HUMAN REPRODUCTION

 

FERTILIZATION AND IMPLANTATION:

  • During copulation (coitus) semen is released by the penis into the vagina is called insemination.
  • The motile sperm swim rapidly, pass through cervix, uterus and finally reach the junction of isthmus and ampulla (ammpullary-isthmic junction).
  • The ovum released from the ovary also transported to ampullary isthmic junction where fertilization takes place.
  • Fertilization only takes place if both sperm and ovum reach ampullary – isthmic junction simultaneously.
  • The process of fusion of a sperm and ovum is called fertilization.
  • Acrosome of sperm secretes enzymes helps in penetration into the ovum.
  • Once a sperm comes contact with the zona pellucida of ovum and induces the changes in the membrane that blocks the entry of additional sperms.
  • That ensures monospermy and prevents polyspermy.
  • Only one sperm fertilize with one ovum.
  • Entry of sperm into the ovum induces the ovum to complete its second meiotic division of secondary oocyte.
  • Meiosis-II is also unequal cytokinesis resulting production of one large ovum (ootid) and one small second polar body.
  • Haploid nucleus of sperm fused with the haploid nucleus of ovum to form a diploid zygote.

Sex determination:

  • Sex of a baby has been decided during fertilization and in the zygote.
  • Sex is determined by the sex-chromosomes present in gametes.
  • Human female contain two XX chromosomes.
  • Human male contain XY chromosomes.
  • All the female gametes produced with only ‘X’ chromosome.
  • Sperms produced by male, 50% with ‘X’ and 50 % with ‘Y’ chromosome.
  • After fertilization zygote either carries XX or XY chromosomes.
  • Zygote with XX chromosomes develop into female and with XY chromosome develops into male.

Cleavage:

  • Repeated mitotic division of the zygote without growth resulting a multicellular ball like embryo is called cleavage.
  • Cleavage starts soon after fertilization.
  • Daughter cells produced during cleavage are called blastomeres.
  • The product of cleavage is called Morula, which is 8 to 16 celled.
  • The morula continues to divide and grow and transformed into blastocyst.
  • The blastomeres in blastocyst arranged into an outer layer called trophoblast and an inner mass of cells attached to trophoblast called inner cell mass.
  • Trophoblast cells attached to the endometrium helps development of placenta.
  • Inner cell mass gets differentiated into the embryo.
  • After attachment the uterine cells divide rapidly and cover the blastocyst.
  • Blastocyst completely embedded in the uterine endometrium. This is called implantation.

Pregnancy and embryonic development:

  • After implantation, finger like projections appears on the trophoblast called chorionic villi.
  • Chorionic villi surrounded by uterine tissue and maternal blood.
  • Temporary association between the fetal tissue (chorionic villi) and maternal tissue (uterine endometrium) is called placenta.

Function of placenta:

  • The embryo connected to the placenta by umbilical cord, which transports substances to and from the embryo.
  • Facilitate transport of oxygen and nutrient from mother to embryo.
  • Removes CO2 and waste material from the embryo.
  • Acts as endocrine gland and produces several hormones like:
    • Human chorionic gonadotrophins (hCG)
    • Human placental lactogen (hPL)
    • Estrogen.
    • Progesterone
    • Relaxin produced from the ovary in the later stage of pregnancy.

Embryonic development:

  • After implantation the inner cell mass of blastocyst differentiated into an outer layer called ectoderm and an inner layer called endoderm.
  • Mesoderm differentiated in-between ectoderm and endoderm.
  • The inner cell mass thus called stem cells, having potency to produce all types of cell, tissues and organs by differentiation.

Organogenesis:

  • Formation of different organs in the embryo is called organogenesis.
  • Human pregnancy lasts for 9 months.
  • After one month of pregnancy heart is formed in the embryo.
  • By the end of 2nd month the foetus develops limbs and digits.
  • By the end of 12 weeks (first trimester) most of organ system is formed (limbs and external genitalia are well developed).
  • First movement of foetus and appearance of hairs observed in 5th month.
  • By the end of 24th week (2nd trimesters) the body is covered with fine hairs, eye-lids separate, and eyelashes are formed.
  • By the end of 9 months the foetus is fully developed and is ready for delivery.

PARTURATION AND LACTATION:

  • The period of pregnancy is called gestation period. (9 months).
  • Ejection or expulsion or delivery of foetus is called parturition.
  • Parturition is due to vigorous contraction of uterine Myometrium.
  • The signal of parturition is originated from the fully developed foetus and the placenta which induces mild contraction of uterus called fetal ejection reflex.
  • Fetal ejection reflex triggers the release of Oxytocin from pituitary.
  • Oxytocin induces stronger contraction of uterine endometrium.
  • Stimulatory reflex continues stronger contraction leads to expulsion.
  • After delivery the placenta is also expelled out of the uterus.

Lactation:

  • The mammary gland of the female more differentiated during pregnancy,
  • Mammary gland starts producing milk towards the end of the pregnancy.
  • Process of milk production in mammary gland is called lactation.
  • Milk produced during initial days of lactation is called colostrum.
  • Colostrum contains several antibodies which provide immunity to the new born baby.

 

CBSE Biology (Chapter Wise) Class XII ( By Mr. Hare Krushna Giri )
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