Sexual reproduction: | A type of reproduction that involves the fusion of gametes from two parents. |
Gonads: | Organ producing reproductive cells. Male gonads: testes; Female gonads: Ovaries |
Testicles / Testis (Sing.)/ Testes (Plu.): | Two ball-like glands inside the scrotum that produce sperm. |
Ovary: | The organ of the female reproductive system that produces the egg. |
Sperm: | Reoroductive cells of human males produced in the testes. |
Prostate gland: | Part of the male reproductive system that secretes a fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. |
Seminal vesicle: | This gland release the liquid that mixes with sperm to form semen. |
Bulbourethral glands | This paired gland releases a liquid that neutralizes any residual acidity in the urethra. The now neutralized urethra make it more suitable environment for the sperm to travel in. |
Vas deferens: | It bring the sperm from the testes to the seminal vesicles |
Ovum: | The egg cell of human females. |
Abortion: | Also referred to as medically terminated pregnancies (MTP). It is normally performed before the 20th week of gestation. |
Egg cell: | The female gamete that is haploid in nature. |
Fallopian tube: | The tube-like structure along which eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus. It is present in a pair of human females. |
Ejaculation: | The release of semen from the penis. |
Semen: | Fluid containing the sperm that is ejaculated during sexual excitement. Semen is composed of secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper’s glands (bulbourethral glands). |
Fertilization: | The process of fusion of male and female gametes. |
Implantation: | The embedding of the developing embryo to the uterine walls. |
Zygote: | The cell produced as a result of the fusion of the male and female gamete. |
Embryo: | The organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation from fertilization to, in humans, the beginning of the third month of pregnancy, after that point in time it is termed a fetus |
Morula | A solid mass of cells (12-16 cells), that results due to rapid mitosis cell division of the fertilized egg. |
Blastula | Blastula is the next stage after the morula during the postfertilization events in humans. It is a hollow sphere of cells with space inside called the blastocoel. |
Parturition | The process of giving birth to young ones. |
Placenta: | The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, provide thermo-regulation to the fetus, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother’s blood supply, fight against internal infection and produce hormones to support the pregnancy. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to growing babies and removes waste products from the baby’s blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby’s umbilical cord. |
Umbilical Cord | Umbilical cord develops from the placenta and is the connection between the mother and the baby. |
Scrotum: | The sac like structure that houses the pair of testes and also provides the required temperature for the development of sperm. |
Adolescence: | The period of physical and emotional change between the beginning of puberty and early adulthood |
Urethra: | These are the tube-like structures that connect the urinary bladder to the external part of the body for the removal of urine. |
Uterus: | It is the pear-shaped structure in the female reproductive system, that is responsible for the development of the embryo and fetus during pregnancy. |
Gestation period: | The development process of the human inside the womb between conception and birth. |
Cervix: | The narrow lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. |
Endometrium: | Innermost layer of the uterus. |
Puberty: | It refers to the stage of human development wherein the person first becomes capable of sexual reproduction. It is marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics, the maturation of the genital organs, and the beginning of menstruation in females. |
Menstruation: | The release of blood, mucus, and tissues out of the uterus through the vagina that usually lasts from three to five days every month. |
Menstrual Cycle: | A complete cycle of ovulation and menstruation. |
Menarche: | The first occurrence of menstruation. |
Menopause: | Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her menstruation stops permanently, and can no longer become pregnant |
Contraception: | Prevention of pregnancies. |
Barrier Methods: | It is a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy by blocking the entrance of sperm, physically or chemically, into the uterus. Cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, female condoms, spermicides are some of the examples. |
Spermicides: | Chemicals used to destroy the sperms to prevent pregnancies. |
IUCD | Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices. These are a long lasting reversible method of birth control. Commonly IUCD’s are copper-releasing IUD (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375); hormone releasing IUD (Progestasert, LNG-20). |