Testes + Duct System Flashcards
male gonads (main organ of male reproductive system)
- paired testes
- begin development inside abdominal cavity, then descend to be suspended in fascia sacs of scrotum
testes main functions (2)
- produce sperm
2. produce testosterone
lobules of testes
- each testis contains hundreds of lobules
- each lobule contains a few seminiferous tubules
seminiferous tubules
- located within lobules of each testis
- where sperm production occurs
sterility
- inability to produce gametes
- can be caused by testes not descending bc abdominal cavity is too hot for sperm production (requires lower temp than body temp)
duct system functions (2)
- provides space for sperm to mature
- expels them from body at appropriate time
duct system consists of (4)
- epididymis
- vas deferens
- ejaculatory duct
- urethra
testosterone production
- produced by interstitial cells of connective tissues of testes
- begins at puberty in response to ant pit gland releasing FSH + LH
epididymis
- where sperm travel from testes
- tightly coiled tubules that extend from superior end of testes to posterior lateral side of testes
- sperm mature here for ~20 days until can swim
- once sperm mature, propelled via muscular contractions to the vas deferense
vas deferens
- contained within spermatic cord, held in place by spermatic fascia
- travels superiorly thru inguinal canal, then rises to follow pelvis, turns posteriorly over bladder to base of prostrate gland
- during arousal, its smooth muscles contract to push sperm into the urethra
inguinal canal
opening into the anterior abdominal wall
spermatic fascia
surrounds nerves + blood vessels, holds vas deferens in place
ejaculatory duct
- formed at base of prostate when seminal vesicle duct + vas deferens combine
- connects with urethra so that sperm can exit body
urethra
- travels from bladder via penis to external origic
- carries urine and sperm to outside of body but NOT AT THE SAME TIME
- 3 regions
3 regions of urethra
- prostatic urethra (surrounded by prostate)
- membranous urethra (from prostate to penis)
- spongy urethra (through penis to external orifice)
why urine + sperm can’t mix
urine is acidic, acidity is detrimental to sperm
vasectomy
- cutting & tying off of vas deferens to cause permanent sterility
- prevents sperm from exiting body (still ejaculate semen)
- male secondary characteristics stay intact (testosterone still produced)
testosterone functions (2)
- stimulates growth
- stimulates male secondary sex characteristics
