Pregnancy Flashcards
(137 cards)
What is conception?
Joining of two germ cells - the ovum and sperm - to make a single cell called a zygote (fertilized egg)
Conception typically happens through male-female sexual intercourse but can occur through other methods.
What are the two germ cells involved in conception?
Ovum and sperm
The ovum is commonly referred to as the egg.
What is the result of conception?
A single cell called a zygote (fertilized egg)
The zygote is the initial stage of development following fertilization.
Fill in the blank: The joining of the ovum and sperm creates a _______.
zygote
True or False: Conception can only occur through male-female sexual intercourse.
False
Conception can happen through other methods as well.
What are the female reproductive glands that produce and store ova?
Ovaries
Ovaries also contain follicles where each ovum is stored.
What is the small sac called where each ovum is stored in the ovary?
Follicle
Each ovum is developed within a follicle in the ovaries.
What hormonal changes occur in a female’s body during puberty regarding follicles?
Some follicles grow and fill with fluid each month.
What is the term for the release of an ovum from its follicle?
Ovulation
What happens to the other follicles that were growing when one ovum is released?
They typically become inactive.
What structure does the egg travel through after being released?
Fallopian tubes
These are two hollow tubes extending from the uterus.
What is the role of the uterus in female anatomy?
It is the reproductive organ where an embryo/fetus develops.
What is the cervix?
The lower, narrow portion of the uterus that connects it to the vagina.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the birth canal in female anatomy.
Vagina
When do a male’s testes start producing sperm?
At puberty
Sperm production continues throughout a male’s lifetime.
What is the typical sperm count in semen during male-female intercourse?
Over 100 million sperm
Semen is the liquid that contains sperm.
What is the pathway that sperm takes to reach the egg?
Vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tube
This journey is essential for fertilization.
How many sperm typically try to fertilize the egg?
Many sperm
Only one sperm successfully fertilizes the egg.
What happens once one sperm successfully enters the ovum?
No other sperm can enter
This marks the occurrence of conception.
How long can the sperm’s journey to the ovum take?
15 minutes to several days
The time depends on the female’s time of ovulation.
When is conception most likely to occur in relation to the ovum’s position?
When the ovum is less than one-third of the way down the fallopian tube
After this point, the ovum is less viable.
How long can sperm live inside a female’s body?
Up to 5 days
This allows for the possibility of pregnancy even if intercourse occurs before ovulation.
What marks Day One of the pregnancy timeline?
First day of menstruation
This is the starting point for tracking pregnancy.
When does ovulation typically occur in the menstrual cycle?
Around day 14
This is the time when the egg is released.