The Need for Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction is the process that produces a new generation of

individuals (offspring) of the same species to ensure continuation of
the species.

Sexual reproduction involves the union of the nuclei of two

specialized sex cells to form a single cell called zygote through a
process called fertilisation.
Overview of Sexual Reproduction in Human
Sexual Reproduction in Humans
The Male Reproductive System
It is adapted for:
• The production of sperm.
• The transference of sperm to
the female where fertilisation
will take place.
• The production of male
hormones that controls the
development of the male
secondary sexual
characteristics (physical changes during
puberty) .
 Pg 77
9.2 The Male Reproductive System**

Accessory
glands (e.g.
prostate gland)

X urinary
X urinary bladder
bladder Vas deferens

penis

urethra X rectum

testis

scrotum
epididymis
 Pg 77
Male Reproductive System
Accesory glands:
BLADDER
1) Seminal vesicles
VAS DEFERENS
2) Prostate gland
3) Cowper’s glands
EPIDIDYMIS

URETHRA
TESTIS PENIS
SCROTUM

1) *Scrotum (Plural – scrotal sacs)

 a bag-like pouch which holds the testes outside the
body. For?
 keep temperature 2-3 degrees lower than normal
temperature (optimum temp. for development of 5
 Pg 77
Accessory glands:
BLADDER
1) Seminal vesicles
VAS DEFERENS
2) Prostate gland
3) Cowper’s glands
EPIDIDYMIS
URETHRA
TESTIS PENIS
SCROTUM

2) *Testis (plural – testes)

 male reproductive organ which produces sex hormone, testosterone and sperms (male gamete).
 Many highly coiled tubes surrounded by several layers of connective tissue, seminiferous tubules, to
produce sperm cells.
 Testis within a scrotum is often termed a testicle.
3) *epididymis
 sperms are passed from the seminiferous tubules into the epididymis, which is a coiled tube that stores
sperms which produced from the testis.

4) *vas deferens
 during ejaculation, the sperms move from the epididymis through a muscular duct called vas deferens
and later to the urethra. 6
 Pg 77
Accessory glands:
BLADDER
1) Seminal vesicles
VAS DEFERENS 2) Prostate gland
3) Cowper’s glands
EPIDIDYMIS
URETHRA
TESTIS PENIS
SCROTUM

5) *Accessory glands
 produce fluids which supply enzymes to activate
the sperms and nutrients to help them to swim.

Mixture of fluids + sperms  semen

7
 Pg 77
Male reproductive glands:
BLADDER
1) Seminal vesicles
VAS DEFERENS
2) Prostate gland
3) Cowper’s glands
EPIDIDYMIS
URETHRA
TESTIS PENIS
SCROTUM

6) *Urethra
 a tube which transports sperms and urine at different times through
the penis and out of the body.
(muscles at base of urinary bladder to prevent urine from coming out during ejaculation)

7) *Penis
- Contains the urethra and spongy erectile tissue.
- During sexual intercourse, the spongy tissue is filled with blood and the
penis becomes erect in order to deposit semen into the vagina

* Note: bladder is NOT part of the reproductive system, it temporarily stores 8

urine.
 Pg 79

The sperm cell

The sperm cell is an example of a specialized cell in humans.

It also aids in passing down genetic information from the male parent
to the offspring during fertilization.
acrosome

head cytoplasm

nucleus
middle piece

mitochondrion

tail
cell surface
membrane
 Pg 79

The sperm cell

1) The head contains:

acrosome
• a dense nucleus with
head cytoplasm tightly packed
chromosomes (23),
nucleus structures made up of
DNA.
• an acrosome that
contains enzymes for
breaking down the
barrier surrounding the
egg cell (part of the egg
membrane) for sperm
penetration.
 Pg 79

The sperm cell

2) The middle piece:

• contains numerous
middle mitochondria that generate
piece mitochondria sufficient energy through cellular
respiration for sperm to swim to
the egg.

3) The tail:
tail
• Responsible for motility of the
sperm cell
• This enables the cell to cover long
distances towards the site of
fertilization i.e the fallopian tube.
 Pg 80

Checkpoint 1
Sexual Reproduction in Humans
The Female Reproductive System
It is organised to:
• Produce mature eggs/ ova
• Receive sperm
• Provide favourable conditions
where fertilisation of the egg can
take place.
• Provide for the development of
the human embryo and the
secretion of female sex
hormones.
 15.3 The Female Reproductive System**

2. Fallopian tube

1. ovary

3. uterus

4. endometrium

X Urinary bladder 5. cervix X rectum

X urethra
6. vagina
 Female Reproductive System
FALLOPIAN TUBE/
(OVIDUCT)
UTERUS

OVARY CERVIX

VAGINA

1) *Ovary (Plural – Ovaries)

 a female reproductive organ which produces female sex
hormones (oestrogen and progesterone).
 eggs or ova (singular – ovum) develop (become mature)
inside the ovaries of mature female.
 they are then released into the fallopian tube/ oviduct.
17
 FALLOPIAN TUBE/
(OVIDUCT)
UTERUS

OVARY CERVIX

VAGINA

2) *Fallopian tube
 a narrow muscular tube lined with ciliated cells
 every month, an egg cell develops and becomes mature before it is
released from an ovary. The ciliated cells sweep the egg down the fallopian
tube into the uterus.
 site of fertilisation*

3) Uterus
 a pear-shaped muscular organ where foetus grows and develops into a
baby.
 enlarges to hold growing foetus during pregnancy. 18

Endometrium: Important for embryo implantation, shed every month

 Female Reproductive System
FALLOPIAN TUBE/
(OVIDUCT)
UTERUS

OVARY CERVIX

VAGINA

4) *Cervix
 a narrow muscular neck of the uterus.
 widens during birth.

5) *Vagina (birth canal)

 a muscular tube where semen are deposited during
intercourse.
19
 widens during birth.
 Ovum (Extra Info)

nucleus The ovum is made up of a:

cytoplasm
• large nucleus containing
one haploid set of
chromosomes,
• large amount of
cytoplasm which may
contain a small amount of
yolk, and
• Cell membrane that is
cell surface surrounded by an outer
outer
membrane membrane
membrane.
 Pg 84
Puberty
• Puberty occurs during the teenage years in humans.

• It is the process by which the human body matures in

preparation for sexual reproduction.
 Pg 85

Checkpoint 2
 Pg 85
Menstruation
• **Menstruation: The discharge of blood tissues and dead tissues from the endometrium
through the vagina. This marks the beginning of the menstrual cycle, denoted by Day 1.

• The menstrual cycle is typically a 28-day cycle that revolves around the endometrium
building up and breaking down.

• The menstrual cycle can be affected by stress, illness, unbalanced diet, and/or
malnutrition. It can also be affected when pregnancy occurs in females.

• Menstruation usually takes place for about 5 days. After which, the endometrium will
build and thicken again to become richly supplied with blood vessels.

• On day 14 of the cycle, one egg cell will fully mature and get released from the ovary.
This is known as ovulation. This released egg cell will travel to the fallopian tube where
fertilization may or may not occur. The egg cell can only survive 12 to 24 hours.
 Extra info – note
9.6 The Menstrual Cycle fertile period

1. Menstruation
(day 1–5)

4. After ovulation
(day 16-28)
THICKENING AND 2. After
MAINTENANCE OF menstruation(day 6–9)
ENDOMETRIUM REPAIR
ENDOMETRIUM

3. Fertile period (day10-15)

Ovulation (day 14)
 Pg 86
• Understand what
happens during
menstruation at the
ovary, uterus and the
endometrium.
 # What have you learnt?
MENSTRUATION
- Menstruation starts when a girl reaches puberty.

OVULATION
if

Egg does not meet sperm. Egg meets sperm

Egg NOT fertilised. (fertilised)

Fertilisation
Menstruation
 Pregnancy
27
 Pg 88
Sexual Reproduction in Humans
A) Sexual intercourse

Semen containing millions of sperm cells is deposited in the

vagina. The sperm cells can typically survive for three to five days.

Sperm cells are nourished by substances in the semen

and swim up the uterus to the fallopian tube.

During ovulation, the mature ovum is released from the ovary and
travels to the fallopian tube. Fertilisation takes place at the fallopian
tube.
 Pg 87
Events when fertilisation occur
Fertilisation is the process through which the nucleus of the sperm cell and the nucleus
of the ovum fuse to form a single cell.
 Pg 88 and 89
Events when fertilisation occur
Fertilised egg becomes a zygote (single cell). The single cell
divides into numerous cells as balls of cells moves down from the
fallopian tube to the uterus.

At the uterus, the ball of cells implants itself in the endometrium.

This process of implantation is important to ensure that the ball
of cells has enough nutrients. It now develops into an embryo.

(extra info) Embryo secretes a hormone which prevents the corpus luteum
from breaking down. The corpus luteum continues to secrete
oestrogen and progesterone until the placenta is able to take
over the production of both hormones.
The embryo continues to develop into a foetus.

Over subsequent weeks, foetus will develop until delivery. This period is known
as gestation. The full gestation period is around 40 weeks, or 9 months.
Pg 88
Pg 89
 Pg 88
Sexual Reproduction in Humans

B) Fertilisation
2. The sperms
swim up into the
oviducts.

1. Millions
of sperms
3. One
may be
sperm will
released
fertilise the
during
egg if the
each
egg is
ejaculation.
present in
the oviduct.
 Pg 88
Fertilisation – fusion of sperm & egg
• The nucleus of the
sperm enters the egg and
fuses with the nucleus of
the egg in the oviduct.
(zygote is formed)

• The fertilised egg is the

first cell of the baby.

34
Development of A Foetus
 Pg 90

Summary of Birth Control (contraception Physical

methods) method

Chemical
method

Physical
method

Chemical
method

Physical
method

Surgical
method

Surgical
method
 Pg 90
Birth Control Methods

Birth control methods (known as contraception) are ways which

pregnancy is prevented even though sexual intercourse is carried out.
These methods prevent fertilization from taking place.

A. Rhythm Method
 Female monitors her menstrual cycle to find out her fertile periods
(refers to the time during which having sexual intercourse could lead to
successful fertilization and thus possibly successful implantation and
pregnancy).
 Couple avoids having sexual intercourse during the fertile periods.
 Pg 90
Checkpoint 3
A married couple wishes to find out the fertile period of the female to
conceive a baby. Given that her menstruation started 2 June 2022 and
she experiences a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, find out when is her
fertile period in June.
 Pg 90
Checkpoint 3
A married couple wishes to find out the fertile period of the female to
conceive a baby. Given that her menstruation started 2 June 2022 and
she experiences a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, find out when is her
fertile period in June.

Given a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs on Day

14 that falls on 15 June. After its release, the mature ovum can survive
for about one day, up to 16 June. On the other hand, sperm cells that
have been deposited in the female reproductive tract can survive
typically from three to five days.

Therefore to ensure that a sperm cell can meet and fertilise the mature
ovum, the fertile period falls between 11 and 16 June.
 Pg 91
Birth Control Methods

B. Chemical methods
a) Spermicide
- Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm.
- It is usually applied to the vagina, and sperms are killed to prevent them
from entering the uterus.
- This can be combined with other contraceptive methods.

b) Birth control pills (also known as oral contraceptives).

- These are drugs that can be ingested orally by females to regulate
hormonal levels.
- This prevents ovulation and in turn prevents fertilisation as no mature
ovum is released.
 Pg 92
Birth Control Methods
B. Physical methods
a) Condom
- Condom is a thin, latex pouch worn on the penis during sexual intercourse.
- This prevents sperms from being deposited in the vagina.

b) Diaphragm
- Cup-shaped like device made of thin, soft silicon material.
- Inserted into the vagina and placed over the cervix to prevent sperms from
entering the uterus.
 Pg 92
Birth Control Methods

B. Physical methods
c) Intra-uterine device (IUD)
- IUD is a small T-shaped device that can be inserted into the uterus.
- It disrupts sperm movement and prevent fertilization.
- It also prevents implantation.
 Pg 93

• Vasectomy is a permanent (and surgical) method in which the vas deferens in the male are
severed and tied. Sperms are prevented from travelling to the urethra from the epididymis.
• Tubal ligation is the permanent (and surgical) method in which the fallopian tubes in the female
are severed and tied. Mature ovum that is released from the ovary cannot travel down to the
uterus. At the same time, the sperm cells cannot meet the ovum.
 Pg 94
Abortion
Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy.
- During abortion, the foetus is removed either surgically (see image) or
with the use of medication.
- In Singapore, it is illegal to undergo abortion after the second trimester
(after the 6th month of pregnancy)
 Pg 94
Abortion

Abortion should not be taken lightly.

- It can lead to health complications of the female, including damages to
the uterus, infertility, or infections in the reproductive system after
surgical procedures.
- Though birth control methods are available, it is advisable to practice
abstinence and avoid pre-marital sex.
- This will prevent unwanted pregnancy, especially if the couple do not wish
to have or are not ready to have children.
 Pg 95
Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed on to

other individuals during the process of sexual intercourse.
- They spread through contact with infected bodily fluids like blood, semen
and vaginal fluids.
- Some may also be transmitted through blood transfusion, sharing of
unsterilized or contaminated needles used by an infected individual or
from a mother to an infant during childbirth/ breast-feeding.
- Most STIs show no symptoms at the early stages, which could be
dangerous as the individual will continue to infect others without
knowing.
- If STIs are discovered in later stages of infection, it may be difficult to
treat.
 Pg 95
Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)

A. Gonorrhoea
- Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Infected individuals may experience pain or burning with urination and
discharge from penis/ vagina.
- Can be treated with antibiotics.
- If left untreated, can lead to fever, skin rashes, sores, joint pain and
swelling.
 Pg 96
Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)

A. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

- AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by HIV.
- AIDS patients have a severely weakened immune system, making them
more vulnerable to falling ill.
- Cannot be treated by antibiotics, and no effective cure for HIV.
- If left untreated, HIV will continue to harm patient’s immune system. This
increases the patient’s risk of contracting other illnesses.
 Pg 96
Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)
- There have also been unwarranted discrimination towards AIDS patients
from the public/ community due to fear of possible transmissions due to
insufficient awareness towards the disease.