Grade: 8

Reproduction in Humans

Reproduction: is the method of producing new members of living organisms. Animals and
plants reproduce to make new individuals of the same species. Reproduction ensures the
continuity of generations.

Types of reproduction:
1) Asexual reproduction: is the formation of new individuals from the cell(s) of a single parent.
Asexual reproduction is very common in plants, less so in animals.
:In asexual reproduction
1. the offspring come from a single parent.
2. the offspring look exactly like parent.
3. the offspring have the same DNA as the parent.

2) Sexual reproduction: is the formation of new individuals from two different parents.
In sexual reproduction
1) organisms get genes from the two parents (they get half of their DNA from each parent)
2) Sex cells (gametes) are produced.
3) the offspring do not look exactly like the parents ( there is variation).

Fertilization: is the union (joining) of the male sex cell with the female sex cell to produce a
zygote. (the zygote is the first cell of the new organism)

:Sex cells (gametes)

Living things that reproduce sexually have special cells called sex cells or gametes. There are
:two types of sex cells
1) Sperm cell:
- is the male sex cell.
- is a special cell that can swim using a tail.
- It is designed to carry genetic information from the male parent to the egg of the female
parent.

2) egg cells or ova (singular: ovum):

- are the female sex cells.
- An egg cell is much bigger than a sperm.
- It contains yolk as a food store.
- It has a nucleus.

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Note: Sex cells have half the number of chromosomes as other cells in the body. Example: in
the human body the body cells have 46 chromosomes while the sex cells have 23
.chromosomes

Differences between Sperms & Ova:

Sperms Ova
Small Large
Swim (mobile) using tail immobile
No food store Have a food store
Millions are produced in one ejaculation Few are produced.

Similarities between Sperms & Ova:

- They both contain a nucleus.
- They both contain a cell membrane.
- Both are gametes
- They are both produced by sex organs or gonads.

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:THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

:Ovaries
- are the female sex organs that produce the female gametes called ova.
- they make the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which starts to happen
between 10 and 15 years of age during puberty.

.Oviducts (fallopian tubes): are the tubes in which the eggs pass through to reach the uterus

.Ovulation: is the releasing of an egg or ovum out of the ovary once every 28 days

.Uterus (Womb): is the organ where the fetus develops till birth

Cervix (neck of uterus): is a ring of muscles at the lower end of the uterus. The cervix controls
.birth

Vagina: is a muscular tube that opens to the outside of the body. It is sometimes known as birth
canal

.Urethra: is a tube that carries the urine outside the body. It is located above the vagina

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Fertilisation:
- There are millions of sperms in the man’s semen. If one of them is to meet an
egg, it must swim from the vagina to the oviduct.
- If there is an egg in the oviduct, one sperm may succeed in penetrating it.
- The sperm’s tail s left outside the egg, the sperm nucleus fused with the egg
nucleus. This is fertilization.
- A membrane is formed around the fertilized egg or zygote; this stops other
sperms from entering.

Note: If there is no egg in the oviduct no fertilization can take pace. The sperms
can stay alive 2 to 3 days so if an egg is released from the ovary during this
time it may be fertilized.

Implantation:
- the fertilized egg or zygote begins to divide, it forms a ball of cells that starts to move to the
uterus (it takes several days to reach the uterus), it is now called embryo.
- Implantation takes place when the embryo sinks into the soft lining of the uterus.
- the embryo gets food and oxygen from the blood vessels in the uterus lining. This allows it to
grow.

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 The placenta:
The placenta is an organ responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients, and removing
waste substances. It grows into the wall of the uterus and is joined to the fetus by the
umbilical cord.
- the umbilical cord joins the fetus to the placenta.
- the umbilical cord contains an artery and vein that takes the fetus blood to the placenta and
back again.
- In the placenta food and oxygen diffuses from the mother’s blood into the blood of the fetus.
- Carbon dioxide and waste products diffuses from the blood of the fetus into the mother’s
blood.
- the mother’s blood and the blood of the fetus never mix.

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 Pregnancy: (Gestation)
- Pregnancy is the period between fertilization and birth. In humans it lasts for 9 months.
- The fetus becomes surrounded by a membrane called the amnion.
- It contains a fluid in which the fetus floats.

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- after about 4 weeks, the heart starts to beat.
- By 8 weeks it has face, limbs, fingers and toes.
- the mother feels the fetus start to kick after 16 weeks.

Things to avoid during gestation:

- Avoid eating poor diets (junks)
- Smoking should be avoided.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Avoid taking drugs without prescriptions.

Labour and Birth:

After 9 months the baby is ready to be born. The signs of labour include:
1) Contraction of the muscles of the uterus wall.
2) Pushing of the baby by the uterus.
3) Moving of the baby into the cervix.
4) The amnion breaks releasing its fluid.
5) The cervix widens or dilates and the baby’s head is pushed through the vagina.
6) As the baby is born it breathes air for the first time.
7) The cord is tied and cut.
8) After a few minutes the placenta comes away from the uterus wall. This is pushed out as
the “afterbirth”

Placenta

Placenta

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Many changes happen to girls at the age of puberty (between 8 and 15):

The ovaries start making a hormone called oestrogen

- The ovaries start to release egg cells.
- Hairs starts to grow on parts of the body.
- The breasts develop.
- The hips widen.
- Periods start.

Ovulation and the menstrual cycle

Menstruation:
During menstruation, the lining of the uterus breaks down and a small amount of blood and cells
passes out of the vagina.
As soon as the girl’s period has finished, a new egg starts to develop in the ovary. It grows
inside a fluid-filled ball called a follicle.

Ovulation:
As the follicle gets bigger it moves to the edge of the ovary.
Eventually the follicle bursts releasing the egg into the oviduct. This is ovulation

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