Male Reproductive System Flashcards
primary Sex organs
testes
tunica albuginea
this surrounds some of the erectile tissue in the scrotum
- it is a fibrous layer that is just deep to the visceral layer in the tunica vaginalis of the testes
- it projects into the testes forming the mediastinum and the septa
raphe
this is what separates the scrotum into two sacs
scrotum
this is a skin covered sac around the testes
dartos muscle
layer of smooth muscle that is part of the scrotum wall
- this alls for the wrinkling of the skin of the scrotum
- this is more superficial than the cremaster muscle which makes sense since it has an effect on the scrotal skin
cremaster muscle
this is a layer of skeletal muscle in the scrotum
- this allows for the tensing of the scrotum to bring the scrotum closer to the body (which occurs when cold and when sexually aroused)
what is the importance of the dartos muscle and the cremaster muscle
realistically these are here to keep the temperature of the testes stable
-they contract to bring the testes close when the body is cold and they relax and allow the testes to descend when the body is warm
spermatic cord
- this starts inside the body and makes its way inside the body
- it contains the cremaster muscle, the testicular artery, the pampiniform plexus, autonomic nerves, and the ductus deferens
- it originates at the inguinal canal
pampiniform plexus
- this is responsible for the venous return of the testes
- also important for controlling the temperature regulation within the testes
internal and external spermatic fascia
these are layers that surround the spermatic cord
tunica vaginalis
a serous membrane that lines the scrotal cavity and reduces friction between the opposing outer parietal and inner visceral layer
septa
this is what divides the testes into lobules
- sort of like partitions
mediastinum of the testis
this supports the blood vessels and the lymphatics supplying the testes and the ducts that collect and transport the sperm
- contains the rete testes
rete testes
receive sperm from the straight tubule (via the seminiferous tubule)
- these are an extensively interconnected maze of the tubules that drain into the efferent ductules
seminiferous tubules
- where sperm is produced
- these are slender and tightly coiled
- these fill the spaces between the septa and they drain into the straight tubule
efferent ductules
these are what drain the rete testes into the epididymis
- these are ciliated and non ciliated columnar epithelium cells
epididymis
- is a coiled duct that connects the rete testes to the ductus deferens
- this is where sperm is transported after the rete testes
- lined with pseudo-stratified columnar epitheiulm with long sterocilia
- this is the site of functional maturation of the sperm
functions of the epididymis
- monitors and adjusts the composition of the fluid produced by the seminiferous tubules
- recycles damaged sperm
- stores spermatozoa and facilitates their functional maturation
ductus deferens
travels within the spermatic cord and enters the pelvic cavity through the inguinal canal
- has muscluar layer to aid in peristaltic movemnet
- has pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
why do the ductus deferens have pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
to cause the surface transport of sperm into the ejactulatory duct
ampulla of the ductus deferens
- this is an expanded portion that unites with the seminal vesicle to form the ejactulatory duct
ejactulatory duct
- this is a short passageway that passes through the muscular wall of the prostate and empties into the prostatic urethra
- this conducts sperm from the ductus deferens to the prostatic urethra
- also accepts the secretions from the seminal glands
seminal glands (vesicles)
this gland secretes a fluid with sugars that provide nutrients for the sperm
- this fluid is alkaline so it provides a basic mixture for the sperm
(contains fructose and prostaglandins)
prostate gland
- this secretes a mixture of fluid with many components to it that is ultimately slightly basic
- this along with the secretions from the seminal glands, we now have semen
bulbourethral glands
- these are two paired glands on either side of the membranous urethra that secrete mucin
- these prepare the urethra for the semen so that the urea or other urinary chemicals that may be left over do not hurt the sperm
root of penis
this is the internal portion of the penis
- this consists of the bulb and the crura of the penis
bulb
- this is the base of the penis and is located just above the scrotal sac
corpora cavernosa
this is the erectile tissue on the top of the penis
-there are two of these
corpus spongiosum
- this is the single erectile tissue on the bottom of the penis
- this surrounds the corpus spongiosum
glans
- the expanded distal end
- this is what surrounds the external urethral orifice
what does parasympathetic innervation do to the penis
-this causes the dilation of the arteries to erectile bodies
what does the sympathetic innervation to the penis do
- this causes ejactulation
- very similar to the peristaltic contractions
- this can also lead to the contraction of the skeletal muscle of the pelvic floor to help keep the penis errect
what part of the pelvic floor is constricted to help keep the penis erect
ischiocavernosus and the bulbospongiosus
