When a girl is born, the ovaries already contain thousands of immature eggs. On reaching puberty, some of…
When a girl is born, the ovaries already contain thousands of immature eggs. On reaching puberty, some of these start maturing. One matured egg is released every month by one of the ovaries. The two oviducts unite into an elastic bag-like structure known as uterus.
(a) Write the site of fertilization in human female. [1]
(b) How does the uterus prepare itself to receive and nurture the growing embryo ? Explain. [1]
(c) (i) What happens when the egg is not fertilized ? [2]
Solution
(a) Oviduct/ fallopian tube
(b) The lining of uterus thickens (it becomes spongy) and is richly supplied with blood to nourish the growing embryo.
(c) (i) The uterine lining slowly breaks down and comes out as blood and mucous along with unfertilized egg. Hence, menstruation will occur.