Reproduction

Question 1

What is sexual reproduction?

Answer 1

Female eggs and male sperm join together (fertilization) after a zygote forms and has the information to make a baby.

Question 2

What is the process of fertilization?

Answer 2

An egg cell and sperm cell join together in a process called fertilization.

Question 3

Define an egg.

Answer 3

An egg is a female sex cell.

Question 4

Define a sperm.

Answer 4

A sperm is a male sex cell.

Question 5

What is a zygote?

Answer 5

A zygote is a fertilized egg.

Question 6

Define the male reproductive system.

Answer 6

The male reproductive system is specialized to produce sperm cells and the hormone testosterone.

Question 7

Describe the function of the testes.

Answer 7

The testes are the organs in which sperm is produced.

Question 8

What is the scrotum? Why is it important for sperm development?

Answer 8

Holds testes away from the rest of the body, has to be a certain temperature 2 to 3° (= 37°) below normal body temperature so sperm can develop properly.

Question 9

Describe testosterone. What is it, and what does it do?

Answer 9

The hormone that controls the development of adult male characteristics.

Question 10

Define semen. Trace the path in which semen leaves the body.

Answer 10

Semen is the fluid that contains sperm and is expelled from the male reproductive system during ejaculation.

Question 11

What are the steps in sperm production?

Answer 11

Sperm production involves the processes of spermatogenesis, maturation, and storage.

Question 12

Define the female reproductive system.

Answer 12

The female reproductive system is specialized to produce eggs and nursery developing babies until birth; it also produces estrogen and other hormones.

Question 13

What are ovaries? What do they do?

Answer 13

Female reproductive structures that produce eggs. Slightly below the waist and on both sides of the body.

Question 14

Describe the function of estrogen.

Answer 14

Hormone that triggers the development of adult female characteristics.

Question 15

What are Fallopian tubes?

Answer 15

The passageway an egg travels from an ovary to the uterus (where fertilization occurs).

Question 16

What is the function of the uterus?

Answer 16

Hollow muscular organ. If the egg is fertilized, it attaches to the wall of the uterus; if it’s unfertilized, it breaks down inside.

Question 17

What is the function of the vagina?

Answer 17

Muscular passageway leading to the outside of the body; also where a baby leaves its mother’s body during childbirth.

Question 18

What is the menstrual cycle?

Answer 18

Monthly cycle of changes; an egg develops in an ovary at the same time the lining of the uterus thickens in a way that prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg.

Question 19

Approximately how many days is the female menstrual cycle?

Answer 19

28 days.

Question 20

What is menstruation? Why is it necessary?

Answer 20

Extra blood and tissue from the thickened lining of the uterus leaves the body through the vagina. Prepares a woman’s body for pregnancy, and if it doesn’t occur, the uterus sheds its lining.

Question 21

What is ovulation? When does it normally occur?

Answer 21

The egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. It occurs about a day after an egg enters the final stages of maturing.

Question 22

What happens to a woman’s menstrual cycle when she becomes pregnant?

Answer 22

The menstruation cycle stops for nine months.

Question 23

Why does the uterus thicken?

Answer 23

To prepare for a fertilized egg.

Question 24

What are the three stages of development before birth? (In order)

Answer 24

Zygote, Embryo, Fetus.

Question 25

What is an embryo?

Answer 25

Developing human that developed from zygote, during the first eight weeks following fertilization.

Question 26

What is a fetus?

Answer 26

From the end of the eighth week till birth, a developing human is called the fetus.

Question 27

What two membranes form during pregnancy? What does each do?

Answer 27

The amniotic sac and placenta form to protect and nourish the baby. The amniotic sac surrounds the embryo and is filled with fluid which cushions and protects the embryo. The placenta links the embryo to the mother; blood vessels are close together but don't touch and allow substances to be exchanged from one bloodstream to the other.

Question 28

Describe the umbilical cord.

Answer 28

A rope-like structure that forms between the embryo and placenta and contains the blood vessels.

Question 29

What will occur if a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes, or abuses drugs while pregnant?

Answer 29

Can diffuse from mother to embryo and cause harm; most pathogens prevent it from reaching the embryo, and the baby can also be born addicted to drugs.

Question 30

What are the three stages of childbirth? Describe, in order, each phase.

Answer 30

Labor: first stage of birth; contractions cause the uterus cervix to open large enough for a baby to fit through. Delivery: pushed out of the uterus through the vagina headfirst, and then the umbilical cord is cut afterwards. Afterbirth: muscles in the uterus contract, pushing the placenta and empty amniotic sac out of the vagina.

Question 31

What are identical twins?

Answer 31

A sperm fertilizes a single egg, then the zygote splits and forms two embryos.

Question 32

What are fraternal twins?

Answer 32

Two sperm fertilize two eggs; each zygote forms an embryo.

Question 33

State which genders identical twins can be. State which genders fraternal twins can be.

Answer 33

Identical twins are 2 girls or 2 boys. Fraternal twins are 2 boys, 2 girls, or boy and girl.

Question 34

Where do labor contractions occur? What opens as a result?

Answer 34

In the uterus and cause the cervix to open.

Question 35

What are the stages of the human life cycle? Describe what happens in each.

Answer 35

Infancy: 1-2 years of life where weight and size change greatly; baby learns to crawl, walk, and hold head up as well as follow simple instructions and talk. Childhood: Taller, heavier, and more coordinated; grow more curious, language develops greatly, and increase mental abilities. Adolescence: grow to think more like adults and puberty makes them develop sexually and undergo body changes; can now menstruate and produce sperm. Adulthood: After physical, mental, and emotional stages of growth, they now look older and stop menstruating and ovulating; men produce smaller amounts of sperm.

Question 36

What changes occur from infancy to adulthood?

Answer 36

Include physical changes such as an increase in size and mental changes such as the ability to communicate.