REPRODUCTION IN HUMANS
Adolescence is that time of life when a child reaches reproductive maturity. This is indicated by a number of changes
occurring in the body. The process of these changes is known as puberty. It begins at the age of around 10 and lasts
until the age of 19. The period of adolescence is known as the teenage.
• Changes at Puberty in Males
• Increase in Height
• Change in Body Shape- broadening of shoulders
• Change in Voice- The boys develop a deep and hoarse voice
• Increased Activity of Sweat and Sebaceous Gland due to which many teenagers suffer from acne.
Development of Sex Organs- the production of testosterone and sperms begin
1. .
Male Reproductive System
• The main reproductive organ in males is a pair of testes.
• Testes perform two functions :
(a) They produce the male sex cells or gametes called sperms for reproduction.
(b) They produce the male sex hormone testosterone for development of secondary sexual characters
in males.
Male Primary Reproductive Organ
• Testes are present in scrotal sacs/ Scrotum outside the body as they require a temperature 1-30C lesser than
the body temperature for spermatogenesis (production of sperms).
• The duct carrying sperms inside the body is the Vas deferens or Sperm duct.
• The duct which acts as the common passage for the sperm/semen and the urine in males is called the
Urethra.
• Accessory glands help in the reproductive process.
(a) A single prostate gland which produces a fluid that reduces the acidity in the urethra.
(b) A pair of seminal vesicles which secrete a fluid that helps in transportation and nourishment of
sperms.
(c) The sperms along with the secretions of the Prostate gland and seminal vesicles form the semen.
• Penis, having the urethra passing through it, is called a copulatory organ.
Female Reproductive System
The changes seen in girls at the time of puberty:
• Hair growth appears in genital area and other areas like underarms, face, hands and legs.
• The size of uterus and ovary increases.
• Development of mammary glands.
• Beginning of menstrual cycle- Menarche
• Appearance of pimples, as there is more oil secretion from the skin.
The human female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries, a pair of fallopian tubes/oviducts and the
accessory organs such as the uterus and the vagina.
• Ovaries perform two functions :
• (a) They produce the female sex cells or gametes called eggs/ovum for reproduction.
• (b) They produce the female sex hormone Estrogen for development of secondary sexual characters in
females and Progesterone for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
• Ovulation- Release of mature egg from the ovary. The egg/ovum is released into the fallopian tube/ Oviduct.
• Fertilization – It is the fusion of the male gamete/sperm with the female gamete (egg/ovum). This process
occurs in the fallopian tube.
• The zygote is the product of fertilization which undergoes repeated mitotic divisions to form an Embryo.
• The embryo is rolled down from the fallopian tube to the Uterus due to the presence of ciliated columnar
epithelium in the fallopian tubes.
• The uterus is the site of foetal development.
• Placenta- The embryo gets nutrition from the mother’s blood with the help of a special tissue called
placenta. This is a disc which is embedded in the uterine wall. It contains villi on the embryo’s side and blood
spaces on the mother’s side which surround the villi. This provides a large surface area for glucose and
oxygen to pass from the mother to the embryo. The developing embryo will also generate waste substances
which can be removed by transferring them into the mother’s blood through the placenta.
• Gestation – The time period required for the full development of the foetus inside the uterus/womb is
gestation period. In humans the gestation period is 270 days/ 9 months.
• Parturition- The process of child birth. It occurs due to the contraction of the smooth muscles in the walls of
the uterus.
Menstrual Cycle
• Menstruation is the cyclic event of the release of the ovum from the ovary and its removal from the body
when fertilization does not happen.
• If the egg is not fertilised, it lives for about one day. Since the ovary releases one egg every month, the uterus
also prepares itself every month to receive a fertilised egg. Thus its lining becomes thick and spongy for
nourishing the embryo, if fertilisation had taken place. If fertilization does not occur, this lining is not needed
any longer. So, the lining slowly breaks and comes out through the vagina as blood and mucus. This is called
menstrual flow.
• In humans, the menstrual cycle repeats every 28 days.
Reproductive Health
• STD- Sexually Transmitted Diseases are those that are transferred through sexual contact with an infected
person.
• Bacterial STDs- (caused by bacteria) eg- Gonorrhoea and Syphilis
• Viral STDs (caused by Virus) – eg. AIDS ( Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) and Genital warts.
• AIDS is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and can be spread through unsafe blood transfusion,
from infected mother to her foetus, sexual contact with infected person or by sharing needles & syringes
with an infected person.
Contraceptives
• Contraceptives are devices that prevent unwanted pregnancy and help avoid STDs.
• Contraceptive methods are adopted due to the following reasons –
(a) To prevent unwanted pregnancies and improve maternal health.
(b) To control population rise or birth rate.
(c) To prevent the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases.
• It can be of 3 types-
(a) Physical/ Mechanical or Barrier method
(b) Chemical methods
(c) Surgical methods.
• Physical/ mechanical method- It prevents fertilization as the sperms or eggs are not available for
fertilization. It also avoids the possibility of contracting STDs. Eg- Condoms in males and Diaphragms &
cervical caps in females.
• Chemical methods can be of 2 types-
• (a) OC (Oral Contraceptives) or OCP (Oral Contraceptive Pills)- They change the level of hormones in the
body that prevents the release of the ovum from the ovaries i.e it prevents ovulation process in females.
• (b) IUCD- Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices -It is a thin Copper filament that it implanted in the
uterus/uterine wall where it releases copper ions. These ions prevent the implantation of the embryo thus
preventing pregnancy. Copper ions also have spermicidal(sperm killing) property. It is a good method of
contraception to have gap between two children.
• Surgical Methods – This is an irreversible and terminal method of contraception usually adopted when a
person does not want any further pregnancy. It Can be of two types-
• (a) Tubectomy- In females, a portion of the fallopian tube/oviduct is cut and tied (ligated) such that the eggs
are not available for fertilization.
• (b) Vasectomy- In males, a portion of the vas deferens/sperm duct is cut and tied (ligated) such that the
sperms are not available for fertilization.