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104 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abortion
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The termination of a pregnancy in progress.
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acrosome
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A vesicle at the tip of a sperm cell that helps the sperm penetrate the egg.
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asexual reproduction
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A type of reproduction involving only one parent that produces genetically identical offspring by budding or by the division of a single cell or the entire organism into two or more parts.
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assisted reproductive technology (ART)
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Fertilization procedures that generally involve the surgical removal of eggs (secondary oocytes) from a woman’s ovaries after hormonal stimulation, fertilizing the eggs, and returning them to the woman’s body.
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baculum
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A bone that is contained in, and helps stiffen, the penis of rodents, raccoons, walruses, whales, and several other mammals.
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barrier method
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Contraception that relies on a physical barrier to block the passage of sperm. Examples include condoms and diaphragms.
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Bartholin’s glands
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Glands near the vaginal opening in a human female that secrete lubricating fluid during sexual arousal.
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birth control pills
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Chemical contraceptives that inhibit ovulation, retard follicular development, or alter a woman’s cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus.
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blastocyst
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An embryonic stage in mammals; a hollow ball of cells produced one week after fertilization in humans.
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budding
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An asexual means of propagation in which outgrowths from the parent form and pinch off to live independently or else remain attached to eventually form extensive colonies.
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bulbourethral gland
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One of a pair of glands near the base of the penis in the human male that secretes fluid that lubricates and neutralizes acids in the urethra during sexual arousal.
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cervix
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The neck of the uterus, which opens into the vagina.
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cleavage
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The process of cytokinesis in animal cells, characterized by pinching of the plasma membrane. Also, the succession of rapid cell divisions without growth during early embryonic development that converts the zygote into a ball of cells.
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clitoris
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An organ in the female that engorges with blood and becomes erect during sexual arousal.
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cloaca
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A common opening for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts found in many nonmammalian vertebrates but in few mammals.
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coitus
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An organ in the female that engorges with blood and becomes erect during sexual arousal.
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conception
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The fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell in humans.
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condom
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A thin, latex rubber or natural membrane sheath that fits over the penis to collect semen.
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contraception
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The prevention of pregnancy.
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corpus luteum
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A secreting tissue in the ovary that forms from the collapsed follicle after ovulation and produces progesterone.
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diaphragm
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(1) A sheet of muscle that forms the bottom wall of the thoracic cavity in mammals; active in ventilating the lungs. (2) A dome-shaped rubber cup fitted into the upper portion of the vagina before sexual intercourse. It serves as a physical barrier to block the passage of sperm.
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ejaculation
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The propulsion of sperm from the epididymis through the muscular vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, and urethra.
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ejaculatory duct
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The short section of the ejaculatory route in mammals formed by the convergence of the vas deferens and a duct from the seminal vesicle. The ejaculatory duct transports sperm from the vas deferens to the urethra.
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embryo
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New developing individual.
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endometrium
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The inner lining of the uterus, which is richly supplied with blood vessels.
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epididymis
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A coiled tubule located adjacent to the testes where sperm are stored.
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estrous cycle
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A type of reproductive cycle in all female mammals except higher primates, in which the nonpregnant endometrium is reabsorbed rather than shed, and sexual response occurs only during mid-cycle at estrus.
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estrus
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A period of sexual activity associated with ovulation.
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external fertilization
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The fusion of gametes that parents have discharged into the environment.
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fertilization
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The union of haploid gametes to produce a diploid zygote.
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fetus
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A developing human from the ninth week of gestation until birth; has all the major structures of an adult.
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fission
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The separation of a parent into two or more individuals of approximately equal size.
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follicle
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A microscopic structure in the ovary that contains the developing ovum and secretes estrogens.
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follicular phase
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That part of the ovarian cycle during which follicles are growing and oocytes maturing.
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fragmentation
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A means of asexual reproduction whereby a single parent breaks into parts that regenerate into whole new individuals.
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gamete
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A haploid cell, such as an egg or sperm. Gametes unite during sexual reproduction to produce a diploid zygote.
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gametogenesis
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The process by which gametes are produced in the mammalian body.
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gestation
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Pregnancy; the state of carrying developing young within the female reproductive tract.
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glans penis
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The head end of the penis.
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gonads
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The male and female sex organs; the gamete-producing organs in most animals.
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hermaphroditism
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A condition in which an individual has both female and male gonads and functions as both a male and female in sexual reproduction by producing both sperm and eggs.
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human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
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A hormone secreted by the chorion that maintains the corpus luteum of the ovary during the first three months of pregnancy.
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hymen
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A thin membrane that partly covers the vaginal opening in the human female. The hymen is ruptured by sexual intercourse or other vigorous activity.
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in vitro fertilization
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Fertilization of ova in laboratory containers followed by artificial implantation of the early embryo in the mother’s uterus.
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internal fertilization
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Reproduction in which sperm are typically deposited in or near the female reproductive tract and fertilization occurs within the tract.
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labia majora
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A pair of thick, fatty ridges that enclose and protect the labia minora and vestibule.
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labia minora
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A pair of slender skin folds that enclose and protect the vestibule.
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labor
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A series of strong, rhythmic contractions of the uterus that expel a baby out of the uterus and vagina during childbirth.
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lactation
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The continued production of milk.
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Leydig cell
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A cell that produces testosterone and other androgens and is located between the seminiferous tubules of the testes.
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luteal phase
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That portion of the ovarian cycle during which endocrine cells of the corpus luteum secrete female hormones.
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mammary glands
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Exocrine glands that secrete milk to nourish the young. These glands are characteristic of mammals.
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menopause
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The cessation of ovulation and menstruation.
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menstrual cycle
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A type of reproductive cycle in higher female primates, in which the nonpregnant endometrium is shed as a bloody discharge through the cervix into the vagina.
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menstrual flow phase
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That portion of the uterine (menstrual) cycle when menstrual bleeding occurs.
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menstruation
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The shedding of portions of the endometrium during a uterine (menstrual) cycle.
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myotonia
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Increased muscle tension.
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natural family planning
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A form of contraception that relies on refraining from sexual intercourse when conception is most likely to occur; also called the rhythm method.
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oogenesis
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The process in the ovary that results in the production of female gametes.
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oogonia
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Ovary-specific stem cells.
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organogenesis
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The development of organ rudiments from the three germ layers.
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orgasm
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Rhythmic, involuntary contractions of certain reproductive structures in both sexes during the human sexual response cycle.
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ovarian cycle
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The cyclic recurrence of the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase in the mammalian ovary, regulated by hormones.
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ovary
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(1) In flowers, the portion of a carpel in which the egg-containing ovules develop. (2) In animals, the structure that produces female gametes and reproductive hormones.
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oviduct
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A tube passing from the ovary to the vagina in invertebrates or to the uterus in vertebrates.
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ovulation
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The release of an egg from ovaries. In humans, an ovarian follicle releases an egg during each uterine (menstrual) cycle.
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ovum
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The female gamete; the haploid, unfertilized egg, which is usually a relatively large, nonmotile cell.
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parthenogenesis
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A type of reproduction in which females produce offspring from unfertilized eggs.
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parturition
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The expulsion of a baby from the mother; also called birth.
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penis
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The copulatory structure of male mammals.
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pheromone
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In animals and fungi, a small, volatile chemical that functions in communication and that in animals acts much like a hormone in influencing physiology and behavior.
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placenta
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A structure in the pregnant uterus for nourishing a viviparous fetus with the mother’s blood supply; formed from the uterine lining and embryonic membranes.
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pregnancy
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The condition of carrying one or more embryos in the uterus.
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prepuce
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A fold of skin covering the head of the clitoris and penis.
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primary oocyte
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A diploid cell, in prophase I of meiosis, that can be hormonally triggered to develop into an ovum.
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proliferative phase
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That portion of the uterine (menstrual) cycle when the endometrium regenerates and thickens.
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prostate gland
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A gland in human males that secretes an acid-neutralizing component of semen.
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regeneration
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The regrowth of body parts from pieces of an organism.
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rhythm method
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A form of contraception that relies on refraining from sexual intercourse when conception is most likely to occur; also called natural family planning.
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scrotum
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A pouch of skin outside the abdomen that houses a testis; functions in cooling sperm, thereby keeping them viable.
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secondary oocyte
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A haploid cell resulting from meiosis I in oogenesis, which will become an ovum after meiosis II.
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secretory phase
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That portion of the uterine (menstrual) cycle when the endometrium continues to thicken, becomes more vascularized, and develops glands that secrete a fluid rich in glycogen.
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semen
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The fluid that is ejaculated by the male during orgasm; contains sperm and secretions from several glands of the male reproductive tract.
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seminal vesicle
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A gland in males that secretes a fluid component of semen that lubricates and nourishes sperm.
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seminiferous tubule
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A highly coiled tube in the testis in which sperm are produced.
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sequential hermaphroditism
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A reproductive pattern in which an individual reverses its sex during its lifetime.
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sexual reproduction
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A type of reproduction in which two parents give rise to offspring that have unique combinations of genes inherited from the gametes of the two parents.
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spermatheca
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A sac in the female reproductive system where sperm are stored.
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spermatogenesis
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The continuous and prolific production of mature sperm cells in the testis.
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spermatogonia
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Stem cells that give rise to sperm.
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spermatozoon
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The male gamete.
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testis
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(plural, testes) The male reproductive organ, or gonad, in which sperm and reproductive hormones are produced.
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trimester
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In human development, one of three 3 month-long periods of pregnancy.
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tubal ligation
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A means of sterilization in which a woman’s two oviducts (Fallopian tubes) are tied closed to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus. A segment of each oviduct is removed.
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urethra
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A tube that releases urine from the body near the vagina in females and through the penis in males; also serves in males as the exit tube for the reproductive system.
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uterine cycle
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The changes that occur in the uterus during the reproductive cycle of the human female; also called the menstrual cycle.
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uterus
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A female organ where eggs are fertilized and/or development of the young occurs.
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vagina
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Part of the female reproductive system between the uterus and the outside opening; the birth canal in mammals; also accommodates the male’s penis and receives sperm during copulation.
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vas deferens
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The tube in the male reproductive system in which sperm travel from the epididymis to the urethra.
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vasectomy
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The cutting of each vas deferens to prevent sperm from entering the urethra.
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vasocongestion
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The filling of a tissue with blood, caused by increased blood flow through the arteries of that tissue.
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vestibule
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The cavity enclosed by the labia minora; the space into which the vagina and urethral opening empty.
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vulva
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Collective term for the female external genitalia.
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zygote
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The diploid product of the union of haploid gametes in conception; a fertilized egg.
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