reproduction Flashcards
what are the two functions of the male reproductive system?
- production of spermatazoa
- transmission of spermatazoa to female
what is semen/seminal fluid?
a slightly alkaline mixture of sperm cells and secretions from the accessory glands
how many sperm are there per ml of semen?
50-150 million sperm per 1ml
what is the volume of semen during a single ejaculation?
1.5 - 6.0ml
what sperm count usually presents with fertility problems?
10-20 million per 1 ml
what is the function of the testes?
- produces sperm
- releases male sex hormones, androgen and testosterone
what is the function of the scrotum?
- sac that holds testes outside the body
- protects testes
what is the function of the seminal vesicles?
- stores sperm and secretes fluids into the sperm ducts
- fluid provides nutrients to the sperms and make it easier to move
what is the function of the sperm ducts (vas deferens)?
carries sperm from testes to urethra
what is the function of the urethra?
- tube that carries urine from the bladder
- carries sperms from sperm ducts to outside the body
what does the spermatic cord consist of?
- arteries/veins
- lymphatic vessels and nerves
- vas deferens
what is the tunica vaginalis?
- outer layer derived from peritoneum
- forms when testes descend during development
what is the tunica albuginea?
dense white fibrous tissue that divides the testes into lobules
what are seminiferous tubules?
where spermatogenesis takes place
what do the spermatogenic cells do?
produce sperm
what do the sertoli cells do?
support spermatogenesis by:
- nourishing spermocytes, spermatids and sperm
- phagocytose excess spermatid cytoplasm
- control movement of spermatogenic cells and the release of sperm into the seminiferous tubules
- produce fluid for sperm transport
- secrete inhibin
- mediate effects of FSH and testosterone
what do leydig cells do, and where are they located?
located between tubules and secrete testosterone
how many lobules do each testis contain?
200-300
