Bio 30 Unit 5 Final Review Flashcards
gonad
a gland that produces the gametes and sex hormones of an organism. (testes/ovaries)
scrotum
pouch of skin which testes descend into.
vas deferens
a tube that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra.
ejaculatory duct
propels movement of semen (sperm and fluids) into the urethra.
the urethra cannot…
conduct both urine and semen at the same time
erection
erectile tissue within the penis fills with blood.
parasympathetic
ejaculation
the expelling of semen.
sympathetic
seminiferous tubules
twisting tubes inside the testes. Responsible for spermatogenesis (formation of sperm cells).
epididymis
compact, coiled tube attached to the outer edge of the testes where sperm mature
interstitial cells
they lie in between the seminiferous tubules; produce testosterone.
sertoli cells
nourishes developing sperm cells until maturity; provides a barrier between blood and seminiferous tubules.
sperm cell
very streamlined, containing only a small amount of cytoplasm.
acrosome
caps the head of the sperm cell. It is filled with enzymes that dissolve the outer coating surrounding the egg, for the sperm cell to penetrate the egg.
seminal vesicles
releases fructose, which provides a source of energy for the sperm cell. Also releases prostaglandins, which act as a chemical signal in the female system, triggering the contraction of smooth muscle along the reproductive tract, assisting the movement of sperm cells towards the egg.
prostate gland
secretes an alkaline buffer that protects sperm cells from the acidic environment of the vagina.