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Which gametes do males and females make?
Reproductive maturity
Organs begin making gametes
1. In males
Organs make sperm
Example:
Sperm
2. In females
Organs make eggs
Example:
Eggs (ova)
As a child grows into an adult, the reproductive organs mature and begin producing gametes — sperm in males and eggs in females. The human reproductive system then consists of special organs (Fig. 11.18 and Fig. 11.19) that make gametes, help them meet, and support the growth of new life.
Important Definitions
- Zygote — the single cell formed when a sperm fuses with an egg.
- Embryo — the early stage of the developing young, formed from the dividing zygote.
- Foetus — the developing baby from about the ninth week of pregnancy onwards.
- Uterus — the bag-like organ in the female body where the foetus develops.
