Sexual reproduction in

human
Female reproductive organs

Structure of the male reproductive organ:

 Structure and adaptation of the female gamete:
1. Usually one Egg cell, with a haploid nucleus,
that when fertilization occurs zygote will
have the correct number of chromosomes.
2. Egg cell is larger than the sperm, because
it contains lots of cytoplasm, with stored
food to provide energy for the zygote and
embryo.
3. Egg cell is surrounded by a layer of jelly
for protection, which changes after
fertilization, and becomes impenetrable to
prevent entry of other sperms. {All the
organelles in the zygote comes from the
female gamete}.
Structure and adaptation of the male gametes:
1. Large number; increases the chance
of reaching the ovum/egg, as many of
them are lost during the journey.
2. Have flagellum for swimming to
reach the ovum.
3. Have acrosome in the head (vesicle
of enzymes) to digest the jelly coat
around the egg.
4. Have lots of mitochondria to
provide energy for swimming.
Fertilization
It is the fusion of nuclei of sperm and egg forming diploid nucleus and
zygote is formed. Sperms deposited at top of vagina during
ejaculation, swim using flagellum through cervix → →
uterus oviducts.
Many sperms surround ovum, digest protective coat (using enzymes in
acrosome).
One sperm succeeds to introduce its head into the cytoplasm of the
egg. The membrane around the egg becomes impenetrable to other
sperm.
Implantation
It is the sinking of the embryo into the
spongy lining of the uterus.
As soon as zygote is formed it is swept
by the cilia and peristalsis towards the
uterus cavity, during the journey zygote
divides by mitosis forming a ball of
identical cells called an embryo.

Placenta and amnion

The embryo continue to grow by mitosis
and differentiate, into a placenta and cord
which connect the growing embryo to
lining of the uterus.
The placenta is a soft dark red tissue
with finger like projections called villi that
fit closely into the lining of the uterus
The umbilical cord joins between the
fetus and placenta.
Inside the cord there are two arteries
which take away blood from the fetus
to placenta, and a vein which returns
blood from placenta to fetus.
 Functions of the placenta:
•Respiration: Provides the fetus with Oxygen.
•Nutrition: Provides the fetus with nutrients (Nutrients diffuse
from higher concentration in the maternal blood to lower
concentration in the
fetal blood through the umbilical cord). This allows for fetal
growth.
•Excretion: Removes fetal waste products such as CO2 & urea.
•Endocrine: Secretes Progesterone after the 3rd month of pregnancy
The placenta separates maternal blood from fetal blood so it
protects
the fetus from high blood pressure, pathogens and toxins in
maternal
blood.
Functions of amnion:
A strong membrane that
surrounds the baby which
secretes amniotic fluid.
The amniotic fluid protect and support the baby, act as shock
absorber, allow baby to move freely and Keeps constant
temperature for the fetus

Stages of development of the embryo

and foetus after implantation:
1. Early stages:
Embryo cells increase in
complexity, become specialized
for different functions and
develop to a foetus.
2. Late pregnancy:
Growth: the foetus grows until
38 weeks it is ready to be born.