Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Passage of sperm - formation to ejaculation
1) seminiferous tubules (testes)
2) epididymis
3) vas deferens (seminal vesicles)
4) ejaculatory duct
5) urethra (prostate gland; Bulbourethral glands)
… which passes through the …
6) penis
… sperm leaves body.
bulbourethral glands
aka. Cowper glands
- pair of exocrine glands near male urethra
- secrete fluid into urethra
ejaculation
ejection of sperm and fluid from male urethra
sg. epididymis
pl. epididymides
- pair of long, tightly coiled tubes above each testis
- stores and carries sperm from seminiferous tubules to the vas deferens
ejaculatory duct
tube through which semen enters male urethra
erectile dysfunction
inability of an adult male to achieve an erection; impotence
flagellum
hair-like projection on a sperm cell that makes it motile (able to move)
fraternal twins
two infants resulting from fertilization of two separate ova by two separate sperm cells
glans penis
- sensitive tip of the penis
- comparable to the clitoris in the female
identical twins
- two infants resulting from division of one fertilized egg into two distinct embryos
- Conjoined (“Siamese”) twins are incompletely separated identical twins
interstitial cells of the testes
aka. Leydig cells
- specialized cells that lie adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testes
- produce testosterone
parenchymal tissue
- essential distinctive cells of and organ
- in the testis, the seminiferous tubules that produce sperm are parenchymal
penis
male external organ of reproduction
perineum
external region between the anus and the scrotum
prepuce
foreskin; fold of skin covering the tip of the penis
prostate gland
- exocrine gland at the base of the male urinary bladder
- secretes one of the fluid parts of semen into the urethra during ejaculation
scrotum
external sac that contains the testes
semen
- spermatozoa (sperm cells) and seminal fluid (prostatic and seminal vesicle secretions), discharged from urethra during ejaculation
- NOTE: semen is not sperm; semen=thick whitish secretion; contains sperm
seminal vesicles
paired sac-like glands that secrete fluid (a major component of semen) into the vas deferens
seminiferous tubules
narrow, coiled tubules that produce sperm in the testes
sg. spermatozoon
pl. spermatozoa
sperm cell
sterilization
- procedure that removes a person’s ability to produce or release reproductive cells
- removal of testicles, vasectomy, and oophorectomy are sterilization procedures
- NOTE: sterilization vs. impotence
- sterilization=performed in men and women
- impotence=inability for men to sustain erection, or achieve ejaculation
stromal tissue
aka. stroma
- supportive, connective tissue of an organ, as distinguished from its parenchyma (perform essential functions of organs)
sg. testis
pl. testes
male gonad (testicle) that produces spermatozoa and the hormone testosterone
testosterone
- hormone secreted by the interstitial tissue of the testes
- responsible for male sex characteristics
vas deferens
aka. ductus deferens
- narrow tube (one on each side) carrying sperm from the epididymis toward the urethra
carcinoma of the testes
aka. testicular cancer
- malignant tumor of the testicles
- tumors produce the proteins human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP); can be used as tumor markers
cryptorchidism
cryptorchism
undescended testicles
- orchiopexy performed to bring testes into scrotum
hydrocele
sac of clear fluid in the scrotum
testicular torsion
twisting of the spermatic cord
varicocele
enlarged, dilated veins near the testicle
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
benign growth of cells within the prostate gland
- surgical treatment by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) relieves obstruction, but is may recur
carcinoma of the prostate
aka. prostate cancer
- malignant tumor (adenocarcinoma) of the prostate gland
- digital rectal examination (DRE) can detect tumor at later stage
- prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for early detection
hypospadias
congenital abnormality in which the male urethral opening is on the undersurface of the penis, instead of at its tip
phimosis
narrowing (stricture) of the opening of the prepuce over the glans penis
chlamydial infection
bacterial invasion (by Chlamydia Trachomatis) of the urethra and reproductive tract
gonorrhea
inflammation of the genital tract mucosa, caused by infection with gonococci (berry-shaped bacteria)
herpes genitalis
infection of skin and genital mucosa, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)
human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
infection of the skin and mucous membranes in the anogenital region by the human papillomavirus
syphilis
- chronic STD caused by a spirochete (spiral-shaped bacterium)
- “chancre” (hard ulcer or sore) usually appears on external genitalia a few weeks after bacterial infection
PSA test
measurement of levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood
- PSA produced by cells in prostate gland
- elevated lvs of PSA associated with enlargement of prostate gland = may be sign of prostate cancer
semen analysis
microscopic examination of ejaculated fluid
castration
surgical excision of testicles or ovaries
circumcision
surgical procedure to remove the prepuce of the penis
digital rectal examination (DRE)
finger palpation through the anal canal and rectum to examine the prostate gland
photoselective vaporization of the prostate (GreenLight PVP)
removal of tissue to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a green light laser (laser TURP)
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
excision of benign prostatic hyperplasia using a resectoscope through the urethra
- electrical hot loop cuts prostatic tissue
vasectomy
bilateral surgical removal of a part of the vas deferens
- removes piece, and ligation (tying and binding off) performed
