Human reproductive anatomy and fertilization
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All 14 Flashcards — Human reproductive anatomy and fertilization
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Question
What is a gamete?
Answer
A **sex cell** (sperm or egg) used in sexual reproduction. Gametes are **haploid**.
Question
Where are sperm made? Where are eggs made?
Answer
Sperm are made in the **testes**; eggs are made in the **ovaries**.
Question
What type of cell division makes gametes?
Answer
**Meiosis** — it halves the chromosome number, producing **haploid** cells.
Question
What does 'haploid' mean?
Answer
Having **one set** of chromosomes (n). Human gametes are haploid (23 chromosomes).
Question
What does 'diploid' mean?
Answer
Having **two sets** of chromosomes (2n) — one from each parent. Most body cells are diploid (46 chromosomes).
Question
Define fertilization.
Answer
The **fusion of a sperm nucleus with an egg nucleus** to form a diploid zygote.
Question
What is a zygote?
Answer
The single **diploid (2n)** cell formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg; it divides to form an embryo.
Question
Why must gametes be haploid?
Answer
So that at fertilization the diploid number is **restored**, not **doubled** — keeping the chromosome number constant each generation.
Question
Where does fertilization usually take place?
Answer
In the **oviduct (fallopian tube)**.
Question
How does a sperm differ from an egg?
Answer
Sperm are **small, many and swim** with a tail (little food); the egg is **large, few, cannot swim** and has a big **food store**.
Question
Trace the path of sperm in the male system.
Answer
Made in the **testis** → carried by the **sperm duct** → out through the **urethra**.
Question
Trace the path of an egg in the female system.
Answer
Released from the **ovary** → travels along the **oviduct** → reaches the **uterus**.
Question
What stops more than one sperm fertilizing the egg?
Answer
Once one sperm enters, the egg membrane **changes to block any other sperm** (preventing extra chromosomes).
Question
In symbols, what happens at fertilization?
Answer
**n + n → 2n** — two haploid gametes fuse into one diploid zygote.
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Topic 4.7 hub
Reproduction
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