Ch9+Ch10 Reproductive Organs and Hormonal Control: Male

Question 1

What is the function of the testes?

Answer 1

The testes produce sperm and testosterone.

Question 2

What is the function of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles?

Answer 2

They secrete fluids that maintain mobility and viability of sperm.

Question 3

What is the function of the seminiferous tubules

Answer 3

The seminiferous tubules produce sperm.

Question 4

What do interstitial cells produce?

Answer 4

Interstitial cells produce testosterone.

Question 5

What does the liquid released from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles contain?

Answer 5

The liquid released from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles contains fructose for energy and enzymes which maintain the viscosity of the fluid for optimum swimming.

Question 6

What hormone is sperm production stimulated by?

Answer 6

Sperm production is stimulated by testosterone.

Question 7

What are hormones?

Answer 7

Hormones are chemical messengers released into the bloodstream from an animals endocrine glands.

Question 8

At the onset of puberty, what does the hypothalamus secrete?

Answer 8

At the onset of puberty, the hypothalamus secretes a releaser hormone that targets the pituitary gland in the brain.

Question 9

How does the pituitary gland respond to the releaser hormones?

Answer 9

The pituitary gland responds by releasing two hormones:

FCH - Follicle stimulating hormone

ICSH - Interstitial cell stimulating hormone

Question 10

What do FSH and ICSH do?

Answer 10

FCH and ICSH control the actions of the testes.

FCH promotes sperm production in the seminiferous tubules.

ICSH stimulates the interstitial cells to release the hormone testosterone.

Question 11

What does testosterone do?

Answer 11

Testosterone stimulates sperm production in the seminiferous tubules. It also activates the prostrate gland and the seminal vesicles to produce their secretions.

Question 12

What is the release of hormones regulated by?

Answer 12

The release of hormones regulated by negative feeback.

Question 13

Explain negative feedback of hormonal control

Answer 13

If the level of testosterone builds up in the
bloodstream it will reach a level where it
inhibits the release of ICSH and FSH from the
pituitary gland.

This in turn means the level of testosterone
will decrease and the inhibitory effect will be
switched off - – which leads to the pituitary
gland secreting FSH and ICSH again, and so on.