Chapter 28
Fertilization & Pregnancy
28.1 Fertilization
Define and use the following terms:
o Fertilization
o Oocyte
o Zygote
o Corona radiata
o Zona pellucida
o Acrosome
o Cortical reaction
What prevents most sperm from reaching the uterine tubes?
Explain the process of capacitation and why it is important.
Describe the structure of the unfertilized oocyte.
Explain what happens when sperm make contact with the egg.
Explain the importance of high numbers of sperm to fertilization.
Describe how and why the oocyte acts to prevent polyspermy.
Explain the difference between identical and fraternal twins.
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28.2 Embryonic Development
Define and use the following terms:
o Gestation
o Blastomere
Explain the difference between a zygote, an embryo, and a fetus.
Describe the changes that the egg undergoes as it develops into a morula and
then a blastocyst.
Explain how the zygote gains nutrients before implantation.
Describe the initial differentiation between the trophoblast and the inner cell
mass.
When do embryos lose totipotency and what is the importance of this?
Describe the process of implantation. (Figure 28.6 will help)
Explain the role of HCG in pregnancy.
Describe what happens in an ectopic pregnancy and why this is a problem.
Describe the formation of the embryonic membranes and explain the role of
the amniotic cavity.
Describe the process of gastrulation. Include the following parts:
o Primitive streak
o Endoderm
o Mesoderm
o Ectoderm
Describe the development and importance of the placenta.
Describe placental blood flow. What can and cannot cross the placenta?
Why is it important that maternal and fetal circulation are separate?
Describe the process of neurulation. Include the following in your
explanation:
o Neural plate
o Neural fold
o Neural tube
o Notochord
Why is folic acid particularly important for women who are pregnant or
trying to conceive?
Describe the process of heart development.
28.3 Fetal Development
Describe the process of sexual differentiation in the fetus.
Describe the differences between fetal and adult circulation.
Describe the major changes during the following periods of development:
o Weeks 9-12
o Weeks 13-16
o Weeks 16-20
o Weeks 21-30
o Weeks 31-Birth
Why is it much harder to keep a fetus born before week 24 alive?
What complications do you expect in a fetus born before 30 weeks?
28.4 Pregnancy and Labor
Describe the role of the following hormones in pregnancy.
o Estrogen
o Relaxin
o Progesterone
o hCG
o Cortisol
Explain the factors that contribute to weight gain during pregnancy.
Describe the changes in the following systems that occur during pregnancy:
o Digestive
o Renal
o Circulatory
o Respiratory
o Integumentary
Explain the role of changing progesterone and estrogen levels in parturition.
Explain the difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and true labor.
Describe what happens in each of the following stages of labor:
o Dilation
o Expulsion
o Placental
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28.5 Birth and Postnatal Stages
Describe how the respiratory system changes with birth.
Describe what happens to the umbilical cord after birth with and without
clamping.
Describe how circulation in the heart changes at birth and what causes those
changes. What happens over the course of the following year?
Describe how infants thermoregulate and why it is more difficult for infants
to thermoregulate.
Describe how the gastrointestinal tract changes after birth.
Describe what distinguishes the newborn renal system.
28.6 Lactation
Describe what happens in lactation.
Describe how the structure of the breast changes before and during lactation.
Describe the effects of hormones on milk production and ejection.
Draw the feedback loop that controls milk production and ejection. What
type of feedback loop is it and how is it stopped?
Describe how milk production changes over time with and without frequent
suckling.
Explain the differences between colostrum and mature breast milk.
Describe the importance of colostrum.
Explain the difference between foremilk and hindmilk and the benefits of
each.
Explain the importance of the laxative properties of breast milk.
28.7 Patterns of Inheritance
Describe the relationship between genes, chromosomes, and genotypes.
Explain dominant and recessive inheritance. Draw a Punnet square for each
type of inheritance.
Explain the differences and similarities between autosomal and x-linked
inheritance for both dominant and recessive genes.
Describe and give examples of codominance and incomplete dominance. How
do they differ?