HUMAN REPRODUCTION
Human reproduction is the ability to reproduce and create fertile
offspring to continue a gene pool.
Human reproduction looks at both the male and the female reproductive
organs that allow for successful development of a foetus.
Reproduction does not only concern the sex organs of males and females
but it also concerns the hormonal system (endocrine system) in the human
body which is widely controlled by negative feedback to maintain
homeostasis.
Pathway of hormones in the female body and their functions:
- within the brain of females, there is the pituitary gland that controls
majority of the hormones found in the females body.
- the three most important hormones for reproduction in the females body
is; Growth Hormone, Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating
Hormone (LSH).
- Growth hormone affects the whole body and its function is to induce
rapid growth in height (growth spurts)
- Luteinising hormone targets an ovary and its function is to tell the
ovaries to release a mature ovum, it also tells the ovaries to start to
produce progesterone.
- Follicle stimulating hormone targets the ovaries as well, it tells the
ovaries to develop an ovum to maturity as well as it tells both the
ovaries to produce oestrogen.
- Oestrogen targets the whole body and it is responsible for secondary
sexual characteristics such as breast development, sex organ development,
hips widening and body hair growth
- Progesterone prepares the endometrium for the possibility of
impregnation as well as it inhibits muscle contraction of the myometrium
if impregnation does occur.
Pathway of hormones in the male body and their functions:
- the male brain is also home to the pituitary gland that controls
the important hormones for reproduction.
- Growth Hormone, Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) and
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).
- Growth hormone targets the whole body and induces rapid growth,
the same as in females.
,- Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) targets the interstitial
cells in the testes and induces the production of Testosterone.
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone targets the seminiferous tubules in the
testes and induces the production of sperm.
- Testosterone targets the whole body and is responsible for secondary
sexual characteristic development such as voice deepening, sex organs
developing, muscle development as well as body hair growth.
, MALE REPRODUCTION
Parts of the Male reproductive organs and their functions:
1. Urethra - duct for seminal fluid/semen and urine
2. Ejaculatory duct - formed by joining of the Vas Deferens and duct
from the seminal vesicle passes through the prostate gland
3. Seminal Vesicle - secretes alkaline and nutrient rich fluid to add to
the sperm and helps with the motility of the sperm.
4. Testes - produces sperm and secretes testosterone
5. Epididymis - stores immature sperm and matures sperm when needed
6. Cowpers Gland - adds lubricant (mucus/ alkaline) to neutralise the
acidity of the urethra
7. Prostate Gland - adds alkaline secretion which contains enzymes which
help activate the sperm
8. Vas Deferens - smooth muscle wall contracts to propel sperm to the
urethra.
Sperm cells:
A sperm cell is made up of three parts, the head, the neck and the
tail.
- The head houses the nucleus that contains 23 chromosomes as well as
the Acrosome that is the compartment/ organelle which contains enzymes.
These enzymes are what disintegrate the cell wall of the egg and what
allows for the sperm to donate the nucleus to the egg.
- The neck has mitochondria stored in it, this is what gives the sperm
energy to swim to the egg cell.
- The tail is just a projection that allows the sperm to sufficiently
swim to the egg cell through a whip like movement.
Human reproduction is the ability to reproduce and create fertile
offspring to continue a gene pool.
Human reproduction looks at both the male and the female reproductive
organs that allow for successful development of a foetus.
Reproduction does not only concern the sex organs of males and females
but it also concerns the hormonal system (endocrine system) in the human
body which is widely controlled by negative feedback to maintain
homeostasis.
Pathway of hormones in the female body and their functions:
- within the brain of females, there is the pituitary gland that controls
majority of the hormones found in the females body.
- the three most important hormones for reproduction in the females body
is; Growth Hormone, Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating
Hormone (LSH).
- Growth hormone affects the whole body and its function is to induce
rapid growth in height (growth spurts)
- Luteinising hormone targets an ovary and its function is to tell the
ovaries to release a mature ovum, it also tells the ovaries to start to
produce progesterone.
- Follicle stimulating hormone targets the ovaries as well, it tells the
ovaries to develop an ovum to maturity as well as it tells both the
ovaries to produce oestrogen.
- Oestrogen targets the whole body and it is responsible for secondary
sexual characteristics such as breast development, sex organ development,
hips widening and body hair growth
- Progesterone prepares the endometrium for the possibility of
impregnation as well as it inhibits muscle contraction of the myometrium
if impregnation does occur.
Pathway of hormones in the male body and their functions:
- the male brain is also home to the pituitary gland that controls
the important hormones for reproduction.
- Growth Hormone, Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) and
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH).
- Growth hormone targets the whole body and induces rapid growth,
the same as in females.
,- Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) targets the interstitial
cells in the testes and induces the production of Testosterone.
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone targets the seminiferous tubules in the
testes and induces the production of sperm.
- Testosterone targets the whole body and is responsible for secondary
sexual characteristic development such as voice deepening, sex organs
developing, muscle development as well as body hair growth.
, MALE REPRODUCTION
Parts of the Male reproductive organs and their functions:
1. Urethra - duct for seminal fluid/semen and urine
2. Ejaculatory duct - formed by joining of the Vas Deferens and duct
from the seminal vesicle passes through the prostate gland
3. Seminal Vesicle - secretes alkaline and nutrient rich fluid to add to
the sperm and helps with the motility of the sperm.
4. Testes - produces sperm and secretes testosterone
5. Epididymis - stores immature sperm and matures sperm when needed
6. Cowpers Gland - adds lubricant (mucus/ alkaline) to neutralise the
acidity of the urethra
7. Prostate Gland - adds alkaline secretion which contains enzymes which
help activate the sperm
8. Vas Deferens - smooth muscle wall contracts to propel sperm to the
urethra.
Sperm cells:
A sperm cell is made up of three parts, the head, the neck and the
tail.
- The head houses the nucleus that contains 23 chromosomes as well as
the Acrosome that is the compartment/ organelle which contains enzymes.
These enzymes are what disintegrate the cell wall of the egg and what
allows for the sperm to donate the nucleus to the egg.
- The neck has mitochondria stored in it, this is what gives the sperm
energy to swim to the egg cell.
- The tail is just a projection that allows the sperm to sufficiently
swim to the egg cell through a whip like movement.
