Life Sciences summary
Reproduction
Puberty
Period where adolescents reach sexual maturity/become able to reproduce
Adolescence
Period following on puberty; child develops into adult
During puberty/adolescence you become independent, oversee long-term consequences, risky
behavior, reasoning, problem-solving, anxiety, move-swings, crush
Secondary characteristics : body features that appear at puberty, hormone testosterone in male
responsible
Primary: body structures concerned with reproduction.
Female (primary gender characteristics)
Vagina
A muscular tube that leads into the uterus. Sperm travels through
to the cervix, to the uterus, to the fallopian tubes
Ovary
Produce eggs (and stored) released in the fallopian tubes, and
hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
Fallopian tubes
Transport the egg from the ovaries to the uterus, using cilia.
Uterus
Place for the fertilized egg to implant into the lining. The fetus can
grow and develop.
Cervix
Usually closed. Connect the vagina to the uterus. Opens during
birth, menstruation, softens to allow sperm travel through.
Secondary: breasts, higher voice, public hair, rounded features,
etc.
Male (primary gender characteristics)
Testes
Produce sperm and testosterone
Epididymis
To store sperm cells; a place for the cells to mature
Penis
Pass semen (sperm) and urine (uses the urethra for this)
Scrotum
Keep sperm at a temperature lower than the body
temperature
Urethra
To transport urine and sperm out of the male body
Seminal vesicle
Secretes a fluid (as part of sperm)
Prostate gland
Secretes a fluid (as part of sperm)
Vas deference
Transports sperm cells from the epididymis to the
prostate
, Secondary: deep voice, public hair, heavier musculature, etc.
Sperm cell
Many things can go wrong when produced, by meiotic divisions (12 trillion in a life); two heads/tails,
testes too hot (should be 35) for spermatogenesis. Tail/flagellum to swim, great numbers so bigger
chance on fertilizing the egg, head (=acrosome) has an enzyme to break down the egg, and 23
chromosomes.
The middle part has mitochondrion to supply the cell with energy for the journey. Smallest human
cell.
Collected and stored in the epididymis. Loss of cytoplasm to reduce in size (easier movement).
Formed from puberty until death.
Egg cell
Stores food (for growth and development), therefor biggest human cell, has a chemical on the
outside to stop other sperm cells. In ovary surrounded by follicle (group of cells). Transport by cilia.
Produced by 37d. Formed from birth until menopause.
Meiosis
Process of passing on chromosomes (halving the 46 to 23).
Meiosis for producing male gametes = spermatogenesis (creating sperm cells) in embryo, mitotic
divisions, meiosis 1 is splitting 2n, meiosis 2 is creating 4n (cell differentiation)
Producing female gametes = oogenesis (creating one egg) in embryo, mitotic division, meiosis 1 is
sperm entry, meiosis 2 is cell growth when fertilized.
Meiosis creates variation, mitosis not.
Romantic love
Ability develops during adolescence.
- Attraction: chemistry part, sexual interest, desire to kiss and hold, nervous feelings. (only is crush),
boys most important.
- Closeness: bond developing when you share thoughts and feelings; you feel accepted, cared,
understood; trust. (closeness only is friends) girls most important
- Commitment: decision/promise to stick together through ups and downs.
Mutual respect
Understanding each other’s values, never challenging each other’s boundaries (for ex. don’t go
further sexually than the other wants).
Jealousy
A natural emotion, good communication is the solution
Trust, honesty, support, separate identities and good communication is important.
Bad: criticize looks, keep from seeing boys/girls, quit a certain activity, hitting, force sex.
Puberty relationships
Don’t last very long, because you still change and grow every day. People (mostly) become sexually
active during high school.
History
The birth control pill, the high level of education, general knowledge about health, young people
became more rebellious and people became more open about sex. This changed people’s attitude
towards sex (1960s). Now it was more normal that people had sex before marriage.
So (1970s) people were liberal towards sex, and many young people were promiscuous (different
sexual partners)
AIDS and unhappiness with promiscuity made people more conservative (1980s 1990s)
Male arousal
The two corpora cavernosa extend from the head(penis) too deep in the pelvis. These chambers
(corpora cavernosa and pelvis) are filled with spongy tissue, blood supply (arteries) open completely,
because the brain sends signals to trigger a hormonal response (because of physical or mental
stimulation). The erection occurs because the blood enters the corpora cavernosa faster than it
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