Science-Chapter 3

puberty

The period of growth and development of the final adult form and of sexual maturation. It is the time when hormones begin the changes that make our bodies produce mature gametes.

gonads

The reproductive organs that make gametes.

testes

The gonads in males that produce sperm and testosterone.

testosterone

The hormone responsible for developing secondary male sex characteristics.

secondary male sex characteristics

Characteristics such as broader shoulders, a deeper voice, and growth of body hair.

primary sex characteristics in males

The penis and testicles in males.

sperm

Mature gametes produced by males, which are capable of reproduction.

sperm production

Usually continues throughout a male's entire life.

scrotum

Sac that protects the testes and helps keep them cool.

epididymis

A structure on top of the testis that stores sperm.

vas deferens

Tubes where sperm travel from epididymis to the urethra.

urethra

Tube to the outside of the body that expels urine and semen.

prostate gland

Helps produce seminal fluid that combines with sperm to make semen.

testis

male reproductive gland responsible for producing sperm and male hormones, primarily testosterone

seminiferous tubules

Tiny tubes that produce sperm.

Penis

Organ that delivers sperm during reproduction

male reproductive system

The main function is to produce healthy active gametes and be able to transfer the gametes to the female.

Where are sperm cells made?

In the seminiferous tubules

Where do sperm cells mature?

In the epididymis

What is the path sperm cells take after maturing?

They travel through the vas deferens and urethra to leave the body.

advantage of scrotum

To keep the testes cool, which allows for better sperm production.

Vagina

A muscular tube that acts as the birth canal.

Uterus

A hollow, muscular organ where the fetus develops.

Follicle

Fluid filled sac in the ovary that stores egg cells held as second division of meiosis

Ovary

The gland that stores and releases eggs and produces estrogen and progesterone.

Cervix

The structure that connects the vagina to the uterus.

Fallopian Tube

The tube that guides an egg from the ovary to the uterus.

What are the gonads in females called?

Ovaries

What hormones do the ovaries produce?

Estrogen and progesterone

How many eggs does a female have at birth?

Approximately 1-2 million eggs

How many eggs will a female ovulate in her lifetime?

400-500 eggs

What happens during ovulation?

The release of the egg from the ovary

What is the menstrual cycle?

A precisely timed sequence of events in females that takes about 28 days

What prepares the endometrium for a potential pregnancy?

Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone

What happens if fertilization does not occur after ovulation?

The endometrium breaks down and is shed from the body in a process called menstruation

How long does menstruation usually last?

Four to seven days

What happens to an unfertilized egg after ovulation?

It will die in 24 to 48 hours, disintegrate, and leave the body

Define fertilization of an egg

The process where a male sperm cell fuses with a female egg (ovum) to form a zygote

What is the function of the placenta?

Connects the embryo to the uterus.

What does the placenta allow to pass between mother and baby?

Nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Implantation

When the embryo reaches the uterus, it attaches itself to the endometrium that lines the uterus.