Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle graph
made simple and logical

https://youtu.be/pytanc8h2xU
 Progesterone and FSH

How does this influence the production of ova?

Homework

ACTIVITY 3 PG 86
Oestrogen
 Class activity. Identify hormones A-D and Glands 1 and 2.

Gland 1
Pituitary
A
B

Gland 2
C
Oestrogen

D
The events in the ovarian cycle:
• Development of the follicle to a Graafian follicle
• Ovulation
• Formation of the corpus luteum
Ovum
The events in the uterine cycle:
Changes that take place in the thickness of
the endometrium
Menstruation
Homework

ACTIVITY 4 PG 87
 Menstruation
• The release of the shed endometrium, the
unfertilized ovum and blood from the vagina
 Females hormones 1
• FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone):
– development of follicle
– stimulates oogenesis

• LH (Luteinizing hormone):
– triggers ovulation
– development and maturation of corpus
luteum
 Female hormones 2
• Oestrogen:
– Released by the follicles later by corpus luteum
and placenta during pregnancy
– Female secondary sex characteristics at puberty.
– causes the lining of the uterus, the endometrium,
to grow and thicken in preparation of
implantation of a fertilized ovum.
– prepare breasts for lactation (milk production)
– build-up of oestrogen inhibits FSH production
and stimulates LH production
 Female hormones 3
• Progesterone:
– released by corpus luteum and released from
placenta, if pregnant
– causes the lining of the uterus, the endometrium,
to further thicken in preparation for implantation
of a fertilized ovum.
– During pregnancy:
• maintains placenta
• stops uterus from contracting (abortion)
• Prepare breasts for lactation (milk production)
COPULATION: Sexual intercourse where the penis is
inserted into the vagina

FERTILISATION: Fusion of the sperm and ovum nuclei

to form a (diploid) Zygote (in the fallopian tube).
 Embryonic development
Diploid Zygote

Morula (8/many cell stage) Embryo

Blastocyst (Hollow ball of cells)

Foetus (after approximately 3 months)

 Embryonic development

Ovum
 Implantation
• The blastocyst embeds itself in the endometrium
• The chorion extends finger-like outgrowths called
the chorionic villi into the endometrium and form
part of the placenta which secretes progesterone.
 Gestation (pregnancy)
• The period from
implantation till
birth.
• Gestation and the
development of the
embryo lasts for
about 40 weeks
(from last menstrual
bleeding). After 12
weeks the embryo is
known as a foetus.
Homework

ACTIVITY 5 PG 91
 Exam guidelines

Identify and state the functions of

the following parts of the developing
embryo/foetus:
• Chorion and chorionic villi
• Amnion, amniotic cavity and
amniotic fluid
• Umbilical cord (including umbilical
artery and umbilical vein)
• Placenta
CHORION – the outer membrane that covers the
amnion (protection)
CHORIONIC VILLI – projections of the chorion,
increases surface area of placenta
AMNION – membranous structure in which foetus
develops, secrets amniotic fluid
AMNIOTIC FLUID – surrounds the developing
embryo,
provides protection from dehydration
Maintains the temperature of the foetus
Acts as a shock absorber (Protects the foetus against
mechanical injury)
Allows for free-movement of the foetus as it grows
and develops
UMBILICAL CORD – joins
foetus to placenta, consist of
blood vessels
UMBILICAL ARTERIES (2) –
carry blood with a high
concentration of CO2 and
nitrogenous waste from
foetus to placenta
UMBILICAL VEIN – carries
blood with a high
concentration of oxygen and
nutrients from the placenta
to foetus
 Placenta
• Forms the attachment of
the foetus to the mother

• Function:
• 1. Gaseous exchange
(CO2 and O2)
• 2. Nutrition
• 3. Excretion
• 4. Secretes progesterone to
maintain pregnancy
Homework

Q2.1 PG 96
 Hormones
• 1. FSH – Pituitary gland
• 2. LH – Pituitary gland
• 3. Oestrogen – Graafian follicle + corpus luteum +
placenta
• 4. Progesterone - corpus luteum + placenta
• 5. Relaxin
• 6. Prolactin These are not prescribed
• 7. HCG
• 8. Oxytocin
 Birth process (aka parturation)
Three stages of the natural birth process

1. Dilation – labour, contractions of uterus and dilation

of cervix, breaking of the “water” (amniotic fluid)

2. Delivery - expulsion of baby

3. Afterbirth - release of the placenta and umbilical

cord
DILATION
Baby moves head down
position. Amniotic membrane
break to release amniotic fluid.
Contractions of uterus.
Cervix starts to dilate.

DELIVERY
Strong contractions of uterus
forces baby through the birth
canal (vagina), head first.
The umbilical cord is clamped
and cut.
Baby gets separated from
mother.

AFTERBIRTH
Contraction continue until
placenta detaches.
Placenta and rest of
umbilical cord passes out
of vagina.
Placenta

Umbilical
cord
ACTIVITY 3.1 PG 98 -99
Homework

ACTIVITY 3.3 PG 99-100