CHP 5.0, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

STANDARD FOUR-BIOLOGY
CHAPTER 5: THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
The hallmark of all living organisms is that ability that Allah Ta’ala has provide them with to produce a copy of
themselves-a new life to continue on through time, so that their progeny may continue for as long as possible.
Human offspring is initiated by sexual reproduction, a process that requires both male and female participation. The
offspring receives a mixture of genetic material, not just an exact duplicate of the parent genes. As a result, the
offspring displays characteristics of both parents, along with brand new features of its own.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS & FUNCTIONS
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS & FUNCTIONS
MENSTRUATION
- It is the periodic shedding of the uterus lining. It is one of the phases of the menstrual cycle.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- As the female anatomy develops during puberty, FSH and other reproductive hormones are secreted by the
pituitary gland, activating dormant egg cells in the female ovaries.
- The menstrual cycle prepares the female body and uterus to carry an implanted egg after fertilisation.
- It’s important to understand how the varying levels of FSH, LH and estrogen co-ordinate the menstrual cycle.
- During the first several days, about 25 oocytes(egg cells) begin to grow and develop within the ovary.
- Most of these oocytes which are contained in sacs called follicles, continue to mature until they become
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secondary follicles- by about the 5 day.
Note: the secondary oocytes have a layer of cells that produce estrogen and progesterone.
- Over the next approximately 10 days, the pre-ovulatory phase, is when all the follicles begin to degenerate
except for one. Under the influence of FSH, the remaining follicle secretes hormones and fills up with fluid,
forcing the egg to the edge.
- By the end of this phase, the follicle has migrated to the edge of the ovary, near the fallopian tube.
- On about day 14, ovulation occurs- the follicle bursts open, expelling the egg out of the ovary into the
fallopian tube.
- In the meantime, high levels of estrogen produced by the follicles causes the endometrium (uterus lining), to
thicken and become filled with blood vessels and secretory glands in preparation to receive and nurture the
egg if it is fertilised.
- After the egg has been released into the fallopian tube, the follicle seals up and continues producing
hormones that affect the egg and other reproductive structures. This phase is now considered post-ovulatory,
since ovulation has taken place.
- After ovulation the levels of FSH decrease and LH increases, stimulating 2 things: the secondary follicle
(corpus luteum) degenerates and causing a decrease in estrogen, and levels of progesterone increase. This
also leads to a slight increase in body temperature.
- If the egg is not fertilised and implanted, the built up endometrium begins to degenerate, lifting off and being
expelled- called menses.
The menstrual cycle provides an opportunity for reproduction about once a month from age 12 to about 45, when a
woman experiences menopause. However, a gradual decrease in FSH levels renders the reproductive capacity weak
until it eventually shuts down.
FERTILISATION
The formation of the human body starts right from the beginning of fertilisation. Each egg carries a copy of the
mother’s DNA, while each sperm contains a copy of the father’s DNA. These cells are designed to combine genetic
information from both parents into one new cell- the zygote.
- When the sperms are deposited into the vagina, they swim towards the uterus with the help of their flagellae.
However most of them die quickly. The surviving ones continue towards the uterus and through the fallopian
tube.
- Once in the fallopian tube, they make contact with the expelled egg from the ovary. Then they begin to
burrow through its outer wall using special enzymes.
- When one sperm successfully breaks through the lining, it swells and pushes outward, pushing all the other
sperms out. This event is critical, as it maintains the right amount of DNA entering the egg. Otherwise, too
many sets of DNA would enter the egg and proper gene functioning could not proceed.
- Once the sperm is inside the egg, fertilisation is said to be complete. The nuclei of the sperm and egg combine
to form a zygote, which then multiplies into 2, then 4, then 8, then 16 cells...and so on.
- As the mass of cells, now called the embryo, develops, it travels towards the uterus.
NOTE: READ NOTE ON P104- TWINS
IMPLANTATION
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The exact day on which the embryo implants itself on the uterus is unknown, but is usually the 6 day after
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fertilisation. By the end of the 1 week, a protective sac-amniotic cavity, begins to form.
- The embryo attaches itself to the endometrium to get oxygen and nutrienst from the mother’s blood and
excrete waste into her bloodtstream.
- The growing embryo secretes HCG- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin- a hormone that stimulates the corpus
luteum to secrete estrogen and progesterone.
- HCG keeps the corpus luteum 3 to 4 months of pregnancy after which estrogen and progesterone are
provided by placenta- an organ of the growing embryo.
DEVELOPMENT
...to be continued

CHP 5.0, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

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CHP 5.0, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

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STANDARD FOUR-BIOLOGY

CHAPTER 5: THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS & FUNCTIONS

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS & FUNCTIONS

NOTE: READ NOTE ON P104- TWINS

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