IGCSE BIOLOGY Topic 16.

Sexual reproduction in humans

Learning objective:

Subtopic 1 Human reproductive organs

 Identify and name on diagrams of the male reproductive
system: the testes, scrotum, sperm ducts, prostate gland,
urethra and penis, and state the functions of these parts
 Identify and name on diagrams of the female reproductive
system: the ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and vagina, and
state the functions of these parts
Male or female?
The male reproductive system
The female reproductive system
Roles of the reproductive system
 Male reproductive system

Bladder

prostate
gland

penis

urethra
Sperm duct
testis
scrotum
side view
 The male reproductive system

It consists of:
 a pair of testes contained in
the scrotum

• Testes produce sperm and male

sex hormones

• The scrotum maintains the

testes at a lower temperature
for sperm development
 The male reproductive system
It consists of:

 a penis for copulation

• contains erectile tissue

and blood vessels

• erects when sexually

stimulated

• ejects semen (a mixture of

sperm and seminal fluid) to
the female’s vagina
 The male reproductive system
It consists of:
 a system of sperm ducts
connecting the testes to the
penis
• transports sperm to the
urethra
 The male reproductive system
It consists of:

 Prostate gland

Make seminal fluid which the

sperm swim in
 Female reproductive system

Oviduct
(Fallopian tube)
ovary
uterus

cervix
vagina

side view
 The female reproductive system
It consists of:

 a pair of ovaries

• produce ova and female

sex hormones

• with a funnel-shaped
opening near each ovary
 The female reproductive
system
It consists of:
 a pair of oviducts
also called Fallopian tubes

• transport ovum to the uterus

• site of fertilization

cilia
beating action helps transport the ova
 The female reproductive system
It consists of:
 a uterus

• provides protection and a

stable environment for embryo
development

• the wall contracts to push

out the fetus during labour
 The female reproductive system
It consists of:

 a narrow opening form cervix

• can dilate to allow fetus

to pass through during
labour
 The female reproductive system
It consists of:

 a vagina

• acts as the birth canal

• provides an acidic
environment to reduce
bacterial growth
 Rearrange the table
Sperm tube Entrance to the uterus
Cervix The tube that caries sperm from the testis
Uterus These add special fluid to the sperm
Penis Tube that takes urine and semen out of the
body
Urethra Used to put semen into female
Ovary Where a baby grows during pregnancy
Testis Where eggs are carried to the uterus
vagina Where sperm are made
Oviduct Where the eggs are made
Glands Where the penis goes during sex
 Answers
Ovary Where the eggs are made.
Oviduct Where eggs are carried to the uterus.
Uterus Where a baby grows during pregnancy.
Cervix Entrance to the uterus.
Vagina Where the penis goes during sex.
Urethra The tube that takes urine and semen out of the body.

Penis Used to put semen into the female.

Sperm tube The tube that caries sperm from the testis.

Testis Where sperm are made.

Glands These add special fluid to the sperm
Learning objective:

Subtopic 2 Sex cells in humans

 Compare male and female gametes in terms of size,
structure, motility and numbers
 Explain the adaptive features of sperm, limited to flagellum,
mitochondria and enzymes in the acrosome
 Explain the adaptive features of egg cells, limited to energy
stores and the jelly coat that changes at fertilization
 Human Sperm

• looks like a tadpole

• about 0.05 mm long

• produced in large numbers
 Human Sperm
acrosome
head

nucleus

It consists of:
 a head

• contains a nucleus with haploid number of

chromosomes
• with acrosome which contains enzymes for
penetration into the ovum during fertilization
 Human Sperm

mitochondria Middle piece

It consists of:
 a middle piece

• contains numerous mitochondria to

supply energy for swimming
 Human Sperm

It consists of: Tail

 a tail/flagellum

• Produces swimming movements

 Human Ovum

• biggest human cell

• about 0.1 mm in diameter

• spherical in shape

• cannot move

• produced in much smaller

numbers than sperm
 Human Ovum
It consists of:
 a nucleus
• with haploid number of
chromosomes

 a cytoplasm
• contains yolk – an energy store
for early embryo development

 a cell membrane

• surrounded by a protective layer of jelly

 Comparison of sperm & Ovum
Sperm Ovum
1.Size Smaller and is motile Large cell, incapable of
independent movement

2. Structure Long tail for movement , Wafted oviducts by cilia and

powered by mitochondria muscular contractions

3. Food reserves Little or no , gets energy Cytoplasm contains protein

from nutrients in the seminal and lipid food reserves
fluid
4. Special feature Head contains acrosome to Head surrounded by a jelly
hydrolyse the zona pellucida like coat – the zona
pellucida which hardens
after one sperm penetrates
 Comparison of sperm & Ovum

Sperm Ovum
5. Production Sperms are produced in large Only one ovum is
numbers. produced per month

Normal male produces over 100 There are two ovaries

million sperm per ejaculation; in female. So one side
fewer than 100 reach vicinity of ovary will ovulate
egg; one penetrates. alternative cycles.

.
Sperm or egg?
Learning objective:

Subtopic 3 Fertilisation and development

 Describe fertilisation as the fusion of the nuclei from a

male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg cell/ovum)
 State that in early development, the zygote forms an
embryo which is a ball of cells that implants into the wall of
the uterus
 Outline the growth and development of the fetus in terms
of increasing complexity in the early stages and increasing
size towards the end of pregnancy
 Fertilisation

Fertilisation is the fusion of the nuclei from a

male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg
cell/ovum)
Fertilisation
Fertilisation
Fertilisation and implantation
Fertilisation and implantation
 Sequence the stages leading to implantation

The cells in the ball keep dividing as it moves down the

oviduct. It is now called an embryo.

Ovulation. A mature follicle bursts, and releases an egg

into the oviduct.

The zygote divides.

Fertilisation. A sperm nucleus fuses with the egg

nucleus, forming a zygote.

Implantation. The embryo sinks into the soft lining of

the uterus. Placenta forming.

After several hours, a ball of cells is formed.

 Implantation
Ovulation. A mature follicle bursts, and releases an egg
into the oviduct. Ovary

Fertilisation. A sperm nucleus fuses with the egg

nucleus, forming a zygote. In oviduct.

The zygote divides.

After several hours, a ball of cells is formed.

The cells in the ball keep dividing as it moves down the

oviduct. It is now called an embryo.

Implantation. The embryo sinks into the soft lining of

the uterus. Placenta forming.
Reproduction processes
 Development of the embryo
• 6 weeks: all the
organs have begun to
grow

• 8 weeks: most organs

are now present

• 10 weeks: all organs

are now developed

The growth and development of the fetus

 increasing complexity in the early stages
(development)
 increasing size in the late stages (growth)
Development of the embryo and fetus
Development of the embryo and fetus
Learning objective:

Subtopic 4 Placenta and umbilical cord, ante-natal care

 Describe the function of the placenta and umbilical cord in

relation to exchange of dissolved nutrients, gases and
excretory products and providing a barrier to toxins and
pathogens (structural details are not required)
 State that some toxins, e.g. nicotine, and pathogens, e.g.
rubella virus, can pass across the placenta and affect the
fetus
 Describe the ante-natal care of pregnant women, limited to
special dietary needs and the harm from smoking and
alcohol consumption
Formation of placenta
amnion

placenta

umbilical cord
 Formation of placenta
close, but not join
embryo’s maternal
capillaries blood space

maternal
venule

maternal
arteriole

embryo
placenta
How does the placenta work?
PLACENTA

Diffuse from
foetus to mother:
1) CO2
2) water,
3) Urea

Diffuse from
mother to foetus:
1) O2
2) glucose,
3) amino acids,
4) minerals
PLACENTA
The placenta is
adapted for diffusion
in much the same way
as other exchange
organs:

1. Huge surface area

(it has lots of villi-
like projections)
2. Only a few cells
thick
3. Blood supplies keep
the concentration
gradients high
4. Counter-current
system
 Amniotic fluid
• The fetus is surrounded by a strong membrane called
amnion.
• The liquid inside the amnion is amniotic fluid.
 Functions of amniotic fluid
• To keep the fetus moist to prevent desiccation
/drying

• As a water cushion to
• support the foetus
• allow it to move freely
• absorb shock
• protect the foetus from mechanical injuries

• To reduce temperature fluctuation

• To lubricate the vagina during birth

 Ante-natal care
‘Ante-natal’: means ‘before birth’
A pregnant woman Because …
should…

A pregnant woman should Because …

not…
 Ante-natal care
‘Ante-natal’: means ‘before birth’
A pregnant woman should… Because …

Eat food containing plenty of Help to form the growing fetus’s

calcium bones
Extra iron To produce extra blood to help
carry oxygen an nutrients to
placenta
A little extra carbohydrate Extra energy
Extra protein To form fetus’s new cells

Continue to take exercise Stay fit

Avoid some illness Pathogen such as rubella can

pass across placenta and cause
serious harm to the fetus
 Ante-natal care
‘Ante-natal’: means ‘before birth’
A pregnant woman should Because …
not…
Smoke Nicotine and carbon monoxide can
enter the baby’s blood, and cause
the baby to grow slowly and be
born smaller
Drink too much alcohol Alcohol can enter the baby’s blood
and cause fetal alcohol syndrome
Take any drug without May cause developmental defects
doctor’s advice
Learning objective:

Subtopic 5 Labour and birth, feeding

 Outline the processes involved in labour and birth, limited
to:
– contraction of the muscles in the uterus wall
– breaking of the amniotic sac
– dilation of the cervix
– passage through the vagina
– tying and cutting the umbilical cord
– delivery of the afterbirth

 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of breast-

feeding compared with bottle-feeding using formula milk
 • The muscular walls of the uterus start
to contract
• The pressure breaks the amniotic
sac, releasing the amniotic fluid
• The cervix become dilated to allow
baby to pass through

• The vagina
stretches to allow
the baby to be born

• The baby is still attached to the placenta by

the umbilical cord, so this is cut and tied.
• The placenta breaks away form the wall of
the uterus and passed out (afterbirth).
Sequence the stages during labour

1. delivery of the placenta afterbirth

2. dilation of the cervix

3. passage through the vagina

4. breaking of the amniotic sac

5. contraction of the muscles in the uterus wall

6. tying and cutting the umbilical cord

5. contraction of the muscles in the uterus wall

4. breaking of the amniotic sac

2. dilation of the cervix

3. passage through the vagina

1. delivery of the placenta afterbirth

6.tying and cutting the umbilical cord

Advantages and disadvantages

breast-feeding vs bottle-feeding
Placenta development