A | B |
testes | male gonads |
seminiferous tubules | tubules inside testes where spermatogenesis occurs |
epididymis | storage area inside testes where sperm become mature |
Vas deferens | tube that carries sperm from testes to urethra |
urethra | tube that carries urine and, in males, sperm out of the body |
seminal vesicles, Cowper's glands, prostate gland | secrete fluids into the urethra which nourish and protect sperm |
semen | mixture of sperm and fluids |
testosterone | male hormone produced by testes |
secondary sex characteristics | physical traits appearing in adolescence that are not directly involved in reproduction |
examples of male secondary sex characteristics | beard, deep voice, muscle development |
female secondary sex characteristics | breast development, wider pelvis |
ovaries | female gonads |
follicles | tiny sacs in ovary where oogenesis occurs |
approximate number of follicles | 400,000 |
approximate number of mature eggs produced in lifetime | 500 |
ovulation | release of mature egg from follicle |
Fallopian tubes (oviducts) | tubes near ovaries which carry egg cells to uterus |
uterus | muscular, pear-shaped organ where embryo develops |
cervix | narrow opening at bottom of uterus |
vagina (birth canal) | passageway that leads from uterus to exterior of body |
estrogen | female sex hormone |
menstrual cycle | hormone-controlled cycle in human female in which uterus prepares to receive egg |
28 days | average length of menstrual cycle |
menopause | the permanent stopping of the menstrual cycle |
first stage of menstrual cycle | follicle stage |
second stage of menstrual cycle | ovulation |
third stage of menstrual cycle | corpus luteum stage |
last stage of menstrual cycle | menstruation |
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | secreted by pituitary during follicle stage |
estrogen secreted by follicle causes this | build-up of the uterine lining |
luteinizing hormone (LH) | hormone produced by pituitary that causes ovulation to occur |
progesterone | hormone secreted by corpus luteum;maintains uterine lining |
breakdown of corpus luteum after 14 days results in the loss of this | loss of uterine lining (menstruation occurs) |
fertilization | uniting of sperm cell with egg cell to produce zygote |
human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone (HCG) | secreted by embryo to maintain corpus luteum until formation of placenta |
In vitro fertilization | technique of uniting sperm and egg in glass dish in laboratory |
implantation | embryo in blastula stage enters uterus and attaches to uterine wall |
chorion | extraembryonic membrane that forms the placenta |
allantois and yolk sac | form the umbilical cord |
amnion | surrounds embryo and fills with amniotic fluid, cushioning embryo from mechanical shock |
placenta | organ that allows contact between mother's blood and embryo's;acts as barrier to some harmful substances |
gestation | length of pregnancy |
labor | rhythmic contraction of uterus which dilate cervix and expel baby from uterus |
delivery | passage of baby through birth canal |
afterbirth | membranes (placenta,amnion) expelled after delivery |
prolactin | hormone secreted by pituitary which stimulates mammary glands to secrete milk |
navel | scar on baby's abdomen left by umbilical cord |
premature birth | birth earlier than 9 months |
caesarian section | incision through mother's abdomen and uterus, made in order to remove baby |