Are males and females all that different? Well.. Yes And No! Anatomy
Male Female Similarities 2 pouches Testicles Ovaries Start out inside body Testicles descend before birth Fetus begins with starter parts that could develop into either gender. Around 7 th Week Babys body is told by DNA to become either male or female. Unused parts disintegrate Used parts continue development (see overhead) Male or Female??? DNA determines babys gender XX = Female XY = Male Depends on which egg & sperm get together. Father determines babys gender. Anatomy similarities Function VERY different! Male Uncomplicated Produce sperm 2-4 MILLION every day Female Very Complicated! One egg Once a month Careful coordination of hormones & body Timing perfect!
Females Ovaries 2 pouches Contain ova Born with all of her eggs (~ 400,000) Use up ~500 Wont run out! Ovulation One egg released from ovary to oviduct (fallopian tube) After Ovulation Egg pushed along by cilia Few days travel time to arrive in uterus
Cervix Opening between uterus & vagina Normally tiny At birth muscles pull open (dilation) cervix to allow baby to pass through = Labor Menstrual Cycle Complex combination of 10-12 chemicals (hormones) Usually one egg once a month All about timing!!! Uterus must be ready when egg gets there in case it was fertilized If no fertilization, tear down lining of uterus and rebuild for next month 28-Day Cycle (average) Three Stages 1. Tear Down 2. Rebuild 3. Extra nutrients/blood for potential baby
No Baby? Back to #1
Chemicals (hormones) Regulate events in the body Estrogen Progesterone LH (leuteinizing hormone) FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) Many others Day 1 First menstrual blood & tissue No baby = breaks down lining of uterus 5-7 days of blood/tissue exits body Pre-Ovulation
~Day 14 Ovulation = Egg released Temp spikes slightly Most fertile in next few days! Able to get pregnant Egg gets fertilized while traveling through oviduct. Post-Ovulation If fertilized Zygote begins to divide as it travels through oviduct Implants into lining of uterus
If not fertilized Egg travels through oviduct to uterus Exits body with blood and tissues during menstruation Birth Control Pills Trick body into thinking its pregnant Extra hormones No ovulation occurs No ovulation = no egg = no fertilization = no baby! No hormones taken for 7 days = menstruation Male Testes Produce 2-4 million sperm every day Outside body why? Sperm like temps 1-2 cooler than body temp Vas Deferens Tube sperm travel through Vasectomy Cut/tie off tube sperm cant get out! Semen Contains 300-500 million sperm Sperm food pH buffers Allows sperm to survive for a couple of days inside females body (hostile environment) What is sperm? Then Used to think it was a tiny human inside each cell Spermists vs. Ovists
Now Contains Several Parts: Head Chemical to dissolve egg goo Dads genetic information (DNA) Mitochondria Energy Tail Swimming Prostate Gland Adds non-sperm stuff to semen pH buffers Nourishment Cancer very common Slower-growing (usually) Surgery for removal Bulbourethral gland Adds lubricant to aid travel of semen through the urethra
Conception/Fertilization Conception/Fertilization Ejaculation Release of 300-500 million sperm Egg needs to be in oviduct Sperm to egg, not an easy task Go wrong direction : 2 paths only 1 leads to an egg Get attacked by females white blood cells Acidic environment Current Once egg is located Dissolve protective goo surrounding egg One gets through enters egg Instant biochemical change in zygote No more sperm allowed in Zygote begins development Time Lapse Development Implants in uterine lining Endometrium= outer lining of uterus Becomes placenta Uses mothers nutrients Continues development
Fetal Development Anmion Membrane surrounding baby Contains amniotic fluid Breaks just before birth = water broke Amniotic Fluid The water surrounding baby Buoyant cradle for baby Protection Free movement
Fetal Dev (contd) Umbilical Cord Blood vessels from placenta to baby Moms & babys blood do not circulate together! Can have 2 different blood types Diffusion Ancient beliefs Wak Wak tree Birth Labor muscles used to open cervix Baby flips upside down Head first! Feet first = Breech (bad) Cesarian Section (C-section) surgical removal of baby After baby is born mom delivers placenta (afterbirth) that detaches from uterus Breastfeeding Most nutritious option for baby Milk changes as baby grows Antibodies from mom create immunity for baby Studies have shown correlation between breastfeeding and higher intelligence in baby. Bond w/baby is stronger Twins/Multiple Births Two types Monozygotic From one egg Identical Dizygotic From two eggs Fraternal Not identical Identical twins One zygote Splits in 2 No one knows why! Completely random = does NOT run in families Same exact DNA Natures clones Fraternal Twins 2 separate eggs get fertilized with 2 different sperm cells More than one egg got released during ovulation Siblings Can be sisters Brothers Brother and sister Tends to run in families Conjoined Twins Used to be called Siamese twins First well known case was in Siam Identical twins that never completely separated during development Sometimes can be separated, depending on what is shared.