AL WISAM SCHOOL

Name: ______________________________________ year 10

DATE

Humans
3.8 describe the structure and explain the function of the male and female reproductive systems
3.9 understand the roles of oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle
3.10 describe the role of the placenta in the nutrition of the developing embryo
3.11 understand how the developing embryo is protected by amniotic fluid
3.12 understand the roles of oestrogen and testosterone in the development of secondary sexual
characteristics.

Testes
The two testes (one is called a testis)
are contained in a bag of skin called the
scrotum. They have two functions:
 to produce sperm (the male gametes
or sex cells)
 to make the hormone testosterone

Sperm duct and glands

The sperm pass through the sperm ducts,

and mix with fluids produced by glands
(seminal vesicles). The fluids provide the
sperm cells with nutrients. This mixture is
called semen.

Penis and urethra

The penis has two functions:

 to pass urine out of the body from the
bladder
 to pass semen into the vagina of a
woman during sexual intercourse
The urethra is the tube inside the penis
that can carry urine or semen.
A ring of muscle ensures that urine
and semen do not get mixed Up
The human female reproductive system

Ovaries

The two ovaries contain ova (eggs). Ova are the female gametes or sex cells.
Women have these cells in their bodies from birth, whereas men produce new
sperm continually.

Oviducts

 Each ovary is connected to

the uterus by
an oviduct (fallopian tube).
 The oviduct is lined
with ciliated cells. Every month,
an ovum (egg) develops and
becomes mature, and is released
from an ovary.
 The cilia waft the ovum along
inside the oviduct and into the
uterus.

Uterus and cervix

The uterus is a muscular bag with a soft lining. It is where a baby develops until
its birth. The cervix is a ring of muscle at the lower end of the uterus. It keeps
the baby in place while the woman is pregnant.

Vagina and urethra

The vagina is a muscular tube that leads from the cervix to the outside of the
woman's body. A man's penis goes into the woman's vagina during sexual
intercourse. The opening to the vagina has folds of skin called labia that meet to
form a vulva.
The urethra also opens into the vulva, but it is separate from the vagina. It
passes urine out of the body from the bladder
 :
 testosterone - produced by the testes - controls the development of
male secondary sexual characteristics
 oestrogen - produced by the ovaries - controls the development of female
secondary sexual characteristics

Changes during puberty

Boys only Boys and girls Girls only

Voice breaks Pubic hair grows Voice deepens gradually

Hair grows on face and

body Underarm hair grows Hips get wider

Body becomes more Sexual organs grow

muscular and develop Breasts develop

Testes start to produce Ovaries start to release egg cells -

sperm cells menstruation starts

Fertilisation

Fertilisation is the fusion of the nucleus of a male gamete with the nucleus of
a female gamete, producing a new cell called a zygote. This then matures into
an embryo.
In humans, fertilisation happens inside the woman’s body. This is a process
called internal fertilisation.

The developing embryo

After fertilisation, the newly-formed zygote divides repeatedly to form a ball of

cells called an embryo. This becomes implanted in the wall of the uterus.

After eight weeks of development, the embryo is called a fetus (also spelt
‘foetus’ but pronounced the same). The amniotic sac produces amniotic fluid,
which surrounds and protects the developing embryo

The placenta

A placenta, connected by an umbilical cord, develops from the embryo. The

placenta anchors the embryo in the uterus. It also allows:

nutrients and oxygen to move from the mother to the embryo

waste materials and carbon dioxide to move from the embryo to the mother

There is no physical connection between the circulatory systems of the embryo

and its mother, so their blood doesn’t mix. These materials pass from one to the
other by diffusion.
 The menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is a recurring process which takes around 28 days. During
the process, the lining of the uterus is prepared for pregnancy. If pregnancy
does not happen, the lining is then shed. This is known as menstruation.

Hormones in the menstrual cycle

Several hormones control this cycle – for example, they are involved in
controlling the release of an egg each month from an ovary, and changing the
thickness of the uterus lining.
Hormone Produced Role

FSH (follicle
stimulating Pituitary Causes an egg to mature in an ovary. Stimulates
hormone) gland the ovaries to release oestrogen

Stops FSH being produced (so that only one egg

matures in a cycle). Repairs and thickens the
uterus lining. Stimulates the pituitary gland to
Oestrogen Ovaries release LH.

LH (luteinising Pituitary
hormone) gland Triggers ovulation (the release of a mature egg)

Maintains the lining of the uterus during the

middle part of the menstrual cycle and during
Progesterone Ovaries pregnancy.

Hormone levels during the menstrual cycle

If a woman becomes pregnant, the placenta produces progesterone. This
maintains the lining of the uterus during pregnancy and means that
menstruation does not happen.