male reproductive system Flashcards
structures of the male reproductive system
2x testicles 2x vas deferens accessory sex glands urethra penis prepuce
main functions of the male reproductive system
- produce soerm
- produce testosterone
what is the inguinal canal
a gap in the abdominal wall that the testes descend through
where do testes form & where do they end up
form in the abdomen caudal to the kidneys and descend to the scrotum
what is the ligament called that pulls the testes through the inguinal canal
the gubernaculum
what is a male w one of two undescended testes called
a cryptorchid
what are the testes responsible for
- producing sperm
- producing testosterone
what is the production of sperm called
spermatogenesis
what are tunics
tough while connective tissue layers that cover the testicle
where do the testes sit
outside the body in a thin sac called the scrotum
what are some behaviours due to testosterone
- mounting & humping objects & people
- goes looking for a mate
- marks territory
- in cats, urine spraying
- becomes dominant in certain situations
- aggression towards people & other animals
where does sperm production occur
the seminiferous tubules
what influences the production of sperm
- testosterone levels
- temperature
what produces testosterone
interstitial cells (leydig cells) in the testes
what is the function of testosterone
- enables sexual maturity of reproductive organs
- necessary for maturation & viability of sperm
- maintains accessory glands
- promotes male behaviour & libido
- maintains secondary sexual male characteristics
what is the epididymis
- long, coiled tube sits alongside the outside of the testicle
function of the epididymis
- maturation of sperm occurs here
- slow transport of sperm along the tubes of the epididymis allow sperm to be stored & become mature
function of the vas deferens
- carries mature sperm from epididymis to urethra via muscle contractions
- supplies fluid essential for nutrition & mobility of the sperm
what is the spermatic cord
an enclosed sheath holding the vas deferens, together with blood vessels, nerves & lymphatics which supply the testes
what are two accessory sex glands
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral gland (only in cats)
functions of accessory sex glands
- produce & secrete fluid portion of semen, enabling transportation & nourishment of sperm
semen =
sperm + spermatic fluid
function of the penis
- enables sperm to be deposited into female vagina
anatomy of the penis
- contains a bone (os penis) & erectile tissue
- has a base & a glans
- varies in species to accommodate in mating
- cranial in dogs caudal in cats
what is the bulbis glandis
the bulb of the penis
function of the bulbis glandis
- pushes semen out of penis
- locks into females vagina during mating (the tie)
feature of a cat penis
has tiny spines to help with stimulation
what is the prepuce
the haired protective sheath of skin over the tip of the penis
- protects vascular tissues of penis from trauma
what are hormones
chemical messengers released into the blood producing a response.
what hormones are involved in the male reproductive system
- FSH
- LH or interstitial cell stimulating hormone
- testosterone
function of FSH
- responsible for stimulation of sperm production
function of LH or ICSH
- responsible for stimulating the interstitial cells to produce testosterone
behavioural benefits to sterilisation
- reduces testosterone driven behaviour
- reduces territorial behaviour
- reduces roaming behaviour
- reduces aggression
health benefits to sterilising
- eliminates risk of testicular cancer
- reduces risk of prostatic diseases
- reduces urge to fight
- reduces urge to look for females
