Selina Concise ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Biology Chapter 3 Reproduction in Humans

REVIEW QUESTION

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Put a tick mark (✓) against the correct alternative in the following statements:

(a) The testes are located within the:

1. Penis
2. Scrotum
3. Ureter
4. Urinary bladder

(b) Amoeba is most commonly reproduced by:

1. Budding
2. Regeneration
3. Binary fission
4. Multiple fission

(c) Identify the stage which is formed after the fertilisation of the egg by the sperm?

1. Ovule
2. Foetus
3. Embryo
4. Zygote

(d) Internally, the uterus opens into:

1. Urethra
2. Vagina
3. Oviduct
4. Vulva

(e) Which one of the following represents the correct sequence in the life history of a butterfly?

1. Egg → Larva → Adult → Pupa
2. Egg → Pupa → Adult → Larva
3. Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
4. Egg → Pupa → Larva → Adult

Short Answer Questions:

Question 1.

Distinguish between the following pair of terms:

(a) Egg and sperm.

(b) Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.

(c) Budding and Regeneration.

Answer:

(a) Egg and sperm

Egg Sperm

1. Egg is produced in the ovaries.
2. Egg is spherical in shape with a nucleus.

Sperm

1. Sperm is produced in the testes.
2. Sperm has head with nucleus, middle piece and tail.

(b) Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.

Sexual reproduction

1. In sexual reproduction the two sexes i.e., male and female produce special type of reproductive cells sperms in the male and eggs in the female.
2. To produce a new individual the sperm has to reach the ovum and fuse with it. e.g. Humans, bird, reptile, etc.

Asexual reproduction:

1. It involves the production of an offspring from a single parent without the fusion of reproductive cells (gametes).
2. It is a rapid mode of multiplication, e.g. Lower plants and animals {Amoeba).

(c) Budding and Regeneration

Budding: Budding is a process in which buds grow on the outside of the parent body. The buds detach themselves when they are large enough.

Example: Hydra

Regeneration: Regeneration is the process that uses cell division to regrow lost body parts.

Example: Starfish, sponges

Question 2.

Define the following terms:

(a) Fetilization

(b) Implantation

(c) Puberty

Answer:

(a) Fetilization: When sperms and eggs from the opposite partners (males and females) fuse to form Zygote. It is called fertilization.

(b) Implantation: The fertilised egg (zygote) soon starts developing and by the time it reaches the uterus, a small ball of numerous cells is already formed. This is a kind of embryo which forms a pit in the wall of the uterus and gets fixed in it. This natural way of fixing of the embryo in the wall of the uterus is called implantation. This produces the state of pregnancy.

(c) Puberty: Puberty is the period during which the reproductive systems of boys and girls mature. In girls, it starts at the age of about ten and the first sign of puberty is the development of breasts. In boys, it starts at about 11 years of age of the^enlargement of the testes is its first sign. Sudden spurt in growth, shoulder girdle grows more than hip girdle.

Question 3.

State the reason why testes lie outside the abdomen in a scrotum?

Answer:

Both the testes remain in the scrotum because normal body temperature are to high, scrotum has smooth muscle tissues that keeps the testes at a cooler temperature than the body temperature 2°C to 3°C lower than the body temperature which is the most suitable temperature for sperm production.

Question 4.

Why is it important that a very large number of sperms should be present in the semen ?

Answer:

Single ejaculation of semen has 20,000,000 to 40,000,000 sperms. But only 1 or 2 sperms go into oviduct and fertilise the egg to form the Zygote. It forms embryo that forms an individual. It is the sperm in the semen that are of importance, and therefore semen quality involves both sperm quantity and quality.

Question 5.

List the structures, in their correct sequence, through which the sperms must pass from the time they are produced in the testes to the time they leave the urethra.

Answer:

Sperms are produced in testes. They pass as follows:

The testes consist of a mass of sperm producing tube. The tubes join to form ducts leading to the epididymis which in.turn leads into a muscular sperm duct. The two sperm ducts, one from each testes, open at the top of the urethra.

Question 6.

State the functions of the following:

(a) Ovary

(b) Testes

(c) Fallopian tubes

(d) Seminal vesicle

(e) Uterus

Answer:

(a) Ovary: Ovaries produce ova (eggs) and secrete female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestrone.

(b) Testes: A pair of testes are present in human male. The testes produce sperms.

(c) Fallopian tubes: There are two fallopian tubes in the human female reproductive system. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube. It also conveys fertilized egg to the uterus.

(d) Seminal vesicle: The function of seminal vesicle is to store sperms and to secrete seminal fluid.

(e) Uterus: The inner lining receives, protects and nourishes embryo. Contractions of muscular wall expel baby during birth.

Question 7.

Given here is a section of the female reproductive system of human beings.

(a) Name the parts labelled 1 to 4

(b) Name the part where fertilisation occurs in human beings.

Answer:

(a)

1. Ovary
2. Fallopian tube (Oviduct)
3. Uterus (Inner lining or Muscular wall)
4. Vagina

(b) Fertilisation occurs in the upper part of the oviduct. Sperm fuses withthe egg and zygote is formed this is called fertilisation.

Question 8.

Given alongside is a diagram of male reproductive system in humans. Label the parts indicated by numbers 1 to 5, and state their functions.

Answer:

1. Seminal vesicle: The seminal vesicles produce a secretion which serves as a medium for the transportation of the sperms.
2. Prostate gland: Prostate gland which pours an alkaline secretion into the semen as it passes through the urethra.
3. Testes: Sperms are produced in the testes.
4. Urethra: Urethra passes through the penis and carries either urine or semen.
5. Sperm duct: The sperm pass through the sperm ducts.

Long Answer Questions:

Question PQ.

Define the term metamorphosis. Briefly describe the various stages occurring in the life-cycle of a butterfly.

Answer:

Metamorphosis: A change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after embryonic stage complete transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

Life cycle of butterfly: The butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves of the plants. The new born that comes out of the egg is called larva. It passes through various stages of development. The larva of butterfly is also called Caterpillar. It is very active. It is very voracious. It feeds and moves actively and gains size.

Fig. Life cycle of butterfly

It stops moving and eating and it is called pupa. It is a resting stage. The pupa spins thread around itself and thus is enclosed in a covering. It is called cocoon. This cocoon covers the pupa and is protective in function. During this stage it forms the features of an adult. After attaining adulthood the pupa comes out of the cocoon after breaking it as an adult butterfly. The wings of emerged butterfly are wrinkled and soft. After an hour these are fully stretched and it starts flying.

Question PQ.

What is fertilization? Describe the process in human beings.

Answer:

Fertilization: The fusion of male (sperm) and female (ova) gamete is called fertlization.

As the male performs sexual act with the female and as a result of it the semen is deposited in the vagina of the female. Thus the semen has millions of sperms. Only a few of these sperms are able to reach the upper part of the oviduct. If there is an egg in the oviduct it is fertilized by the sperm. As sperm enters the egg and this leads to the formation of zygote, this act is called fertilisation.

During fusion only the head part of the sperm, which has nucleus, enters the egg. The tail is left behind. The nucleus of the sperm and egg fuse and form the zygote. Soon this zygote becomes many called embryo and reaches the uterus and implants on the wall of the uterus and forms the foetus. Baby develops with in the gestation period of 280 days. After this the baby is delivered.

Question 1.

How does a single called fertilized egg grows into an adult in human beings?

Answer:

Fertilised egg i.e., zygote divides and redivides and forms a ball of cells. This is a kind of embryo and it reaches the uterus and gets attached to the wall of the uterus. This fixing of embryo to the uterus is called implantation. Now the embryo undergoes a process “specialisation of cells’’. It leads to the formation of different parts of the body. This process is called differentiation. It leads to the formation of various tissues and other organs and thus organ systems are formed. Organ system lead to the formation of an individual. Thus the zygote forms an embryo, it forms a baby and it forms an adult.

Question PQ.

Tabulate the important physical changes in the boys and girls that take place during puberty.

Answer:

Reproductive system of boys and girls mature during puberty. Puberty starts at 10 in girls and at 11 in boys. Testes enlarge in boys and breasts develop in girls. The following table shows the physical changed in boys and girls that take place during puberty.

Boys

1. Testes become large
2. Scrotal sac grows and penis becomes long.
3. Length increases and shoulder girdle grows becomes more.
4. Hair grow on the chest arm pits and on the sex organs.
5. Facial hair and moustaches grow.
6. Voice becomes hoarse and deep.

Girls

1. Breasts become large.
2. Ovaries become large and these release eggs. Size of uterus and vagina grows. Menstruation cycle starts.
3. Sudden growth takes place in length. Hip girdle becomes trough shaped, it larger than the shoulder girdle.
4. Chest and abdomen do not have hair. But hair arise on the sex organs and the arm pits.
5. No moustaches and facial hair.
6. High pitch voice.

Question 2.

Describe the human female reproductive system with a labelled diagram.

Answer:

On each side of the uterus two white oval bodies lie. These are called ovaries. Eggs are produced in the ovaries. Nearer to the ovaries there lies expanded funnel shaped oviducts or fallopian tubes. The eggs go into the oviducts when released by the ovaries. The two oviducts open into the uterus. The walls of the uterus are muscular. The growing embryo lodges to the wall of the uterus. It is supplied by the food and blood through the placenta w hich is a connection betw een the growing embryo and the mother. The uterus joins the vagina. It is the vagina in which semen is lodged during sexual act. From here sperms go up into the oviduct and fertilise the egg. The urethra which brings urine from the urinary bladder opens into the.vulva just in front of the vaginal opening.

Fig. Female reproductive system

Question PQ.

‘Adolescence is a crucial stage’. Justify this statement.

Answer:

During adolescence physical and emotional changes takes place in the body of boys and girls. This is period between the age of 10 to 19 and this is very critical period. Boys bear facial hair, muscular body, hair in the arm pits and on the sex organs, and have hoarse voice.

The girls also have beautiful contours, raised breasts, wide lips and high pitch voice. The body increases in length in both cases. Boys and girls becomes conscious about the growth of the body. They become hesitant and shy to each other. They become body conscious and spend lot of time on dressing up and grooming. Hormonal level increases in their body and become restless. Hormones affect their brains and control their emotions and moods. They cherish the company of their own sexes and show the attraction for the opposite sex. Thus it is very strange and crucial stage in their life. So adolescence is a very crucial stage in the life of the boys and the girls.

Selina Concise ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Biology Chapter 3 Reproduction in Humans