Reproductive System Unit Lesson 1: Male Reproductive Organs Flashcards
what are gametes
specialized cells containing chromosomes needed to produce offspring that share a combination of genes from both a mother and a father
what are the gametes called in females
eggs
what are the gametes called in males
sperm
what is spermatozoa
mature sperm
what are the three segments of spermatozoa
the head, the middle piece, and the tail
what is the head there for in spermatozoa
to hold the nucleus which contains the father’s 23 chromosomes and an acrosome cap that contains digestive enzymes
what is the use of the middle piece in spermatozoa
it contains mitochondria to supply the necessary energy(ATP) to create locomotion in the tail
what is the tail in spermatozoa and what is its function
it is a flagellated structure that provides movement by rapid back-and-forth whipping
what does the sperm do(or use) to enter the egg
the acrosome cap(of the sperm) dissolves the outer layer of the egg to allow the sperm entry and combine DNA with the egg
why do the countless other sperm die if they don’t merge with an egg
they die because of the acidity of the vagina
what is spermatogenesis
the production of sperm
what are the testes(testicles)
two ovoid(egg-shaped) structures that produce sperm and ALSO male sex hormones
what are gonads
sex-specific organs that produce gametes
what is the scrotum
sac-like assemblages of tissue that holds the testes
why are testes kept outside the body
the temperatures are lower– this is favourable for sperm production
where does spermatogenesis SPECIFICALLY take place in each testis
lobules that contain tightly coiled seminiferous tubules
what is spermatogonia
sperm cell precursors(a thing that existed before another thing. in this case, spermatogonia existed before sperm cells i think)
what are the two cells in the testes worth noting
sertoli cells and interstitial cells
what are sertoli cells responsible for and where are they found
they are cells responsible for supporting, nourishing and regulating spermatogenic cells and they are located in the seminiferous tubules
what are interstitial cells responsible for and where are they located
they are cells responsible for secreting androgens and they are found between seminiferous tubules
what will spermatogonia eventually become
they will eventually form four haploid(containing 23 chromosomes) sperm cells for each spermatogonium produced(spermatogonia are diploid to begin with)
where are immature sperm stored and matured at
the epididymis
what are the vas deferens and what is/are its function(s)
they are tubules used to temporarily store sperm and act as the passageway to the urethra
where are the vas deferens connected to
the epididymis