Reproductive System
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Resemblance
11.23 You may sometimes wonder whom you look like. You will probably look a little like both your father and your mother. And maybe like your grandparents or your aunt or uncle too. In the egg cell and the sperm cell there are tiny parts called genes. You get your genes from both your parents. All genes have different jobs to do – some decide your hair colour, some your eye colour, some decide your height. These genes carry all the information needed to form every part of your body. And since you have a mixture of genes from both your parents, you will look a little like both of them.
Disorders of the Reproductive System
11.24 Infertility – When a woman is not able to conceive or bear a child, or a man is not able to father children, then he/she is said to be infertile. Infertility may be temporary and treatable or it may be permanent. Infertility may result from abnormal developments, abnormal functions, or a disease of the reproductive system. In the woman, the main cause is the blockage of the Fallopian tube. Blocked tubes prevent eggs from entering the uterus, where a fertlised egg develops into a foetus. Such blockages result from infectious diseases.
11.25 Disorders of the uterus – Abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), growth of fibroids or uterine tumours are some common disorders of the uterus. The most common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding are hormonal imbalances, miscarriage, infections of the uterus, blood clotting and cancer. PID develops as a result of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, or an infection following an abortion or childbirth. The exact cause for fibroids is not known, but fibroids often enlarge under the influence of the female hormone estrogen.
11.26 Enlargement of Prostate Gland – The prostate gland is an organ in the male reproductive system, weighing about 20 grams and about the size of a chestnut. Increasing age is the predominant cause for this disorder. The enlargement of the prostate is common among men over 50 years of age. An enlarged prostate can press the urethra. Such pressure can make the passing of urine from the body difficult and may result in bladder infection and kidney damage.
