Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Before what week of gestation is there no anatomical difference between male and female embryos?
7th week
Name the male gonad
Testes
What does the testes produce and where do they lie within the male reproductive system?
The tests produce sperm and lie within the scrotum
Sperm is delivered to the exterior through a system of ducts:
epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct, urethra
Name the accessory sex glands (3) What do they do?
seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands
Empty their secretions into the ducts during ejaculation
Describe the scrotum
Sac of skin that hangs outside the abdominopelvic cavity at the root of the penis. Contains paired testicles separated by a midline septum.
The scrotum’s external positioning keeps the testes how many degrees C lower than core body temp? Why?
2-3 degrees Celsius.
For sperm production
What two muscles keep intrascrotal temperature at a constant?
dartos and cremaster
Describe the dartos intrascrotal muscle
smooth muscle that contracts in response to cold
Describe the cremaster intrascrotal muscle
muscle that elevates the testes
What do the testes do?
Produce and store gametes (spermatazoa) and male sex hormones (testosterone)
What do the seminiferous tubules in the testes do?
Produce the sperm, converge to form the tubulus rectus
When sperm leaves the testes, where does it travel to and stored?
epididymus
What interstitial cells surround seminiferous tubules?
Leydia cells
What do sertoli cells do?
Provide nutrients to growing sperm
What two hormones influence spermatogenesis taking place
testosterone and FSH
Explain the process of spermatogenesis
The hypothalamus produces GnRH, which influences production of LH and FSH. LH stimulates leydig cells to produce testosterone, FSH stimulates the sertoli cells to produce sperm.
What does LH do in spermatogenesis?
stimulates the leydig cells to produce testosterone
What does FSH do in spermatogenesis?
stimulates sertoli cells to produce sperm
Name the 3 major regions of a sperm cell
head, midpiece, tail
What does the head of the sperm contain?
DNA and has a helmetlike acrosome containing enzymes that allow the sperm to penetrate and enter the ovum
What does the midpiece of the sperm contain?
mitochondria
What is the role of the sperm tail?
swimming
What is the role of the epididymis?
Stores sperm as they mature. Upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts, expelling sperm into the ductus deferens (also known as vas deferens)