The Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What is the function of the testes?
to produce sperm and hormones
What is the function of the ducts?
To store and transport sperm
What is the function of the accessory glands?
To contribute to secretions and increase volume to semen
What kind of organ is the penis?
Intromittent (insertion organ)
What is the site of sperm production?
seminiferous tubules
What is another name for sperm production?
Spermatogenesis
What is the name of the network that the seminiferous tubules open into?
rete testis
What does the rete testis drain into?
The head of the epididymis
Where does the immature sperm travel to after going through all three parts of the epididymis?
The deferent duct
What is the name of the cells that support the production of sperm in the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli cells
What is the role of Leydig cells?
They are responsible for testosterone secretion
What makes up the capsule that surrounds the testis?
smooth muscle and connective tissue (tunica albuginea)
What can be found on top of the tunica albuginea?
The vaginal tunic/ double layer of peritoneum
What is the role of the gubernaculum?
Pulls testicles down into pouch (from inguinal canal into scrotum)
What do the veins in the testes form?
Pampiniform plexus
What is the purpose of the pampiniform plexus?
Cool veins wrap around the warm arteries, this increases the surface area in contact and cools the blood
What is the spermatic cord?
A collection of structures including arteries veins, and the deferent duct
What is the function of the cremaster muscle?
raises/ lowers the testes
How do the testes keep cool?
Pampiniform plexus, sweat glands in the scrotal skin
What happens if the testes get too cold?
Cremaster muscle pulls testicles upwards, Dartos muscle contracts reducing the surface area
What are the four different sex glands?
Ampulla, Vesicular, Prostate, and Bulbourethral
What is the function of the prepuce?
Contains the penis, stops it from drying out
What is Paraphimosis
inability for the penis to reduce back into the prepuce
What does the penis allow?
direct deposition of spermatozoa into the female reproductive tract
What are the three sections of the penis?
Root, Body and Glans
Where does the penis originate from?
from the ischial arch
What does the root of the penis contain?
corpus cavernosum and an expansion of corpus spongiosa around the penile urethra
What does the body of the penis contain?
Combined corpus cavernosum that run alongside corpus spongiosa
What does the glans of the penis contain?
It is the distal/ free portion, and is shaped by the expansion of the corpus spongiosum
What are the two different types of penis in domestic animals?
Musculo cavernous and Fibroelastic
What is a Fibroelastic penis?
The elongation is mostly by relaxation of the retractor penis muscle and straightening of the sigmoid flexure, has less blood flow
What is a Musculo cavernous penis?
Erection formed by large volumes of blood filling the blood spaces
Where is the baculum/ penis bone found
after the termination of the corpus cavernosum
what is the function of the baculum? (os penis)
To contribute to the stiffness
What is the bulbus glandis?
The expanded proximal part of the penis
How does the bulbus glandis contribute to reproduction?
It enlarges before ejaculation helping the penis ‘lock in’ during mating
What does the glans of a cat penis look like?
has keratinised papillae which help stimulate ovulation
What does the glans of a pig penis look like?
Corkscrew
What does the glans of a bull penis look like?
small, asymmetrical and slightly spiralled
What does the glans of a small ruminant penis look like?
the urethral process continues beyond the penis
What does the glans of a horse penis look like?
Mushroom shaped with a fossa
Why does the horse prepuce have two layers?
To allow for lengthening
What are the three muscles of the penis?
Retractor, Bulbospongiosus and Ischiocavernosi
What is the function of the Ischiocavernosi muscle?
When contracted it blocks venous return from the corpus cavernosum
What is the function of the Bulbospongiosus muscle?
Expels the urethral contents
What is the function of the retractor muscle?
Helps to contribute to erections by blocking blood backflow
What does the tunica albuginea do to the testes?
Causes them to become pressurised
What is the name of the artery and vein that run within the tunica albuginea?
Testicular artery and vein
What is the testicular artery a direct branch off and what does this mean?
it is a direct branch of the abdominal aorta which means that the blood flows at a high pressure
What does the urethra join with?
The urethra joins with the deferent duct and they leave the bladder together, hence why it contains both semen and urine
What are paired crura?
separate structures of the penis, they are covered in corpus cavernosum
What artery supplies blood to the urethra, accesory sex glands and the penis?
internal pudendal artery
What three nerves innervates the penis?
Pudendal, Hypogastric and Pelvic
What species does not contain a bulbourethral gland?
Dogs
What is the os-penis at the termination of?
The corpus cavernosum
What is the widest part of the horse penis called?
The corona
What is the purpose of the horse prepuce having two layers?
allows for lengthening of the penis
