This document provides an overview of a human reproduction lab for an online biology course. The lab includes: 1) Watching a video on human reproduction and answering worksheet questions. 2) Reading about various birth control methods and categorizing them on a worksheet. 3) Taking a post-lab quiz to assess understanding of human reproductive anatomy, the biology of reproduction, and different birth control options. Diagrams and details are presented on male and female anatomy, the fertilization process, and features of common contraceptive methods like hormones, IUDs, barriers, and natural family planning.

1. Human Reproduction*
Biology 1408 Online Lab
Summer I 2018
* You might not want to do this assignment at a public
computer.

2. Human Reproduction Lab
● EXERCISE 1
○ Watch video “Life’s Greatest Miracle” (54 minutes)
○ Answer questions in worksheet as you watch
● EXERCISE 2
○ Read through birth control method presentation
○ Categorize the methods on the worksheet
● Post-Lab Quiz

3. Biology of Human Reproduction

4. Biology of Human Reproduction
● Egg released from the ovary at
OVULATION and move into the
fallopian tubes.
● Sperm leave male reproductive
tract and enter female
reproductive tract.
● Sperm move into fallopian tubes.

5. Biology of Human Reproduction
● Sperm fertilizes egg in
fallopian tube =
FERTILIZATION
● After fertilization, the
zygote goes through
several cell divisions and
moves through fallopian
tube and enters uterus.
● Mass of cells attaches to
the wall of the uterus =
IMPLANTATION

6. Male Reproductive Anatomy

7. Female Reproductive Anatomy

9. Biology of Birth Control

10. Birth Control - Abstinence
● Sperm NEVER meets egg
○ Gametes are produced but
don’t meet.
● Not guaranteed to prevent STDs.
○ How do you define sex?
● Exceptions
○ Parthenogenesis
○ In Vitro fertilization

11. Birth Control - Surgical Sterilization
● NOT castration
● NOT ovariohysterectomy

12. Birth Control - Hormone-based
● Traditionally known as “The Pill”
● Estrogen / Progestin+Estrogen
○ Most popular combination
○ >100 million women
● Hormones inhibit ovulation
● Allows (or not) a 1 week period
● Why 28 pills per pack?

14. Birth Control - Hormone-based
“Morning After” or “Plan-B”
● Synthetic Progesterone at a higher
dose than “The Pill”
● Has several actions
○ Inhibits ovulation (no egg, no
pregnancy)
○ Blocks fertilization
○ May block implantation (little
evidence for this but the claim has
added to the controversy of this
method)
● Is NOT RU-486 (abortion pill) which
starts uterine contractions

15. Birth Control - Intrauterine Device (IUD)
● Plastic+Copper or
plastic+hormones
● Inserted into uterus by health
professional
● Interferes with:
○ Fertilization
○ Implantation
● Copper increases effectiveness

16. Birth Control - Barrier Methods
● Condoms
● Male and Female
● Diaphragm (often used with spermicide)
● Cervical cap (often used with spermicide)
● Sperm cannot pass through. Male condom from the year 1640
Cervical cap (shown with spermicide). Diaphragm (shown with spermicide).

17. Birth Control - “Natural” Method AKA “Rhythm
Method” of family planning.
● Avoid sex during ovulation (3 days
before AND after)
● Day 14 of female reproductive
cycle
● If no egg is present, no fertilization
● How do you know when ovulation
occurs?

19. Birth Control - Spermicide
● Nonoxynol-9 is most common
● Unfortunately there are many
“urban myths”
○ Coca-cola and lemon juice
○ They do have a low pH
(acidic) in common.
● The first written record of
spermicide use is found in the
Kahun Papyrus, an Egyptian
document dating to the year
1850 BC.
○ It described a pessary* of
crocodile dung and
fermented bread dough.
*a small soluble block that is inserted into the vagina to treat infection or as a contraceptive.

20. ● Complete worksheet
● Take Post-Lab Quiz