Human Reproduction

& Development
 Reproduction
• Reproduction (or procreation) is the
biological process by which new offspring
are produced. There are two forms of
reproduction: asexual and sexual.
• Asexual reproduction
• Does not involve the fusion of sex cells.
• Parts of the parents form the offspring.
• Only one parent is needed.
 Asexual Reproduction
Advantages
•Reproduce in large amount very quickly.
•No need to search for a mate.
Disadvantages
•All the offspring are clones.
•A poor quality parent will produce poor
quality offspring.
•There is a lack of variation
 Sexual Reproduction
• Requires a male and a female.
• Male sex cell is called sperm and female
the egg (ovum).
• The two sex cells must join during
fertilization.
• Fusion of the gametes forms a single cell
called zygote.
 Advantage
• Sexual reproduction produces offspring
that are like, yet unlike the parents
because:
• genetic diversity resulting from both
parents contributing ½ of the child’s
genes.
 Definitions
• Gonad –
structure that produces gametes (ovaries and testes)
• Endocrine system –
System of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream
• Gland –
Component of endocrine system; makes hormones, which are
chemical messengers that affect other parts of the body.
• Fertilization –
Fusion of egg and sperm
• Copulation –
Sexual intercourse; internal fertilization
 Male Reproductive System and
Anatomy & Physiology
• Male gonad –
Testis (plural testes)
• Scrotum –
Sac or pouch of skin that holds the testes outside of body cavity
(sperm develop at temps. 2-3 degrees lower than body temp.).
Testes descend into scrotum during 9th month of embryo
development.
• Testes produce ___ and ___ (male gametes). Within the testes
are 500 tightly coiled tubes called ___ ___. These produce
sperm starting when the male reaches puberty. The sperm
produced are stored in the ___. The testosterone produced
causes development of the secondary sex charactistics, such
as: ____, and also causes production of the sperm.
Testosterone, sperm, seminiferous tubules, epididymis
Body hair growth, increased height, wider chest, deeper voice
Human Sperm
• Size –
Much smaller than egg,
which must contain
nutrients, motile.
• Parts –
Head contains DNA
and enzymes to
digest membrane
around egg.
Flagellum propels
sperm to egg.
• Energy –
ATP made in
mitochondria
(aerobic respiration)
in neck of sperm.
Fructose is sugar
that is burned.
• Epididymis –
Sperm stored for 2-3 days.
Sperm Delivery
• Vas deferens –
Ciliated tube that carries sperm from
epididymis to urethra (past next 3
structures).
• Seminal Vesicles –
Secretes alkaline (basic) sugar
(fructose) solution.
• Cowper’s Gland –
Secretes mucous which lubricates
tubes.
• Prostate Gland –
secretes alkaline solution to counter
acidic condition in vagina and
urethra.
• Urethra –
secretions all put into urethra and mix w/
sperm. All of these together make up
semen. Some of the semen is
secreted before ejaculation to
lubricate urethra. It does contain
sperm!
• Erection – Sperm Delivery cont’d
When aroused blood flow to penis
increases, blood fills spongy
tissue in penis, creates a
hydrostatic skeleton.
• Penis –
Urethra carries semen out through penis
in a process called ejaculation =
contractions of smooth muscle
lining ducts. (about 3-5 ml of
semen is produced each time).
The semen that is ejaculated contains
about 130 million sperm. Why are
so many sperm produced?
1. Sperm must swim upstream all the
way to fallopian tube.
2. Many sperm use up their sugar
supply before reaching egg.
3. Acidity of vagina disables many
sperm.
What is
the
main
factor
that det-
ermines
which
sperm
makes it
to the
egg?
 Female Reproductive System Anatomy and
Physiology
• Female gonad –
Ovary
• Difference from
male gonad?
All eggs are made
before birth,
released regularly
after puberty.
Male gametes are
made at puberty
and released
sporadically for the
rest of males life.
 Female Reproductive System Anatomy and Physiology Cont’d

One of the ovaries release an egg during the uterine

cycle. Four stages of this cycle are:
1. Follicular:
Development of follicle, in which egg matures; 10-14 days from
end of menstruation to ovulation.
2. Ovulation:
Egg released from ovary when follicle ruptures.
3. Luteal:
Development of corpus luteum; 10-14 days from ovulation to
menstruation. Egg is moving from fallopian tube to uterus.
4. Menstruation:
Shedding of uterine lining and blood that was prepared for fetus; 5
days.
Maturation of the ovum (egg) is controlled by
____.
Hormones
1. Releasing factors from brain
Stimulate pituitary gland (near brain) to make
Follicle Stimulting Hormone.
2. FSH causes a follicle to form, in which:
an ovum matures.
3. FHS also stimulates the follicle to increase
production of oestrogens. The pituitary gland
senses this and produces Luteinizing Hormone
(LH).
4. LH causes the follicle to mature. Ovulation
occurs when:
A mature egg is released into a fallopian tube.
 Egg Delivery
• The ovum is
released into
the oviduct or
fallopian tube.
It is drawn in by
the action of
cilia because:
The ovary doesn’t
touch the
fallopian tube.
 Egg Delivery Cont’d

• The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ with thick walls that

are line with mucous membranes, glands and blood vessels.
• Meanwhile the lining of the uterus builds up. LH causes the
ruptured follicle to become the corpus luteum. This now
secretes progesterone, another kind of female hormone.
• These hormones (progesterone & oestrogen) prepare the
• .
lining of the uterus to receive and nourish a fertilized egg,
whether or not the egg is actually• fertilized
. .
• .
 Egg Development
• .
• .
 Egg Delivery Cont’d
• Ovum is fertilized…
Fertilized egg moves through fallopian tube and embeds in soft tissue of uterus.
• Ovum is not fertilized…
Corpus luteum breaks down (so progesterone levels drop). Lining of uterus
detaches and is shed along with blood and unfertilized egg in menstruation.
 Life Within the Uterus
• Where does
fertilization usually
occur?
Fallopian tube
• Ectopic Pregnancy –
Occurs when the zygote
embeds somewhere
other than the uterus
such as the ovary or
fallopian tube.
Extremely painful and
possibly fatal for mom
and baby.
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d

• What keeps more than

one sperm from fertilizing
the egg?
The 1st sperm that enters
causes a chemical change
to occur in the cell
membrane of the egg, that
prevents other sperm from
entering.
• Diploid (2n = 46) condition
is restored. Mitotic
divisions begin.
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d
• What is the
difference
between an
embryo and
a fetus?
• Embryo –
• 1st 6-8
weeks, up
to 2 cm
long
• Fetus –
• After 8
weeks, all
basic
tissues are
present;
rapid
growth
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d
• What is the chorion and what does it do for the embryo?
Chorion (a membrane) grows around the embryo after it implants in the uterine wall. It
has many folds and projections called villi.
• Placenta = area where chorionic villi meet mom’s blood supply.
• Blood vessels from baby lead to placenta through umbilical cord. Materials diffuse
between mom and baby.
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d
• There is no direct blood connection between mom and fetus. Some disease, drugs, medicines,
bacteria, viruses can cross the placenta, some cannot.
• The placenta acts like an endocrine gland too. Explain why?
It secretes the hormone HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) which keeps the corpus luteum
making progesterone. Progesterone maintains the lining of the uterus.
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d

• .
 Life Within the Uterus Cont’d
• Does the baby get O2 from breathing the fluid into its lungs?
No, food/waste/gas exchange occurs through the umbilical
cord/placenta.

•Why do they make babies cry when the are first born?
The baby’s lungs are filled with fluid. Making them
cough/cry makes them expel fluid so that they can breathe
air.
 Stages of Birth
Stage one
•The muscles of the uterus start to contract.
•Baby movement will stimulates the release
of the hormone oxytocin.
•The Rhythmic contractions of the uterus
cause amnion to break.
•The fluid will now pass out through the
vagina.
 Stage 2
• The uterine muscle contractions start to
increase. This will push the baby through
the cervix and then finally the vagina
 Stage 3
• Finally the baby is pushed out with the
head first.
• The mother bending forward to produce
more force.
• Holding her breath will generate more
power to push the diaphragm on top of the
uterus
 Stage 3
• The baby's birth is followed swiftly by
the delivery of the placenta (sometimes
called "the afterbirth").
• The umbilical cord is then cut and tied
• Why was your umbilical cord cut?
• So the baby doesn’t bleed through the cut
blood vessels in the cord.
• What comprises the afterbirth?
• The placenta and amnion (sac of fluid
around the baby for protection/moisture)