Module 6 - Male Reproductive System

Question 1

Testes anatomy (3)

Answer 1

1) Male gonads

2) Paired

3) Suspended within fascia of the scrotum

Question 2

Testes function (3)

Answer 2

1) Function of sperm and testosterone production

2) Testosterone
a) Hormone produced by interstitial cells inside connective tissue of testes

3) Each testis has hundreds of lobules, each lobule contains several seminiferous tubules
a) Site of sperm production

Question 3

Duct system (3)

Answer 3

1) Epididymis (place for sperm to mature)

2) Vas deferens (sperm travel through here)

3) Urethra

Question 4

Epididymis (3)

Answer 4

1) Attached directly to the testes

2) Sperm travel from seminiferous tubules to epididymis for maturation

3) Maturation takes about 20 days
a) Sperm gain the ability to swim

Question 5

Vas deferens (3)

Answer 5

1) Mature sperm are propelled into the vas deferens by muscular contractions

2) Contained in the spermatic cord, held in place by the spermatic fascia
a) Surrounds the vas deferens, nerves and blood vessels

3) Travels superiorly through the inguinal canal

Question 6

Vasectomy (3)

Answer 6

1) Vas deferens is cut and tied off

2) Permanently prevents sperm from exiting the body to fertilize an egg

3) Does not affect testosterone production

Question 7

Ejaculatory duct (2)

Answer 7

1) Vas deferens joins with duct of seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct

2) Connects into the urethra to provide a means for sperm to exit the body

Question 8

Urethra (3)

Answer 8

1) Travels from the bladder through the penis

2) Carries both sperm and urine

3) Three regions
a) Prostatic
b) Membranous
c) Spongy

Question 9

Penis (3)

Answer 9

1) Contains spongy, erectile tissue

2) Distensible blood spaces through the shaft

3) Two parts:
a) Shaft (two corpus cavernosum and one corpus spongiosum)
b) Glans penis - houses the opening of the penis

Question 10

Erection (4)

Answer 10

1) During arousal, nervous system reflexes cause an increase in blood flow through shaft

2) Spaces fill with blood in the erectile tissue

3) Stiffens, increases in size

4) Enables entry into vaginal canal to deposit semen into female reproductive tract

Question 11

Scrotum (4)

Answer 11

1) Pouch of skin that holds the testes outside the body
a) Held in place by the spermatic fascia

2) Testes must be located outside the body for sperm production

3) Sperm must be kept at a cooler than body temperature
a) Skin responds to environment to maintain constant temperature for sperm production

Question 12

Sterility (2)

Answer 12

1) Inability to produce gametes

2) Occurs in males if the testes do not descend into the scrotum during fetal development

Question 13

Semen (2)

Answer 13

1) Thick whitish fluid that contains sperm and accessory gland secretions

2) Contains
a) fructose (for energy)
b) prostaglandins (helps with movement)
c) relaxin (helps with motility)
d) alkaline pH (offsets acidity of urine)
e) antibiotic (kills bacteria that may be in urethra)

Question 14

Seminal Vesicles (2)

Answer 14

1) Join with the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

2) Secrete a thick, viscous fluid containing nutrients for use by the sperm
a) Fructose
b) Vitamin C
d) Prostaglandins

Question 15

Prostate gland (3)

Answer 15

1) Just inferior to the bladder

2) Secretes milky, alkaline fluid
a) Increases motility of sperm

3) In older men, prostate gland may become enlarged
a) Makes urination slow or difficult
b) Compresses on the urethra

Question 16

Bulbourethral glands (2)

Answer 16

1) Secrete alkaline fluid, which is the first secretion to be released during ejaculation

2) Helps neutralize the acidity of urine in the urethra

Question 17

Spermatogenesis (4)

Answer 17

1) Production of sperm

2) Takes about 64-72 days to complete

3) Begins at the onset of puberty

4) Males continue to produce sperm throughout their lifetime

Question 18

Spermatagonia

Answer 18

1) Stem cells that go through mitotic (each cell contains 46 chromosomes) divisions beginning at birth until puberty

2) Spermatogonia form sperm in the seminiferous tubules in the testes

Question 19

Spermatogenesis - steps during puberty

Answer 19

1) During puberty, anterior pituitary gland secretes FSH

2) FSH causes spermatagonia to undergo cell division
a) One cell continues stem cell line
b) Other cell becomes primary spermatocyte which undergoes meiosis (each cell ends with 23 chromosomes)

3) Meiosis produces four gametes with 23 chromosomes each, called SPERMATIDS
a) All viable gametes after maturation

Question 20

Spermiogenesis (3)

Answer 20

1) Final stage of spermatogenesis

2) Process by which spermatids mature into sperm

3) Surplus cytoplasm is stripped away
a) All become viable gametes after maturation

Question 21

Head of mature sperm (3)

Answer 21

1) Almost entirely nucleus

2) Contains cell DA

3) Acrosome
a) Contains enzymes to break down membrane of egg cell to allow sperm to penetrate

Question 22

Midpiece of mature sperm (2)

Answer 22

1) Numerous mitochondria

2) Needed to supply locomotive energy needed to travel through female reproductive tract

Question 23

Tail of mature sperm (2)

Answer 23

1) Flagellum

2) Used to propel sperm through female reproductive tract

Question 24

Graphic of sperm

Answer 24

Question 25

Male hormones (2)

Answer 25

1) Anterior pituitary secretes LH and FSH beginning at puberty

2) FSH/LH begins testosterone production in testes

Question 26

Testosterone (2)

Answer 26

1) Stimulates growth in males

2) Stimulates secondary sexual characteristics
a) Broad shoulders
b) Enlargement of larynx
c) Increased muscle size
d) Increased bone density
e) Increased hair growth