Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What is the general function of the reproductive system?
General Function of the Reproductive System:
- Produce offspring
- Initiate and maintain the internal conditions required for production of gamates
- Promote 2o sexual characteristics (useful for attracting a mate)
- Facilitate joining of the gametes
- Provide for early development and care of offspring
Define semen.
Semen: A liqiud medium in which sperm leave the body
- Also known as seminal fluid
Name the accessory glands.
State what each gland contributes.

Accessory glands involved in semen production in order:
-
Seminal glands
- Produce 70% of seminal fluid consisting of:
- Buffer (alkaline), fructose, mucus, and clotting factor
- Produce 70% of seminal fluid consisting of:
-
Prostate gland
- Buffer (alkaline), mucus, activator (to tell the sperm to swim), and clot buster (allows the sperm to swim)
-
Cowper’s/bulbourethral gland
- Buffer (alkaline), and mucus

Trace the pathway of a sperm from its formation site to the external environment.
Pathway of Sperm
- Seminiferous tubule of testes (formation site)
- Epididymus
- Vas/ ductus deferens
- Ampulla of ductus deferens
- Ejaculatory duct
- Prostatic urethra
- Spongy (penile) urethra
- External urethra orifice
- External environment

Identify the structures and their function.

Male Reproductive System
-
Vas/ ductus deferens
- Sperm transport tube
-
Prostatic urethra
- Connects the ejaculatory duct to the spongy urethra for semen
-
Pubis
- Bone
-
Corpus cavernosum
- Erectile tissue for penis
-
Corpus spongiosum
- Erectile tissue around urethra
-
Spongy (penile) urethra
- Tube for urine and semen
-
Glans penis
- Tip of penis with a high density of nerves
-
Prepuce
- Foreskin
- External urethral orfice
Identify the structures and their function.

Male Reproductive Anatomy
-
Seminal vesicle
- Produces 70% of seminal fluid (buffer, mucus, clotting factor, and sugar)
-
Ampulla of ductus deferens
- Enlargement of the ductus deferens at the fundus of the bladder
-
Ejaculatory duct
- Formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle
-
Prostate gland
- Secretes buffer, clot buster, activator, and mucus for semen
-
Bulbourethral gland/Cowper’s
- Secretes buffer and mucus for semen
-
Bulb of penis
- Base of penis
Identify the structures and their function.

Male Reproductive Anatomy
-
Epididymis
- Site of sperm maturation (“sperm college”)
-
Testis
- Consists of the seminiferous tubules that make sperm
- Produces testosterone
-
Scrotum
- Regulates temperature for testes
Name the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Peritoneum
- Rectum
- Anus
- Ureter
- Urinary bladder
- Membranous urethra
- Urogenital diaphragm
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive Anatomy
- Urinary bladder
- Prostate gland
- Prostate urethra
- Orifices of prostatic duct
- Membranous urethra
- Orifice of ureter
- Orifices of ejaculatory ducts
- Bulbourethral/ Cowper’s gland and duct
- Urogential diaphragm
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Root of penis
- Shaft (body of penis)
- Bulb of penis
- Crus of penis
- Bulbourethral/ Cowper’s gland opening
- Corpora cavernosa
- Corpus spongiosum
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Spongy (penile) urethra
- Glans penis
- Prepuce (foreskin)
- External urethral orifice
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Dorsal vessels and nerves
- Skin
- Deep arteries
- Corpora cavernosa
- Urethra
- Tunic albuginea of erectile bodies
- Corpus spongiosum
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Dorsal vein
- Dorsal artery
- Dorsal nerve
- Corpus spongiosum
- Corpus cavernosum
- Deep fascia
- Superficial fascia
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive System
- Skin
- Urethra
- Corpus spongiosum
- Prepuce (foreskin)
- Glans penis
- External urethral orifice
Identify the structures.

Male Reproductive Anatomy
- Deep artery
- Tunica albuginea
- Lacunae
- Median septum
Name and give the function of each part of the testis.

Testis
-
Rete testis
- Tubule that carries sperm from seminiferous tubule to efferent duct
-
Seminiferous tubule
- Sperm-forming factories
-
Lobule
- Contains seminiferous tubules
-
Tunica albuginea
- Dense connective tissue (white matter)
-
Tunica vaginalis
- Serous covering of testis
Name of parts of the scrotum.

Scrotum
- Scrotal skin
- Dartos muscle
- Cremaster muscle
- Median septum of scrotum
- Perineal raphe
Name the parts of the epididymus.

Epididymus
- Head
- Body
- Tail
What is the function of the duct system for the male reproductive system?
Aids in the safe delivery of the sperm to the body exterior or female reproductive tract
Identify the parts of the duct system in the male reproductive system.

Duct System
- Ampulla of ductus deferens
- Ejaculatory duct
- Epididymus
- Ductus (vas) deferens
- Prostatic urethra
- Membranous urethra
- Spongy urethra
Define a male ejaculation.
The action of ejecting semen from the body
Contraction of the ejaculatory duct propels the sperm through the prostate to the prostatic urethra, which in turn empties into the intermediate part of the urethra and then into the spongy urethra, which runs through the length of the penis to the body exterior.
What is the spermatic cord?
- Connective tissue sheath that encloses the ductus deferens along with nerves and blood vessels.
- Part of duct system
Parts of the vas/ductus deferens

- Spermatic cord
- Blood vessels and nerves
- Gonadal artery
- Gonadal vein
Define vasectomy.

a surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vas deferens are severed and then tied or sealed in a manner so as to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream (ejaculate) and thereby prevent fertilization.
Name the parts of the penis

Parts of Penis (Duct System)
- Root of penis
- Body (shaft) of penis
- Glans penis
- Bulb of penis
- Crus of penis
- Corpus cavernosa (erectile tissue)
- Corpus spongiosum (erectile tissue)
- Prepuce (foreskin)
Define erection.
- An enlarged and rigid state of the penis, typically in sexual excitement due to the erectile tissues becoming engorged with blood.
Identify histology.
Testis
- Seminiferous tubule
- Interstitial cells (Leydig cells)
Identify histology.

Testes
- Tunica vaginalis
- Tunica albuginea (testis)
- Seminferous tubules
Identify histology.
Testis
- Seminiferous tubule
- Interstitial cells (Leydig cells)
Identify histology

Testes
- Sertoli cells (nurse cells)
- Large faintly irregularly shaped nucleus with prominent nucleous
- Spermatogonia
- most peripheral germ cell’ dark nucleoli in nucleus
- Primary spermatocyte
- Large,round, mottled nucleus, off the wall
- Early spermatids
- Round cell with small nucleus than spermatocytes
- Late Spermatids
- Dark, condensed nucleus in the process of attaining final shape; sperm tail is also forming; elongated nucleus
- Seminiferous tubules
Identify histology 1-6

Male Testes
- Sertoli cells
- Spermatogonia
- Primary Spermatocytes
- Early spermatids
- Late spermatids
- Spermatozoa
Identify histology 2-7.

Male Testes
- N/A
- Spermatids
- Spermatocytes
- Spermatogonia
- Sertoli cells
- N/A
- Leydig cells
Identify histology.

Male Testes
- Visceral vaginal tunic
- Tunica albuginea
- Intersititial cells
- Seminferous cells
What type of tissue is this?

Epididymis
Name the structure and its parts.

Epididymis
- Head
- Body
- Tail
Name the structure

Epididymis
Name the structure and its parts.

Epididymus
- Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
- Stereocilia (microvilli)
- Sperm
Name the structure and its parts

Testes
- Sertoli cells
- Connective tissue
- Spermatogenic cells
Name the structure and its functions.

Epididymus
- Sperm
- Stereocilia (microvillia)
- Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
- Smooth muscle