Physiology 2130 Lecture 14: Module-14-The-Reproductive-System
17 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Each cell in the body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes this includes a pair of sex chromosomes. The sex chromosomes consist of a large x chromosome and a smaller y chromosome. All eggs contain an x chromosome while the sperm can carry either an x or y chromosome. The sex of the future baby is determined at the point of fertilization if a sperm carrying the x chromosomes penetrates the egg carrying the x chromosome, then a female will develop (xx) If, on the other hand, a sperm carrying the y chromosomes fertilizes the x chromosome bearing egg, then a male will develop (xy) However, development of each respective reproductive tract does not begin immediately after fertilization. During the first 6 weeks of development, male and female embryos contain common (sometimes called indifferent) gonads. These structures will eventually form the testes in the male or the ovaries in the female.
