13 Flashcards
What are the three main regions of the male urethra?
Prostatic urethra, membranous urethra, and spongy (penile) urethra
What is the function of the seminal vesicles?
They produce a thick, yellowish secretion that contains fructose, prostaglandins, and other substances that provide energy and enhance sperm motility.
What is the function of the prostate gland?
It secretes a milky fluid that contributes to semen volume and contains enzymes that help to activate sperm.
What is the function of the bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands?
They secrete a clear, slippery fluid that lubricates the head of the penis and neutralizes acidic urine in the urethra prior to ejaculation.
What is the function of the dartos muscle?
It wrinkles the scrotal skin and pulls the testes closer to the body in response to cold temperatures or sexual stimulation to help maintain optimal temperature for sperm development.
What is the function of the cremaster muscle?
It contracts to elevate or lower the testes in response to temperature changes or sexual stimulation to maintain optimal temperature for sperm development.
What is the function of the epididymis?
It is a coiled tube on the surface of the testis where sperm mature and are stored before being ejaculated.
What is the function of the vas deferens?
It is a muscular tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.
What is the function of the ejaculatory duct?
It is a short duct that passes through the prostate gland and empties into the urethra, where it adds secretions from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland to form semen.
What is the function of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)?
It is an enzyme produced by the prostate gland that liquefies semen and helps to release sperm after ejaculation. High levels of PSA in the blood may indicate prostate cancer.
What is the role of the thalamus in the perception of pain?
The thalamus acts as a relay station for pain signals traveling from the spinal cord to the somatosensory cortex for perception and awareness.
What is the difference between fast pain and slow pain?
Fast pain is transmitted by myelinated Aδ fibers and produces a sharp, localized sensation, while slow pain is transmitted by unmyelinated C fibers and produces a dull, diffuse, and persistent sensation.
How does referred pain occur?
Referred pain occurs when visceral pain is perceived as originating from a part of the body surface that is innervated by the same spinal segment as the affected visceral organ.
What is the gate control theory of pain modulation?
The gate control theory proposes that the perception of pain can be modulated by neural activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where large-diameter Aβ fibers can inhibit the transmission of pain signals from smaller Aδ and C fibers.
What are the two main types of endogenous pain modulators?
The two main types of endogenous pain modulators are the endorphins and the enkephalins, which are neuropeptides that bind to opioid receptors in the nervous system and produce analgesia.
