Reproduction Glossary
Afterbirth the placenta and foetal membranes expelled from the uterus following birth
Amnion a membranous sac which surrounds and protects the embryo
Amniotic fluid the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a pregnant female
Amniotic sac a fluid-filled bag that surrounds a growing baby
Cervix the muscular opening of the uterus; keep the baby in place during pregnancy and protects uterus from infection
Embryo early multicellular stage in the growth and development of an organism
Endometrium thick blood lining of the uterus
Epididymis a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube connecting the testicle to its sperm duct; stores sperm until ejaculation
Fallopian tube a tube leading from the ovary to the uterus; fertilisation usually takes place here
Fertilisation the fusion (joining) of male and female gametes (sex cells) to form a zygote
Foetus a developing baby before it is born (from around 8 weeks after fertilisation)
Gametes sex cells
Gestation the development time of a baby in the uterus i.e. pregnancy
Implantation process by which a fertilized egg embeds in the endometrium
Labour first stage of giving birth which begins with muscular contractions widening the cervix
Menstruation the loss of blood lining from the female's uterus each month
Oestrogens female sex hormones
Ovary the organ that makes ova (female sex cells) and produces female hormones
Oviduct fallopian tube
Ovulation producing eggs
Ovum female gamete
Penis the male sex organ used to transfer sperm to the female during intercourse
Placenta a disc-like organ acts as an exchange centre (for food and oxygen) between mother and foetus; connects the mother to the baby
Pregnant adjective describing a female that has a developing young inside her
Prostate gland gland that provides a chemical to protect sperm in the vagina
Scrotum a sac-like pouch that holds the testes and keeps them cool
Semen a mixture made up of sperm and secretions from the prostate gland and seminal vesicle
Seminal vesicle secretes the liquid (sugary solution to fuel sperm) that mixes with sperm to form semen
Sperm motile (moves by its own effort) male gamete
Sperm duct tube that takes sperm to the urethra in the penis
Testes the male organs that produce sperm and testosterone
Testosterone male sex hormone
Umbilical cord cord that connects the body of the growing embryo with the placenta
Urethra tube that carries semen out of the penis
Uterus a pear shaped organ inside a female where the baby develops
Vagina tube-like female organ that receives sperm during mating and which forms the birth canal during birth
Amnion a membranous sac which surrounds and protects the embryo
Amniotic fluid the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a pregnant female
Amniotic sac a fluid-filled bag that surrounds a growing baby
Cervix the muscular opening of the uterus; keep the baby in place during pregnancy and protects uterus from infection
Embryo early multicellular stage in the growth and development of an organism
Endometrium thick blood lining of the uterus
Epididymis a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube connecting the testicle to its sperm duct; stores sperm until ejaculation
Fallopian tube a tube leading from the ovary to the uterus; fertilisation usually takes place here
Fertilisation the fusion (joining) of male and female gametes (sex cells) to form a zygote
Foetus a developing baby before it is born (from around 8 weeks after fertilisation)
Gametes sex cells
Gestation the development time of a baby in the uterus i.e. pregnancy
Implantation process by which a fertilized egg embeds in the endometrium
Labour first stage of giving birth which begins with muscular contractions widening the cervix
Menstruation the loss of blood lining from the female's uterus each month
Oestrogens female sex hormones
Ovary the organ that makes ova (female sex cells) and produces female hormones
Oviduct fallopian tube
Ovulation producing eggs
Ovum female gamete
Penis the male sex organ used to transfer sperm to the female during intercourse
Placenta a disc-like organ acts as an exchange centre (for food and oxygen) between mother and foetus; connects the mother to the baby
Pregnant adjective describing a female that has a developing young inside her
Prostate gland gland that provides a chemical to protect sperm in the vagina
Scrotum a sac-like pouch that holds the testes and keeps them cool
Semen a mixture made up of sperm and secretions from the prostate gland and seminal vesicle
Seminal vesicle secretes the liquid (sugary solution to fuel sperm) that mixes with sperm to form semen
Sperm motile (moves by its own effort) male gamete
Sperm duct tube that takes sperm to the urethra in the penis
Testes the male organs that produce sperm and testosterone
Testosterone male sex hormone
Umbilical cord cord that connects the body of the growing embryo with the placenta
Urethra tube that carries semen out of the penis
Uterus a pear shaped organ inside a female where the baby develops
Vagina tube-like female organ that receives sperm during mating and which forms the birth canal during birth