| A | B |
|---|
| How often do females menstruate? | Usually every 28 days, but it can be slightly less or more than this. |
| When do females stop menstruating? | During pregnancy and after menopause (Change of life). |
| What causes the bleeding during the menstrual cycle? | The loss of the lining of the uterus. |
| When does the bleeding start and stop? | It starts on day 1 and stops at around day 5. |
| What happens after day 5? | By the end of about day 5, the loss of blood stops. The lining of the uterus begins to re-grow and an egg cell starts to mature in one of the ovaries. |
| What happens during ovulation? | At about day 14, the mature egg cell is released from the ovary. The egg cell travels through the egg tube towards the uterus. |
| What happens to the egg after ovulation? | What happens to the egg after ovulation? |
| What happens if the egg cell meets and joins with a sperm cell? | It is fertilised. It attaches to the lining of the uterus and the woman becomes pregnant. |
| What is fertilisation? | Fertilisation happens when an egg cell meets with a sperm cell and joins with it. Sperm cells travel in semen from the penis and into the top of the vagina. They enter the uterus through the cervix and travel to the oviduct (fallopian tubes). If a sperm cell meets with an egg cell there, fertilisation can happen. |
| What happens to the egg after it is fertilised? | The fertilised egg divides to form a ball of cells called an embryo. This attaches to the lining of the uterus and begins to develop into a foetus and finally a baby. |
| What does the foetus get from its mother? | Protection, oxygen, nutrients (food and water), removal of waste substance. |
| What is the amniotic fluid? | It is a liquid contained in a bag called the amnion that the foetus is surrounded with and protects it. |
| What does the placenta do? | It provides oxygen and nutrients to the foetus and removes waste substances such as such as carbon dioxide. |
| How does the placenta work? | It grows into the wall of the uterus and is joined to the foetus by the umbilical cord. The mother's blood does not mix with the foetus's blood, but the placenta lets substances pass between the two blood supplies, such as oxygen, nutrients and carbon dioxide. |
| What is puberty? | When the reproductive system if a child changes into that of an adult. |
| When does puberty occur? | Between the ages of ten and fifteen. |
| What causes the changes of puberty? | Sex hormones produced by the testes in boys and by the ovaries in girls. |
| What are the changes of puberty that occur in both boys and girls? | Underarm hair grows, pubic hair grows, body smell gets stronger, emotional changes at this time, and a growth spurt. |
| What are the changes that only happen to boys? | Voice breaks (gets deeper), testes and penis get bigger, testes start to produce sperm cells, shoulders get wider, hair grows on face and chest. |
| What are the changes that only happen to girls? | Breasts develop, ovaries start to release egg cells (periods start), hips get wider. |
| What is the time called when the changes of puberty occur? | Adolescence. |
| After how long in the uterus is the baby ready to be born? | 9 months. |
| What happens to the uterus when a baby is born? | The cervix relaxes and muscles in the wall of the uterus contract, pushing the baby out of the mother's body, through her vagina. |
