PROJECT ON REPRODUCTION

By: Aaron Frey

Content

Introduction The reproductive system The male reproductive system The female reproductive system Fertilization Embryo Formation of foetus/fetus Formation of Twins

Introduction

All living organism have specific features. One is to make species of their own kind (usually younger ones). This ability is known as Reproduction.

Do all living organism reproduce

Yes, but in different ways. Microorganisms such as bacteria reproduce by splitting into two identical cell like structures. Birds, insect, fishes and reptiles lay eggs in which their younger ones grow and later on hatch.

M a m m a l su ch a s s co w s g i b i ve rth to th e i yo u n g e r o n e s r a l ve a n d fe e d th e m i w i m i k fro m th e i th l r m a m m a ry g l n d s a t a

The Human reproductive system

The male reproductive system

The male reproductive system.

Penis - The penis is a sensitive organ that delivers semen into the vagina and helps in achieving sexual pleasure. At its tip is the glans which contains lots of nerves and the urethral opening, through which urine and semen passes. Scrotum- The scrotum is an external sac containing the testicles. It has a slightly lower temperature than the normal body temperature. This is required to sustain sperms. Seminal vesicle-The seminal vesicles produce a fluid that activates, protects and nourish the sperm after it has left the penis during ejaculation. Testes There are two testes in every male and are in charge of producing sperms and the homorne testosterone.

Cowper's gland- a pair of organs that release fluids, alkaline in nature, to neutralize the acidity in the vagina. Prostate gland- this gland secretes a fluid which keeps the sperms lively and healthy. Epididymis Serves as a sperm storage. This is where the sperms mature and are kept until they are ready to fertilize and be ejaculated. Erectile tissues ( corpora cavernosa) this pair of tissue is spongy in nature and are located on both sides of the penis. These help in achieving erection anytime they get filled up with blood. Vas deferens/ sperm duct a narrow tube that connects the epididymis to the urethra. The sperms pass through this before they join the seminal fluid.

Essentials

Erection

The stiffened and swollen state of the penis.

Ejaculation

To release semen from the penis during orgasm.

The female reproductive system

The female reproductive organs/tissues

Clitoris- a tissue that contains the main connection of nerves which help achieve sexual pleasure (orgasm) Vagina: this is an opening where sperms are delivered and also serves as a birth canal. Uterus- this is a chamber that holds a baby when the female is pregnant. Fallopian tube- a long and narrow tube through which the eggs passes from the ovary to the uterus.

Ovary- a very essential organ that is in charge of producing the female sex cell (ovum) and a set of hormones. cervix- a neck like structure between the vagina and the uterus. It widens greatly to permit the passage of the baby during birth. Ovum- this is a cell like structure(microscopic) that contains the female sex cell.

External structure

Internal structure

Essentials

Menstruation
This refers to the monthly flow of blood shed from the uterus lining. Menstruation accompanies a woman's childbearing years usually beginning between the ages of 10 and 16 (adolescence). The shedding of the uterine lining occurs when certain hormone levels are low. At the end of menstruation a pituitary hormone stimulates new follicles to develop in the ovary. These follicles secrete oestrogen as they mature, causing cells in the lining of the uterus to proliferate.

Follicles are sac - like cells which secretes hormones etc .

One mature follicle then releases an egg. The empty follicle forms the corpus luteum( egg) which secretes progesterone. Under the added influence of progesterone, the uterine lining thickens further and swells in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not take place, the corpus luteum dies and hormone levels fall. Without hormonal support, the uterine lining disintegrates and discharges, beginning a new menstrual period and cycle.

Menopause
This is the ceasing of a womans childbearing years which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 50.

The menstrual cycles

Pregnancy

This is the period during which a woman or female animal carries unborn offspring inside her body, from fertilization to birth. It is also known as gestation period.

Gametes

Sperm

Egg

Coitus or sex?

Coitus-sex-copulation

At the highest point of sexual excitement (orgasm) the male releases semen(sperm + seminal fluid) into the vagina. From there, the sperms swim through the uterus to the fallopian tube to fuse with an egg released by the female. Only one out of the million sperms released fuse with the egg. It breaks the membrane of the egg using enzymes from its acrosome.

After the sperm enters the egg, a thick wall is formed around the egg so that no other sperm can enter. After the fusion a zygote is formed.

Fertilization- Conception

Also known as insemination, this is the fusion of the male and female reproductive cells (gametes) to produce a fertilized reproductive cell called a zygote. Fertilizationiscomplete when the sperm's nucleus fuses with the egg's nucleus. In the first step of fertilization the sperms approach the egg and surround it. Only one sperm enters the egg by penetrating the eggs membrane(vitelline envelope). The sperm dismantles. The head containing the male sex cell penetrates the nuclei of the egg which contains the female sex cell. The two gametes fuse to form a zygote.

Embryo- morula

After the zygote is formed, it divides into two cells. The two cells keep dividing into a ball of cells called a blastocyst. The blastocyst attaches to the uterus walls through a process called implantation. The blastocyst, being provided with nutrients grows into an embryo. The embryo later on grows into a foetus. A zygote that has split into a collective number of cells, could

Formation of Foetus

Before the morula moves into the uterus, the fallopian tube performs a pattern of movement in the form of wobbling which is similar to peristalsis. The wobbling can cause the morula to split which results into twin formation. When the morula gets to the uterus. It falls on the walls and attaches itself. Few days later, a connection of nerves and blood vessels form and grow into the uterine walls. The area of nerves and vessels is known as the placenta.

Gestation

The period of development of the foetus during pregnancy.

Multiple birth (twins)

This occurs when more than one offspring is born at a time. This occurs in several ways and the number of offspring produced depend on which process had occcured. Splitting of the embryo: