Male Reproductive System

Question 1

testes

Answer 1

produce sperm

• housed in the scrotum
• divided into two parts by a septum

Question 2

urethra

Answer 2

where sperm exits out
Three parts: 
1. prostatic
2. intermediate
3. spongy

Question 3

what are the accessory sex glands?

Answer 3

1. seminal vessicle
2. prostate gland
3. bulbourethral glands
   - -> produce fluids that nourish sperm

Question 4

scrotum

Answer 4

external sac, outside of body cavity

Question 5

cremaster muscle

Answer 5

elevates/relaxes testes to maintain optimal temp for sperm development
cooler weather –> contract to raise testes closer to body

Question 6

spermatic cord

Answer 6

ductus (vas) deferens + fascia + testicular vessels + nerves
-extends from scrotum –> inguinal canal
(superficial inguinal ring –> inguinal canal –> deep inguinal ring)

Question 7

superficial inguinal ring

Answer 7

medial opening of the spermatic cord

Question 8

deep inguinal ring

Answer 8

where ductus (vas) deferens and testicular vessels enter the abdomen

Question 9

inguinal hernia

Answer 9

increase in pressure causes intestine to extrude through the deep inguinal ring/abdominal wall

Question 10

Testes: descent in development

Answer 10

1. testes start superficially in body
2. Glabernaculum (fibrous tissue cord) shortens and pulls testes down through the abdominal wall and into the scrotum
   - ->Glabernaculum extends from caudal end of developing testes through body wall into skin of future scrotum
   - testes follow this path
   - spermatic cord follows testes

Question 11

Glabernaculum

Answer 11

fibrous tissue cord in testes

Question 12

What are the testes surrounded by? What is deep to this?

Answer 12

tunica vaginalis

–>tunical abuginea is deep to this

Question 13

Subdivisions of the testes

Answer 13

250-300 subdivisions
containing seminiferous tubules 
--> converge to straight tubule (carries sperm to rete testes) 
--> leads through efferent ducutules 
--> epididymis

Question 14

Seminiferous Tubules

Answer 14

• located within testes

- contain support cells (sertioli cells) and dividing germ cells (future sperm)

Question 15

Spermatogenesis

Answer 15

• takes 75 days to create mature sperm
• 400 million produced per day from puberty until death
  1. Spermatogonia in seminiferous tubules
  2. Primary/Secondary Spermatocytes
  3. spermatids
  4. sperm

Question 16

Anatomy of Mature Sperm Cell

Answer 16

• head contains a nucleus
• head surrounded by acrosome
• midpiece contains mitochondria (energy to propel sperm)
• tail = flagella (movement)

Question 17

acrosome

Answer 17

has enzymes that enable sperm to penetrate the egg

Question 18

epididymus

Answer 18

• ->site of sperm maturation/storage
• protein secretions nourish sperm and help maturation
• ejaculation

Question 19

ejaculation

Answer 19

smooth muscle in walls of epididymus contract –> expel sperm to ductus (vas) deferens)

Question 20

Ductus (vas) deferens

Answer 20

• transports sperm during ejaculation
• extends from epididymus –> pelvic cavity (goes over the top of the bladder)
• joints duct of seminal gland –> forms ejaculatory gland –> passes through prostate/urethra

Question 21

vasectomy

Answer 21

surgical method of birth control, ductus deferens is cut/ends tied off through scrotum

Question 22

tubal ligation

Answer 22

tied off uterine tubes

Question 23

Urethra

Answer 23

• carries urine/sperm

- includes: prostatic urethra, intermediate urethra, and spongy urethra

Question 24

Seminal Vessicles

Answer 24

• accessory gland
• posterior to bladder
• produce portion of seminal fluid
• join ductus deferens = ejaculatory duct

Question 25

Prostate Gland

Answer 25

• accessory gland
• inferior to bladder
• produces some seminal fluid
• holds prostatic urethra

Question 26

semen

Answer 26

secretions from seminal, prostate, and bulbourethral glands + sperm cells

Question 27

Penis

Answer 27

delivers sperm into female reproductive tract

• root = base (where it attaches to pelvis)
• body = free portion
• glans penis = enlarged end
• skin covering is loose

Question 28

glans penis

Answer 28

enlarged end of penis

Question 29

prepuce

Answer 29

foreskin (where it extends around the glans penis)

Question 30

Erectile Tissues

Answer 30

spongy CT filled with vascular spaces

1. Corpus Spongiosum = anteriorly
2. Corpura Cavernosa = posteriorly/paired

Question 31

erection

Answer 31

filling erectile spaces with blood (parasympathetic control)

Question 32

process of erection

Answer 32

1. during sexual stimulation arteries dilate and blood flow increases
2. corpus savernosum + spongiosum expand and compress veins that normally drain them (maintains erection)
3. ejaculation under sympathetric control (smooth muscle contraction squeezes the semen into urethra)
4. bulbospongiosus muscle at base of penis squeezes semen out of urethra

Question 33

Why are the testes located outside the body?

Answer 33

internal temp is too high for sperm development (needs to be about 3 degrees cooler)

Question 34

Anatomy of testes (superficial to deep)

Answer 34

1. tunica vaginalis
2. tunica albuginea
3. lobules
4. semiferous tubules
5. straight tubule
6. rete testes
7. efferent ductules
8. epididymis

Question 35

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Answer 35

harmless, discomfort, enlarged prostate, NOT prostate cancer, urethra compressed/unable to urinate properly

Question 36

What structure are you hoping to palpate during a rectal exam to check for enlargement?

Answer 36

prostate gland