Conception And Prenatal Development

The placenta is a structure that provides nourishment for the developing baby during pregnancy. It is formed from the tissues of both the mother and the fetus and acts as a connection between them. The placenta allows for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the mother's blood and the baby's blood. It also produces hormones that are important for maintaining pregnancy. Overall, the placenta plays a crucial role in supporting the growth and development of the baby inside the womb.

Ovulation refers to the release of the mature ovum (egg) from the ovary. During the menstrual cycle, the ovary prepares and releases an egg, which is then available for fertilization by sperm. This process occurs approximately once every month in women of reproductive age. The other options listed - conceptus, gamete, embryo, and corpus luteum - are all related to different stages or structures involved in reproduction, but they do not specifically refer to the release of the ovum from the ovary.

Mitosis is the correct answer because it is the process of cell division in body cells. During mitosis, a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This process is essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues. Other options like embryo, ovulation, somatic cell, and oogenesis are not directly related to cell division in body cells.

The correct answer is "embryo" because during weeks 3 through 8 of pregnancy, the fertilized egg undergoes rapid cell division and starts to develop into an embryo. This is the stage where the basic structures of the body begin to form, including the brain, spinal cord, heart, and limbs. The embryo is still in the early stages of development and is not yet considered a fetus.

A somatic cell refers to any cell in the body that is not involved in the production of gametes (reproductive cells). It includes all cells except for the sperm and egg cells. Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. They undergo mitosis to divide and replicate, contributing to the growth, development, and maintenance of the body. This is in contrast to gametes, which are haploid and produced through the process of meiosis.

A gamete is a reproductive cell that is involved in sexual reproduction. It is responsible for carrying half of the genetic material from each parent and is capable of fusing with another gamete to form a zygote. The other options listed, such as placenta, conceptus, mitosis, and corpus luteum, are not directly related to reproductive cells or gametes.

Oogenesis is the process of formation and development of female gametes, also known as eggs or ova. It involves a series of events, including mitosis and meiosis, which occur in the ovaries. During oogenesis, primordial germ cells divide by mitosis to form primary oocytes. These primary oocytes then undergo meiosis I, resulting in the formation of secondary oocytes. Finally, meiosis II occurs, producing a mature egg and polar bodies. Oogenesis is essential for sexual reproduction in females and is responsible for the production of viable eggs that can be fertilized by sperm to form a conceptus or embryo.

The corpus luteum is the correct answer because it is a temporary structure that forms in the ovary after ovulation. It is formed from the remnants of the follicle that released the egg. The corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone, which are important hormones for maintaining pregnancy.

An autosome is a type of chromosome that is not involved in determining an individual's sex. In humans, there are 22 pairs of autosomes, while the sex chromosomes (X and Y) determine the sex of an individual. The other terms listed in the question, such as oogenesis, somatic cell, mitosis, and ovulation, are not directly related to the concept of an autosome.

The term "conceptus" refers to the product of fertilization, which includes the embryo and associated membranes. It encompasses the early stages of development after fertilization occurs. The conceptus is formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg, resulting in the formation of a zygote. This zygote then undergoes multiple cell divisions through the process of mitosis, leading to the development of an embryo. Therefore, the correct answer for this question is "Conceptus."