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
what is seminal fluid/semen and its function
a medium that helps carry and nourish sperm
semen is a collection of substances. what are the 3 glands that add substances to the semen before it is ejaculated?
seminal vesicles, prostate gland, cowper’s gland
what do the seminal vesicles add to semen
fructose as an energy source
what does the prostate gland add to semen
bicarbonate solution(remember that the vagina is acidic)
what does the cowper’s gland add to the semen
lubricating fluid
what are prostaglandins
hormones that cause uterine contractions in the female(these are also a component in semen)
what is the penis
the male organ of sexual reproduction
what is the glans penis
it is where the penis terminates; a bell-shaped region
what is foreskin
a layer of skin that covers the glans penis
what is the refractory period
an amount of time before you could get another erection after ejaculation
where does hormonal regulation occur
the pituitary gland and the testes
where is the pituitary gland located
below the base of the hypothalamus
what is the function of the hypothalamus
it regulates the pituitary, which in turn regulates the testes
how is the pituitary motioned to release gonadotropic hormones
the hypothalamus secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) which stimulates the pituitary to release those hormones
what are the gonadotropic hormones for males
follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH)
what do the follicle-stimulating hormones do
they promote sperm production in seminiferous tubules
what does the hormone inhibin do
it inhibits further follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis
what do luteinizing hormones do
they control the production of testosterone in interstitial cells
what is testosterone and what is its function
it is the main androgen in males and is responsible for secondary sexual characteristics that occur in the onset of puberty
