Reproductive System - Male

Question 1

What is the male organ for sexual intercourse, reproduction and urination called?

Answer 1

Penis

Question 2

What is the reproductive purpose of the penis?

Answer 2

To deposit semen in the vagina during sexual intercourse

Question 3

What is the head of the penis called?

Answer 3

Glans

It has many nerve endings

Question 4

What is the foreskin?

Answer 4

The loosely fitting skin at the end of the penis that covers the glans

Question 5

What are seminiferous tubules?

Answer 5

The lightly coiled tubules within the testes that produce sperm

Question 6

What is the process of sperm development called?

Answer 6

Spermatogenesis

Question 7

What is the scrotum?

Answer 7

The sac-like pouch behind the penis that holds each testes.

It helps regulate temperature for sperm production.

Question 8

What are testes?

Answer 8

small organs that lie in the scrotum and produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.

Question 9

What are the male sex glands?

Answer 9

The testicles

Question 10

Why are the testicles outside the body?

Answer 10

The sperm that is manufactured by the testes needs cooler-than-body temperature for normal growth and development.

Question 11

How much sperm is produced each month?

Answer 11

4 to 5 million sperm cells.

Question 12

What is testosterone?

Answer 12

The male reproductive hormone made by the testicles which causes the changes of puberty

Causes secondary sex characteristics, production of sperm and sexual urge

It enters the bloodstream at a fairly constant rate

Question 13

What is sperm?

Answer 13

microscopic cells produced by the testicles which can fertilize the female’s ovum

the smallest cell in a man’s body

destroyed by a warm body temperature and an acidic environment

can survive in a woman’s body for up to 48 hours

sperm not ejaculated is passed in the urine

Question 14

What is seminal fluid?

Answer 14

produced by 3 accessory organs

• Cowpers glands (<1%) aka the bulbourethral gland
• Seminal vesicles (65-75%)
• Prostate Gland (25-30%)

Question 15

What is the epididymis?

Answer 15

The structure that forms a mass over the back and upper part of each testes

• Sperm are stored there for as long as six weeks while they ripen to maturity and develop swimming ability.

Question 16

What at the Cowper’s Gland?

Answer 16

two small pea-sized glands located beneath the prostate gland on both sides of the base of the penis

They secrete a clear, sticky fluid that helps to neutralize the acidity of the urethra

Question 17

What are the seminal vesicles?

Answer 17

two small glands that secrete a fluid that nourishes and enables the sperm to move

fluid contains fructose (energy), Potassium/phosphorus (motility), and Prostaglandins (affect female reproductive system to aid sperm in travelling from the vagina to the uterine cavity)

Question 18

What are the vas Deferens?

Answer 18

two long, thin tubes that serve as a passageway for sperm and a place for sperm storage

The contraction of the vas deferens along with the action of the cilia help transport the sperm through the vas deferens

Question 19

What is the prostate gland?

Answer 19

It surrounds the urethra beneath the bladder.

It secretes an alkaline fluid that neutralizes the acid found in the male urethra and the female reproductive tract

Question 20

What is the urethra?

Answer 20

a dual purpose tube that both semen and urine pass through to leave the body (semen and urine never mix)

It has special muscles or sphincters that surround it

during urination - 1 sphincter will relax so that the pressure of the bladder will push urine out from the body

during ejaculation - another sphincter will relax so that semen can flow out from the body

Question 21

What is the optimal temperature for sperm production?

Answer 21

34 C

Question 22

What hormone promotes spermatogenesis?

Answer 22

FSH - follicle stimulating hormone

from the pituitary gland

Question 23

What are interstitial cells?

Answer 23

cells between the seminiferous tubules

They produce testosterone

Question 24

Which hormone promotes the production of testosterone?

Answer 24

LH - lutenizing hormone

from the pituitary gland

Question 25

Which part of the male reproductive system is altered during a vasectomy?

Answer 25

The vas Deferens are cut (ligated) or clamped

Question 26

Describe the negative feedback loop of the male reproductive system

Answer 26

The hypothalamus in the brain secretes GnRH which travels to the pituitary gland

Signals the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH

FSH goes to the Seminiferous tubules and LH goes to the interstitial cells of the testes

FSH causes sperm to be made and inhibin hormone is produced

LH produces testosterone

Inhibin circulates to the brain and inhibits the hypothalamus and ant. Pituitary

high amounts of testosterone circulate and inhibit the hypothalamus and ant. pituitary

Ant Pituitary produces less FSH and less LH

The lower FSH and LH the lower the Inhibin/Testosterone which then means the hypothalamus will secretes GnRH

Question 27

What is GnRH

Answer 27

Gonadotrophic releasing hormone

Question 28

What are the primary sexual characteristics of Testosterone?

Answer 28

Promotes development and function of primary sex organs

Sperm production

Question 29

What are the secondary sexual characteristics of testosterone?

Answer 29

Growth of body, pubic, and facial hair

Prompts larynx and vocal cords to enlarge (deeper voice)

Increase muscle development

Causes Oil and sweat glands to become more active (acne)

May cause some forms of baldness

May be responsible for sex drive in males