14.1 Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What are gametes?
haploid sex cells that become united during fertilization
What are the male gonads?
paired testes
What do testes do?
produce sperm and sex hormones
What is the epididymis?
tightly coiled ducts lying outside the testes where sperm produced by the testes mature
Where does the sperm go after it leaves the epididymis?
they enter the vas deferens, where they may also be stored for a time
What does each vas deferens pass into?
the abdominal cavity, where it curves around the urinary bladder and empties into an ejaculatory duct, which connects to the urethra
What is seminal fluid?
nutrient-rich fluid in which the sperm leaves the penis at the time of ejaculation
What is semen?
combination of sperm and seminal fluid
What does swimming sperm require and what is the source?
energy, and semen contains the sugar fructose which serves as the energy source
What adds secretions to semen?
three glands
- seminal vesicle
- prostate gland
- Cowper’s gland
Where are the paired seminal vesicles?
lie at the base of the bladder, and each has a duct that joins with a vas deferens
What is the function of the testes?
produce sperm and sex hormones
What is the function of the epididymis?
ducts where sperm mature and are stored
What is the function of the vas deferens?
conducts and stores sperm
What is the function of the seminal vesicles?
contribute nutrients and fluid to semen
What is the function of the prostate gland?
contributes basic fluid to semen
What is the function of the urethra?
conducts sperm
What is the function of the Cowper’s gland?
contribute viscours fluid to semen
What is the function of the penis?
organ of sexual intercourse
What is the prostate gland?
single, donut-shaped gland that surrounds the upper portion of the urethra just below the urinary bladder
What does the prostate gland produce?
a secretion containing HCO3- (bicarbonate), sperm are more viable in a basic solution
What is another name for Cowper’s gland?
bulbourethral gland
What are Cowper’s glands?
pea-sized organs that lie underneath the prostate on either side of the urethra
What do Cowper’s glands secrete?
a lubricating mucus-rich fluid that is milk in appearance and viscous in texture
What does the component of semen secreted by the Cowper’s glands do?
helps lubricate penis and facilitates penetration during sexual intercourse
What is a prostaglandins?
component of semen, local hormones that cause the uterus to contract
What is prostaglandin secreted by?
seminal vesicles
What is the penis?
male organ of sexual intercourse that has a long shaft and an enlarged tip called the glans penis