03 Human Reproduction
Exercise
Question:
Fill in the blanks. (a) Humans reproduce _________ (asexually/sexually). (b) Humans are _______ (oviparous/viviparous/ovoviviparous). (c) Fertilisation is _____ in humans (external/internal). (d) Male and female gametes are ______ (diploid/haploid). (e) Zygote is ______ (diploid/haploid). (f) The process of release of ovum from a mature follicle is known as ______. (g) Ovulation is induced by a hormone called ______. (h) The fusion of male and female gametes is called _______. (i) Fertilisation takes place in ______. (j) Zygote divides to form ________ which is implanted in uterus. (k) The structure which provides the vascular connection between fetus and uterus is called _______.
Answer:
(a) Sexually (b) Viviparous (c) Internal (d) Haploid (e) Diploid (f) Ovulation (g) Luteinizing hormone (h) Fertilisation (i) Fallopian tube (j) Embryo (k) Placenta
Question:
Give the functions of the following: (a) Corpus luteum (b) Endometrium (c) Acrosome (d) Sperm tail (e) Fimbriae
Answer:
(a) Corpus luteum: The corpus luteum is a hormone-secreting mass of cells that forms in the ovary after an egg has been released. It secretes progesterone and other hormones that help prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg.
(b) Endometrium: The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. It thickens and becomes rich in blood vessels and glands each month in preparation for a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not occur, the endometrium is shed during menstruation.
(c) Acrosome: The acrosome is a specialized organelle found in the head of sperm cells. It contains enzymes that help the sperm penetrate the egg’s outer membrane during fertilization.
(d) Sperm tail: The sperm tail is a flagellum that propels the sperm cell forward. It is made up of microtubules and is powered by ATP molecules.
(e) Fimbriae: Fimbriae are finger-like projections that extend from the end of the fallopian tube. They help guide the egg from the ovary to the uterus during ovulation.
Question:
What are the major components of seminal plasma?
Answer:
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Seminal plasma is the fluid component of semen, which is a combination of secretions from the male reproductive organs.
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The major components of seminal plasma are fructose, proteins, enzymes, citric acid, phosphorylcholine, prostaglandins, and zinc.
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Fructose is a sugar that provides energy for sperm cells.
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Proteins provide nutrients and help protect sperm cells from damage.
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Enzymes help the sperm cells move and penetrate the female egg.
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Citric acid helps to maintain the pH balance of the semen.
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Phosphorylcholine helps sperm cells move through the female reproductive tract.
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Prostaglandins help to stimulate the contractions of the uterus and fallopian tubes during ovulation.
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Zinc helps to keep the seminal fluid from becoming too acidic.
Question:
What is menstrual cycle? Which hormones regulate menstrual cycle?
Answer:
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Menstrual cycle is the regular natural change that occurs in the female reproductive system (specifically the uterus and ovaries) that makes pregnancy possible.
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The hormones that regulate menstrual cycle are estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is responsible for the thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for a fertilized egg, while progesterone helps to maintain the lining of the uterus and prepare the body for pregnancy.
Question:
What is oogenesis? Give a brief account of oogenesis.
Answer:
Oogenesis is the process of producing an ovum (egg cell) in female organisms. It is the female equivalent of spermatogenesis, which is the process of producing sperm in male organisms.
Step 1: Oogenesis begins with the formation of a primary oocyte, which is the female germ cell. This primary oocyte is formed during fetal development and is stored in the ovaries until it matures.
Step 2: During puberty, the primary oocyte begins to undergo meiosis, which is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the cell. The primary oocyte divides into two secondary oocytes, each with half the original number of chromosomes.
Step 3: One of the secondary oocytes is released from the ovary during ovulation. This oocyte is now called an ovum, or egg cell.
Step 4: The ovum is then transported through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it can be fertilized by a sperm cell. If the ovum is not fertilized, it will be expelled from the body during menstruation.
Question:
Draw a labelled diagram of a Graafian follicle.
Answer:
- Start by drawing a circle that represents the Graafian follicle.
- Label the circle as “Graafian Follicle”.
- Inside the circle, draw an oval shape that represents the egg.
- Label the oval as “Egg”.
- Draw a thin line around the egg to represent the zona pellucida.
- Label the thin line as “Zona Pellucida”.
- Draw several small circles around the egg to represent the follicular cells.
- Label the small circles as “Follicular Cells”.
- Draw a larger circle outside the Graafian follicle to represent the granulosa cells.
- Label the larger circle as “Granulosa Cells”.
- Draw a small circle inside the Graafian follicle, near the egg, to represent the theca interna.
- Label the small circle as “Theca Interna”.
- Draw a larger circle outside the Graafian follicle, near the granulosa cells, to represent the theca externa.
- Label the larger circle as “Theca Externa”.
Question:
What is spermatogenesis? Briefly describe the process of spermatogenesis.
Answer:
Answer: Spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatozoa, or male reproductive cells, are produced. It involves a series of cell division and differentiation steps that take place in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. During spermatogenesis, stem cells called spermatogonia divide and differentiate into sperm cells. These sperm cells then undergo the process of maturation, which involves the formation of a head and tail, as well as the development of the flagellum, or tail, which is responsible for movement. The sperm cells are then released into the epididymis, where they can be stored until ejaculation.
Question:
What is parturition? Which hormones are involved in induction of parturition?
Answer:
- Parturition is the process of childbirth, when a baby is born.
- The hormones involved in the induction of parturition are oxytocin, progesterone, and prostaglandins. Oxytocin is released from the mother’s pituitary gland, and stimulates the uterus to contract. Progesterone levels decrease, which allows the uterus to contract and induce labor. Prostaglandins are released from the fetal membranes and stimulate the uterus to contract.
Question:
Draw a labelled diagram of male reproductive system.
Answer:
Step 1: Get a blank paper and draw a circle in the center of the paper.
Step 2: Label the circle as ‘Male Reproductive System’.
Step 3: Draw a line downwards from the circle to represent the urethra.
Step 4: Draw a pair of circles on the left side of the line to represent the testes.
Step 5: Draw a line from each testes to the circle and label them as ‘vas deferens’.
Step 6: Draw a pair of circles on the right side of the line and label them as ‘seminal vesicles’.
Step 7: Draw a curved line from the seminal vesicles to the urethra and label it as ’ejaculatory duct'.
Step 8: Draw a circle above the urethra and label it as ‘prostate gland’.
Step 9: Draw a line from the prostate gland to the urethra and label it as ‘urethra’.
Step 10: Draw a line from the prostate gland to the seminal vesicles and label it as ‘vas deferens’.
Step 11: Draw a line from the testes to the prostate gland and label it as ‘vas deferens’.
Step 12: Draw a circle above the prostate gland and label it as ‘bulbourethral gland’.
Step 13: Draw a line from the bulbourethral gland to the urethra and label it as ‘urethra’.
Step 14: Draw a line from the bulbourethral gland to the seminal vesicles and label it as ‘vas deferens’.
Step 15: Finally, label all the parts and your diagram of the male reproductive system is complete.
Question:
Identify True/False statements. Correct each false statement to make it true. (a) Androgens are produced by Sertoli cells. (True/False) (b) Spermatozoa get nutrition from Sertoli cells. (True/False) (c) Leydig cells are found in ovary. (True/False) (d) Leydig cells synthesise androgens. (True/False) (e) Oogenesis takes place in corpus luteum. (True/False) (f) Menstrual cycle ceases during pregnancy. (True/False) (g) Presence or absence of hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity or sexual experience. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) True (b) False - Spermatozoa get nutrition from Sertoli cells and other cells in the testes. (c) False - Leydig cells are found in the testes. (d) True (e) False - Oogenesis takes place in the ovary. (f) False - Menstrual cycle ceases during pregnancy. (g) True
Question:
How many eggs do you think were released by the ovary of a female dog which gave birth to 6 puppies?
Answer:
Step 1: Determine the average number of eggs released by the ovary of a female dog. This can vary depending on the breed of the dog, but on average, a female dog will release 1-2 eggs per litter.
Step 2: Multiply the average number of eggs released by the ovary of a female dog by the number of puppies born. In this case, it would be 6 puppies, so the total number of eggs released would be 6-12 eggs.
Question:
Write two major functions each of testis and ovary.
Answer:
Testis:
- Production of Sperm: The main function of the testes is to produce sperm and the male sex hormone, testosterone.
- Regulation of Hormones: The testes also secrete a variety of hormones that help regulate secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive processes.
Ovary:
- Production of Eggs: The ovaries produce eggs and the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
- Regulation of Hormones: The ovaries also secrete hormones that help regulate the menstrual cycle, fertility, and pregnancy.
Question:
Draw a labelled diagram of sperm.
Answer:
Step 1: Draw a long, curved line to represent the tail of the sperm.
Step 2: Draw a circle at the end of the tail to represent the head of the sperm.
Step 3: Draw two curved lines extending from the head of the sperm to represent the flagellum.
Step 4: Draw a small circle inside the head of the sperm to represent the nucleus.
Step 5: Label the diagram with the words “tail,” “head,” “flagellum,” and “nucleus.”
Question:
What are the major functions of male accessory ducts and glands?
Answer:
Step 1: Identify the question. The question is asking about the major functions of male accessory ducts and glands.
Step 2: Research the answer. The major functions of male accessory ducts and glands include carrying sperm from the testes to the penis, producing seminal fluid, and secreting hormones.
Question:
Draw a labelled diagram of a section through ovary showing different stages of follicles, ovulation and corpus luteum.
Answer:
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Start by drawing a circle to represent the ovary.
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Label the circle as ‘Ovary’.
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Draw a line down the centre of the circle to represent the section.
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Label the line as ‘Section’.
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Draw a small circle at the top of the line to represent the primary follicle.
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Label the circle as ‘Primary Follicle’.
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Draw a slightly larger circle below the primary follicle to represent the secondary follicle.
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Label the circle as ‘Secondary Follicle’.
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Draw an even larger circle below the secondary follicle to represent the graafian follicle.
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Label the circle as ‘Graafian Follicle’.
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Draw a small circle at the bottom of the line to represent the ovulated egg.
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Label the circle as ‘Ovulated Egg’.
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Draw a slightly larger circle below the ovulated egg to represent the corpus luteum.
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Label the circle as ‘Corpus Luteum’.
Question:
Draw a labelled diagram of female reproductive system.
Answer:
Step 1: Get a piece of paper and draw a circle to represent the female reproductive system.
Step 2: Label the circle with the words “Female Reproductive System”.
Step 3: Draw a line extending from the circle to represent the uterus.
Step 4: Label the uterus with the words “Uterus”.
Step 5: Draw two lines extending from the uterus to represent the Fallopian tubes.
Step 6: Label the Fallopian tubes with the words “Fallopian Tubes”.
Step 7: Draw two lines extending from the Fallopian tubes to represent the ovaries.
Step 8: Label the ovaries with the words “Ovaries”.
Step 9: Draw a line extending from the ovaries to represent the vagina.
Step 10: Label the vagina with the words “Vagina”.
Step 11: Finally, draw a line extending from the vagina to represent the vulva.
Step 12: Label the vulva with the words “Vulva”.
Question:
Describe the structure of a seminiferous tubule.
Answer:
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A seminiferous tubule is a microscopic tube-like structure found in the testes.
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It is composed of a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells, known as Sertoli cells, which are surrounded by a basement membrane.
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The Sertoli cells form a barrier between the lumen of the tubule and the interstitial space, where the Leydig cells are located.
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The seminiferous tubules are lined with spermatogenic cells, which are responsible for producing sperm.
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These cells are arranged in a specific pattern, with spermatogonia located near the basement membrane, followed by primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, and spermatids.
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At the lumen of the tubule, spermatozoa can be seen.
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The seminiferous tubules are also surrounded by myoid cells, which are responsible for the contraction of the tubules.
Question:
Name the hormones involved in regulation of spermatogenesis.
Answer:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Testosterone
- Estrogen
- Inhibin
- Progesterone
Question:
Define spermiogenesis and spermiation.
Answer:
Step 1: Spermiogenesis is the process in which a spermatid, a haploid male germ cell, develops into a mature spermatozoon, or sperm cell.
Step 2: Spermiation is the process by which the mature spermatozoon is released from the seminiferous tubule of the testis.
Question:
In our society, women are often blamed for giving birth to daughters. Why is this not correct?
Answer:
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This is not correct because it is not fair to blame someone for something that is out of their control.
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Additionally, it is scientifically proven that the gender of a baby is determined by the father’s sperm, not the mother.
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Furthermore, the decision to have a baby is a personal one and should not be judged by society.
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Lastly, having a daughter is a blessing and should be celebrated, not blamed.
Question:
How many eggs are released by a human ovary in a month? How many eggs do you think would have been released if the mother gave birth to identical twins? Would your answer change if the twins born were fraternal?
Answer:
Answer:
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A human ovary releases one egg per month, so in a month a single human ovary would release one egg.
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If the mother gave birth to identical twins, then two eggs would have been released in the same month.
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If the twins born were fraternal, then the answer would remain the same, as only one egg is released per month.
01 Reproduction in Organisms
02 Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
03 Human Reproduction
04 Reproductive Health
05 Principles of Inheritance and Variation
06 Molecular Basis of Inheritance
07 Evolution
08 Human Health and Disease
09 Strategies For Enhancement in Food Production
10 Microbes in Human Welfare
12 Biotechnology Principles and Processes
13 Organisms and Populations
14 Ecosystem
15 Biodiversity and Conservation
16 Environmental Issues