Male Reproductive Flashcards
Male reproductive system is responsible for…
production and delivery of sperm
Testes
male gonads (sex organs) that produce sperm and androgens;
where are the testes housed
scrotum
seminiferous tubules are…
tube structures within the testes
where does spermatogenesis occur?
seminiferous tubules
what are seminiferous tubules organized into?
lobules
what are straight tubes?
single exit from each lobule, connecting to the rete testis
what is rete testis
fine meshwork of tubules, last stop in the testes
efferent tubules
carries sperm out of the testes and into the epididymis
what is spermatogenisis
the production of sperm
spermatogonia…
stem cell of the testes, may undergo mitosis to produce two primary spermatocytes
primary spermatocyte…
undergoes meiosis I to halve its genetic material, producing two secondary spermatocytes
secondary spermatocyte
undergoes meiosis II to produce two spermatid
spermatid
Immature sperm cells
spermatozoa
mature sperm cells
interstitial cells
cells between the seminiferous tubules that produce testosterone
sustentacular cells
nursing cells that support the germ cells through the process of spermatogenesis
epididymis
coiled tubular structure in which sperm start to mature and are stored into ejaculation
spermatic cord
bundle of nerves and blood vessels that supplies the testes, includes the vas deferens
vas deferens
duct that transports sperm from the epididymis through the spermatic cord and into the ejaculatory duct
seminal vesicle
gland that produces seminal fluid, which contributes to semen
prostate gland
doughnut-shaped gland at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra and contributing fluid to semen during ejaculation
ejaculatory duct
duct that connects the vas deferens to the urethra, passes through the prostate gland
urethra
duct leading from the bladder to the end of the penis
bulbourethral gland
secrete a lubricating mucus to flush out the urethra prior to ejaculation
penis
male organ of copulation
corpora cavernosa
two columns of erectile tissue in the penis that fill with a blood during an erection
corpora spongiosum
single column of erectile tissue that fills with blood during an erection and surrounds the urethra
sperm
mature male gametes
head
contains extremely compact nucleus with very little cytoplasm
acrosome
cap filled with lysosomal enzymes to penetrate the egg
midpiece
tightly-packed with mitochondria
flagellum
tail
semen
mature sperm plus all the secretions of glands
what does the seminal vesicle secrete
thick viscous alkaline fluid rich in fructose to nourish sperm
what does the prostate gland secrete
alkaline fluid to neutralize the acidity of the vagina
what does the bulbourethral gland secrete
thick, salty fluid that lubricates the end of the urethra and neutralizes and flushes out any urine residue (pre-ejaculate)
