Male reproductive system

Question 1

What are the functions of the male reproductive system?

Answer 1

-formation of sperm
-produce hormones (produce gametes, regulate sexual maturation and development of secondary sex characteristics (testosterone for boys reaching puberty).
-transmission of sperm to female.

Question 2

What are features of the testes?

Answer 2

-ductus deferns
-epidiymis
-tunica albuginea
-tunica vaginalis
-seminiferous tubule

Question 3

What is the function of the epidiymis?

Answer 3

Stores sperm until ejaculation.

Question 4

What is the function of the seminiferous tubule?

Answer 4

This is where sperm is produced.

Question 5

What are the features of the scrotum?

Answer 5

-sac of skin, hangs outside body and contains testes
-sperm can’t be produced at core body production (maintain a constant temperature).

Question 6

How does the scrotum maintain a constant temperature?

Answer 6

When cold, testes drawn closer to warmth of body.
When hot, scrotal skin flaccid, loose to lower testes (cooling).

Question 7

What is the purpose of the dartos muscle?

Answer 7

Causes scrotal skin to wrinkle when cold (lower surface area).

Question 8

What is the purpose of the cremaster muscle?

Answer 8

This lifts the testes closer to the body when cold.

Question 9

What are the features of the penis?

Answer 9

-deliver sperm into female reproductive tract
-root (internal) runs into shaft (external)
-skin covering is loose called foreskin
-urethra runs down centre

Question 10

What is erectile tissue?

Answer 10

3 cylinders running lengthwise along penis.
Made of spongy network of connective tissue and smooth muscle separated by vascular spaces.

Question 11

What are the 3 types of erectile tissue?

Answer 11

-corpus spongiosum (located in the middle)
-corpus cavernosa (2- paired that run side by side).

Question 12

What happens in the vascular spaces?

Answer 12

These gaps fill up with blood before ejaculation (feel hard).

Question 13

What is the ductus deferens?

Answer 13

Sperm storage and transport, connects epididymis to urethra

Question 14

Where is the urethra located?

Answer 14

Comes from the bladder, meets ductus deferens at base of penis, runs through penis and opens to the outside at end of penis.

Question 15

What is the route of travel for sperm?

Answer 15

From testes, epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct and urethra before expelled out during ejaculation.

Question 16

What are the features of the epididymis?

Answer 16

-Lies on lateral side of each testes.
-long tube where sperm matures
-sperm can be stored for months
-sperm stored near tail portion

Question 17

What happens to sperm in the epididymis if they aren’t needed?

Answer 17

They are eventually phagocytised by epithelial cells.

Question 18

How are sperm moved from the epididymis to vas deferens?

Answer 18

The smooth muscle walls of epididymis contract strongly.

Question 19

Where is the ductus (vas) deferens located?

Answer 19

-Runs through spermatic cord into pelvic cavity, loops medially and descends along posterior bladder wall (terminus forms ampulla to lead to ejaculatory duct).

Question 20

What is the function of the ductus deferens?

Answer 20

To propel sperm using peristaltic waves (muscle contractions) from epididymis during ejaculation.

Question 21

What forms the ejaculatory duct?

Answer 21

Ampulla of ductus deferens joins duct of seminal vesicle (gland).

Question 22

What is the function of the urethra?

Answer 22

Carries urine and semen.

Question 23

What are the 3 types of urethra?

Answer 23

-prostatic urethra (surrounded by prostate gland)
-membranous urethra (in urogenital diaphragm)
-spongy penile urethra (runs through penis to external urethral orifice)

Question 24

What does the mucosa lining in the urethra do?

Answer 24

It contains scattered urethral glands that secrete mucous unto lumen just before ejaculation.

Question 25

What are the 3 accessory glands?

Answer 25

-Prostate
-Seminal vesicle
-Bulbourethral gland

Question 26

What are the function of accessory glands?

Answer 26

Produce the volume of semen.

Question 27

What are the features of the seminal vesicle?

Answer 27

-Lies behind bladder, 5-7cm
-secretion accounts for 70% volume of semen
-duct of each vesicle joins ductus deferens on side to form ejaculatory duct

Question 28

Describe seminal fluid.

Answer 28

Yellowish and viscous (makes it sticky so it can stick to walls of the vagina), provides nutrition to sperm, neutralise acidic conditions of vagina, induces contractions of fallopian tubes (move sperm to ova).

Question 29

What are the features of the prostate accessory gland?

Answer 29

-doughnut shaped gland, below base of bladder, makes up 30% volume of semen, contain enzymes to make sperm swim.

Question 30

What is the function of the Cowpers (bulbourethral) gland?

Answer 30

-produces thick clear mucous that runs into urethra, secretions of this prior to ejaculation neutralises acidic urine in urethra.

Question 31

Where is the Cowpers gland located?

Answer 31

Below prostate.

Question 32

How much semen is propelled out of system in one ejaculation?

Answer 32

2-5ml

Question 33

How many sperm are in one ejaculation?

Answer 33

50-130 million sperm per ml

Question 34

How long are sperm viable for?

Answer 34

48 hours before majority degenerates.

Question 35

How fast do sperm travel?

Answer 35

Ejaculation propels sperm up to 11 mph

Question 36

How does the accessory glands secretions help sperm?

Answer 36

provides nutrients, protects sperm, activates and facilitates their movement.

Question 37

Which cells produce sperm?

Answer 37

Germ cells.

Question 38

Which cells produce testosterone?

Answer 38

Leydig cells.

Question 39

Which cells produce androgen binding proteins?

Answer 39

Sertoli cells.