CHAPTER I - MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards
What is the function of the scrotum?
It protects the testes and regulates their temperature.
What muscles help regulate testicular temperature?
Dartos muscle (wrinkles skin to conserve heat) and Cremaster muscle (moves testes up/down).
Why must the testes be cooler than body temperature?
Sperm production (spermatogenesis) requires a temperature around 34–35°C.
What are common clinical issues related to the scrotum?
Hydrocele (fluid accumulation) and testicular torsion (twisting of the spermatic cord).
What are the main functions of the testes?
Spermatogenesis (sperm production) and testosterone secretion.
What are seminiferous tubules?
Coiled structures in the testes where sperm production occurs.
What are Sertoli and Leydig cells?
Sertoli cells nourish sperm; Leydig cells produce testosterone.
What conditions affect the testes?
Testicular cancer (tumor formation) and hypogonadism (low testosterone levels).
What is the function of the epididymis?
It stores and matures sperm, making them motile.
What does the vas deferens do?
Transports sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.
What surgical procedure affects the vas deferens?
Vasectomy, a male sterilization procedure.
What is the urethra’s role in the male reproductive system?
It carries both semen and urine, with an internal sphincter preventing mixing.
What are the accessory sex glands?
Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands).
What is the function of seminal vesicles?
They produce a fructose-rich fluid that provides energy for sperm.
What is the function of the prostate gland?
It secretes a milky fluid to neutralize vaginal acidity.
What is the function of bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands?
They secrete pre-ejaculate to lubricate the urethra.
What common conditions affect the prostate?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement) and Prostatitis (inflammation).
What is semen composed of?
Spermatozoa (from testes) and seminal fluid (from accessory glands).
What is semen analysis used for?
To assess male fertility by checking sperm count, motility, and morphology.
What is retrograde ejaculation?
A condition where semen enters the bladder instead of exiting the penis.
What are the main parts of the penis?
Shaft, glans penis (head), and urethra.
What is the role of corpora cavernosa?
These two erectile tissues fill with blood to cause an erection.
What is the corpus spongiosum?
A tissue that surrounds the urethra and keeps it open during an erection.
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
The inability to achieve or maintain an erection.