Reproductive Systems PDF - Fertilization, Pregnancy & Labour

Here is the converted text from the images into a structured markdown format. ### How do the reproductive systems work? Human beings produce offspring through sexual reproduction. This involves two people of different sexes. Biological sex is based on our reproductive system at birth. The human re...

Here is the converted text from the images into a structured markdown format. ### How do the reproductive systems work? Human beings produce offspring through sexual reproduction. This involves two people of different sexes. Biological sex is based on our reproductive system at birth. The human reproductive system is different in females and males. Each produces different sex cells. These cells are involved in reproduction. Puberty is the process of changes in the body when the reproductive systems develop. These changes make reproduction possible. Puberty usually begins around the age of ten. It takes around four years to go through the whole process. **Word Bank** * Puberty * Reproductive systems * Sex cells * Sexual reproduction The image displays a diagram of the female reproductive system. Key parts are labeled as follows: * **Ovaries:** are two organs that produce the female sex cells called eggs or ova. * **Fallopian tubes :** connect the ovaries to the uterus. * **The uterus:**, also known as the womb, is a muscular organ with a soft lining. Babies develop in the uterus until they are born. * **The vagina:** is an internal muscular tube that connects the uterus to the outside of the woman’s body. * **The vulva:** is the external set of female organs. it consists of folds of skin called the outer labia and the inner labia. These protect the entrance of the vagina and an internal organ, the clitoris. * **Clitoris:** * **Outer labia** * **Inner labia** * **Vagina:** **Think about it!** * What is located between the clitoris and the entrance of the vagina? **Sex cells.** Sex characteristics are the physical differences between people of different sexes. There are two tpes: * Primary sexual characteristics are the reproductive systems at birth. * Secondary sexual characteristics appear during puberty. ### Male Reproductive System The image displays a diagram of the male reproductive system. Key parts are labeled as follows: * **Testicles:** are two organs that produce the male sex cells called sperm or spermatozoa. They are contained in a bag of skin called the scrotum. * **Vasa deferentia:** are two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. * **The urethra:** is the tube inside the penis that can carry urine or semen. * **Penis:** is an external organ that surrounds the Urethra. It's end, called the glans penis, is covered by a fold of skin, called the foreskin. * **Prostate:** is an organ that produces a fluid that serves as food and transport for the sperm. The mixture of sperm and fluids is called semen. **Secondary sexual characteristics** | Girls | Boys | | ---------------- | ----------------- | | Hips widen | Voice deepens | | Breasts grow | Muscles develop | | Hair grows in the pubic area and armpits | Hair grows on the face and the body | 1. Explain the function of the reproductive system. 2. Draw and label the reproductive systems. 3. Compare. How are they different? * Ovaries and Testicles * Vagina and vulva * The urethra in females and males 4. Write. Which are primary and which are secondary sexual characteristics? * Armpit hair * Breast development * Testicles * Voice changes * Ovaries ### What is Fertilisation? **Female sex cells** Eggs or ova are the female sex cells. They are large, round cells. They are formed in the ovaries. At puberty, the eggs begin to mature. 1. Approximately every 28 days, an egg begins to mature in an ovary. 2. After 14 days, the mature egg is released from the ovary. It enters the fallopian tube. 3. The egg travels through the fallopian tube, the uterus, and the vagina. 4. The egg, some blood and tissue from the uterus comes out of the vagina. This is called menstruation or having a period. 5. From about the age of 50, women gradually stop producing mature eggs and menstruation stops. This time is called the menopause. **Male sex cells** Sperm or spermatozoa are the male sex cells. They are very small. They have a head and long tail, which they use to move. They are formed in the testicles. * From puberty onwards, sperm are formed continuously. * Sperm leave the testicles and they enter the vasa deferentia. * Sperm and fluid from the prostate form semen. This travels through the urethra. * Semen containing millions of sperm cells is expelled from the penis during ejaculation. **Word bank** * egg * embryo * fertilisation * sperm * zygote **Think about it!** The first menstrual period is called menarche. * What do you think is the average age of menarche? The image shows an illustration of an of an egg and a sperm. ### Fertilization Fertilization is the process in which a sperm cell joins with an egg cell to produce a zygote. The zygote will eventually grow into a new human being. Fertilization is internal because the union takes place inside the woman's body. Through sexual intercourse, the sperm enter the woman's body where they can join the egg. 1. A mature egg is released by an ovary. 2. Sperm travel through the vagina and the uterus to reach the fallopian tube. 3. Sperm meet the mature egg in the fallopian tube. Usually only one sperm enters the egg and fertilization occurs. 4. A fertilized egg is called a zygote. As it travels, it starts to divide into many more cells to form an embryo. 5. The embryo arrives in the uterus. It buries itself in the lining of the uterus. There it continues to grow and develop into a baby. True or False? "Women shouldn't wash their hair during menstruation." * Is this statement true or false? * Do you know of any other myths about menstruation? * Compare. What do eggs and sperm have in common? How are they different? * Describe the path of the egg and the sperm until fertilisation occurs. * Write a paragraph in your notebook with each group of words. * vagina - fallopian tube -egg - ovary * mature - uterus - menstruation * testicles - semen - sperm - urethra * vasa deferentia ### What Happens to the Woman's Body During Pregnancy and Labor? **Pregnancy** is the period of time between fertilisation and birth. It lasts nine months. During this time, a baby grows inside its mother's expanding uterus. * **Placenta** * **Umbilical cord** * **Amniotic sac** The diagram in the images shows an illustration of: * **The placenta:**is the organ that supplies oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the embryo. * It grows into the wall of the uterus and is joined to the embryo by the umbilical cord. * **Amniotic sac:** is a membrane that forms around the embryo. it is filled with amniotic fluid. Both protect the embryo. **Word Bank** * amniotic sac * foetus * placenta * umbilical cord **Stages of Pregnancy** Illustrations showing the developing embryo and foetus: * First month * Third month * Sixth month * Ninth month At three months, the embryo is called a **foetus**. It begins to look more like a baby. Its arms and fingers can now be seen, and the organs can be identified. At nine months, it is about 50cm long, it weighs about 3kg and it is ready to be born. **During these nine months, a woman's body experiences changes:** * Women who are pregnant stop having periods. * The breasts grow and prepare to feed the future baby. * The abdomen enlarges because the growing foetus takes up more space. ### Labour and Birth Labour is the physical process when the baby and placenta are pushed out of a woman's body through the vagina. Labour is divided into three stages. 1. **Dilation**: The neck of the uterus dilates and the wall of the uterus contracts to push the foetus into the vagina. 2. **Birth**: The uterus and the mother's muscles of the abdomen make the baby come out. The baby starts to breathe for itself. The umbilical cord is cut. 3. **Afterbirth**: After the baby is born, the placenta is expelled from the uterus, along with the remains of the umbilical cord. Illustrations accompany each labor stage. * **Lactation and breastfeeding:** Lactation is the process of making human milk. It occurs naturally after giving birth. * Feeding babies directly from the mother's breasts is called breastfeeding. Breast milk contains the nutrients a baby needs. * It also contains substances that protect the baby against many diseases. Babies can also be fed with formula milk. Human milk or formula milk is the only food babies need in the first months of their life. **Be a scientist!** * Describe the changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy. * Listen. What stage of labour is described? * Define terms in the images * placenta * umbilical cord * amniotic sac * amniotic fluid * Answer theses questions. * What is the function of the placenta? * What are the characteristics of breast milk? * Investigate. What is a midwife? What do they do? * Investigate. * Search for information about water breaking. * What is water breaking? * When does water typically break?