This course has been designed for anyone who is interested to learn about the male and female reproductive systems of human. This is good for general knowledge as well as it has the exam specification of Anatomy/ Physiology/ Biology/ IGCSE/ GCSE/ O level/ AQA/ CheckPoint and Other syllabus. After the completion of this course you will be able to:
Identify and name on diagrams of the male reproductive system: the testes, scrotum, sperm ducts, prostate gland, urethra and penis, and state the functions of these parts
Identify and name on diagrams of the female reproductive system: the ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and vagina, and state the functions of these parts
Describe fertilisation as the fusion of the nuclei from a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg cell/ovum)
State the adaptive features of sperm, limited to flagellum and the presence of enzymes
State the adaptive features of egg cells, limited to energy stores and a jelly coating that changes after fertilisation
State that in early development, the zygote forms an embryo which is a ball of cells that implants into the wall of the uterus
State the functions of the umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic sac and amniotic fluid
Outline the growth and development of the fetus in terms of increasing complexity in the early stages and increasing size towards the end of pregnancy
Describe the ante-natal care of pregnant women, limited to special dietary needs and the harm from smoking and alcohol consumption
Outline the processes involved in labour and birth, limited to:
Compare male and female gametes in terms of size, structure, motility and numbers
Explain the adaptive features of sperm, limited to flagellum, mitochondria and enzymes in the acrosome
Explain the adaptive features of egg cells, limited to energy stores and the jelly coat that changes at fertilisation
Describe the function of the placenta and umbilical cord in relation to exchange of dissolved nutrients, gases and excretory products and providing a barrier to toxins and pathogens (structural details are not required)
State that some toxins, e.g. nicotine, and pathogens, e.g. rubella virus, can pass across the placenta and affect the fetus
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of breast-feeding compared with bottle-feeding using formula milk
Describe the roles of testosterone and oestrogen in the development and regulation
of secondary sexual characteristics during
puberty
Describe the menstrual cycle in terms of
changes in the ovaries and in the lining of the
uterus
Describe the sites of production of oestrogen
and progesterone in the menstrual cycle and
in pregnancy
Explain the role of hormones in controlling
the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, limited to
FSH, LH, progesterone and oestrogen
Methods of birth control in humans
Outline the following methods of birth
control:
– natural, limited to abstinence, monitoring
body temperature and cervical mucus
– chemical, limited to IUD, IUS,
contraceptive pill, implant and injection
– barrier, limited to condom, femidom,
diaphragm
– surgical, limited to vasectomy and female
sterilisation
Supplement
Outline the use of hormones in contraception
and fertility treatments
Outline artificial insemination (AI)
Outline in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Discuss the social implications of
contraception and fertility treatments
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Define sexually transmitted infection as an
infection that is transmitted via body fluids
through sexual contact
State that human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) is an example of an STI
Explain how the spread of STIs is controlled
Describe the methods of transmission of HIV
State that HIV infection may lead to AIDS
Outline how HIV affects the immune system,
limited to decreased lymphocyte numbers
and reduced ability to produce antibodies
