Human reproduction
Human reproduction is any form of sexual reproduction resulting in the conception of a child,
typically involving sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. During intercourse, the
interaction between the male reproductive system and the female reproductive system results in
fertilization of the woman's ovum by the man's sperm, which after a gestation period is followed
by childbirth. The fertilization of the ovum may nowadays be achieved by artificial insemination
methods, which do not involve sexual intercourse.
Anatomy
The human male
The male reproductive system contains two main divisions: the penis, and the testes, the latter of
which is where sperm are produced. In humans, both of these organs are outside the abdominal
cavity. Having the testes outside the abdomen best facilitates temperature regulation of the
sperm, which require specific temperatures to survive.
The human female
The female reproductive system likewise contains two main divisions: the vagina and uterus,
which act as the receptacle for the semen, and the ovaries, which produce the female's ova. The
vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via
the Fallopian tubes. At certain intervals, the ovaries release an ovum, which passes through the
fallopian tube into the uterus.
If, in this transit, it meets with Spermatozoon, the sperm penetrate and merge with the egg,
fertilizing it. The fertilization usually occurs in the oviducts, but can happen in the uterus itself.
The zygote then implants itself in the wall of the uterus, where it begins the processes of
embryogenesis and morphogenesis. When developed enough to survive outside the womb, the
cervix dilates and contractions of the uterus propel the foetus through the birth canal, which is
the vagina.
The ova, which are the female sex cells, are much larger than the spermatozoon and are normally
formed within the ovaries of the fetus before its birth. They are mostly fixed in location with in
the ovary until their transit to the uterus, and contain nutrients for the later zygote and embryo.
Over a regular interval, in response to hormonal signals, a process of oogenesis matures one
ovum which is released and sent down the Fallopian tube. If not fertilized, this egg is flushed out
of the system through menstruation.
Process
Human reproduction is a long process, starting with sexual intercourse, followed by nine months
of pregnancy before childbirth. Many years of parental care is required in order to finish with a
mature human being.
Sexual intercourse
Human reproduction takes place as internal fertilization by sexual intercourse. During this
process, the erect penis of the male is inserted into the female's vagina until the male ejaculates
semen, which contains sperm, into the female's vagina. The sperm then travels through the
vagina and cervix into the uterus or fallopian tubes for fertilization of the ovum. Upon successful
fertilization and implantation, gestation of the fetus then occurs within the female's uterus, called
pregnancy. This process is also known as "mating" or "having sex"
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the period of time during which the fetus develops, dividing via mitosis inside the
female. During this time, the fetus receives all of its nutrition and oxygenated blood from the
female, filtered through the placenta, which is attached to the fetus' abdomen via an umbilical
cord. This drain of nutrients can be quite taxing on the female, who is required to ingest slightly
higher levels of calories. In addition, certain vitamins and other nutrients are required in greater
quantities than normal, often creating abnormal eating habits. Gestation is 40 weeks in humans.
Birth
Once the fetus is sufficiently developed, chemical signals start the process of birth, which begins
with the fetus squeezing through the vagina, and eventually out of the female. The newborn,
which is called an infant in humans, should typically begin respiration on its own shortly after
birth. Not long after, the placenta is passed as well. The end of the umbilical cord attached to the
child's abdomen eventually falls off on its [Link] mid-wife or nurse assisting the birth will
usually detach the mother from the baby using a clamp, then cutting it off.
Parental care
Human's babies and children are nearly helpless and require high levels of parental care for many
years. One important type of parental care is the use of the mammary glands in the female
breasts to nurse the baby