Chapter 27: Male reproductive anatomy Flashcards
What is the scrotum?
a pendulous pouch of skin, muscle, and fibrous connective tissue that contains the testes
What is the dartos fascia?
an area deep to the skin of the scrotum made up of muscle and connective tissue. The muscle here is called the dartos muscle
What divides the scrotum into right and left compartments?
the median septum. It also prevents the infections of one testis from spreading to the other one.
What is the external mark of the median septum called?
the perineal raphe (ray-fee)
What is the spermatic cord and where is it located?
it is a bundle of fibrous connective tissue which contains the ductus deferens (the sperm duct), lymphatic vessels, testicular nerves, testicular artery. It’s located in the posterior side of the scrotum
What is the pampiniform plexus?
a complex of veins that surrounds the testicular artery
What are the inferior and superior entrances to the inguinal canals called?
the superficial inguinal canal is the inferior entrance
the superior entrance is the deep inguinal ring
What is the cremaster?
It internal oblique muscle that enmeshes the spermatic cord
What is the temperature that the testes need to be at in order to be able to produce sperm?
35 degrees Celsius
What are the three mechanisms that the scrotum has for regulating the temperature of the testes?
The cremaster, the dartos muscle, and the pampiniform plexus
How does the cremaster help regulate temperature in the testes?
when it is cold the cremaster contracts and draws the testes closer to the body to keep them warm. When it is warm the cremaster relaxes and the testes are suspended farther from the body
How does the dartos muscle help regulate temperature in the testes?
Like the cremaster, this too contracts when its cold. It makes the scrotum taut (stretched or pulled tight; not slack) and even more wrinkled. The tautness of the scrotum helps to hold the testes snugly against the warm body and it reduces the surface area of the scrotum, thus reducing heat loss
How does the pampiniform plexus help regulate temperature in the testes?
Without this venous plexus warm arterial blood would heat the testis and inhibit sperm production. The pampiniform plexus acts as a countercurrent heat exchanger.
