Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the testes?
Producing and storing sperm
Why is the scrotum positioned exterior to the abdominal wall?
To keep the testes at a lower temperature for sperm production
Which hormone is produced by the testes?
Testosterone
What is the function of the epididymis?
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How does the ductus deferens aid in sperm transport?
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What is the approximate length of the ductus deferens?
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What is the function of the ductus deferens?
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What procedure is performed to make a man sterile for birth control?
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What is the primary function of the seminal vesicles?
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What is the function of the prostate gland?
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What is the purpose of Cowper's glands?
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What is the function of the urethra in the male reproductive system?
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What happens to the penis during sexual stimulation?
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What is the process of developing spermatozoa called?
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What is the purpose of the enzyme on the head of a sperm?
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What is the purpose of the foreskin (prepuce) in the male reproductive system?
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What is the primary function of the testes?
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What is the purpose of the scrotum?
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What is the function of the epididymis?
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What is the role of the ductus deferens?
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What is the primary function of testosterone?
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How do the seminiferous tubules contribute to sperm production?
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What is the function of the rete testis?
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What is the purpose of the smooth muscle contractions in the epididymis?
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What is the approximate length of the ductus deferens?
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What is the primary function of the accessory glands in the male reproductive system?
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What is the role of Cowper's glands in the male reproductive system?
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Which gland surrounds the neck of the bladder and secretes alkaline fluid to contribute to sperm motility?
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What happens to the penis during sexual stimulation?
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What occurs after ejaculation in the male reproductive system?
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Which structure contains sinuses that fill with blood during sexual stimulation?
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What role do the seminal vesicles play in the male reproductive system?
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Which structure contains three distinct parts: head, midpiece, and tail, in a mature sperm cell?
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Study Notes
The Male Reproductive System
- The male reproductive system consists of the testes, ductal system, accessory glands, and penis.
- These structures have three main functions: producing and storing sperm, depositing sperm for fertilization, and developing male secondary sex characteristics.
Testes
- The two oval testes (or testicles) are enclosed in the scrotum, a saclike structure that lies suspended from the exterior abdominal wall.
- The testes contain one to three coiled seminiferous tubules, which produce sperm cells.
- The testes also produce the hormone testosterone, responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics.
Epididymis
- Sperm produced in the seminiferous tubules travel through a network of testicular ducts called the rete testis.
- The rete testis contains cilia that sweep sperm out of the testes into the epididymis, a tightly coiled tube structure that lies superior to the testes.
Ductal System
- The ductus deferens (or vas deferens) is approximately 18 inches (46 cm) long and rises along the posterior wall of the testes.
- The ductus deferens passes through the inguinal canal into the pelvic cavity, loops over the urinary bladder, and joins with the ejaculatory duct.
- The ductus deferens and its accompanying nerves and blood vessels are enclosed in a connective tissue sheath called the spermatic cord.
Accessory Glands
- The accessory glands produce seminal fluid (semen) and include the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper's glands.
- The seminal vesicles are paired structures that lie at the base of the bladder and produce 60% of the volume of semen.
- The prostate gland is a single, doughnut-shaped gland that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra.
- Cowper's glands are two pea-sized glands under the male urethra that provide lubrication during sexual intercourse.
Penis
- The cylindrical penis is the organ of copulation.
- The shaft of the penis ends with an enlarged tip called the glans penis.
- The skin covering the penis, called the prepuce, or foreskin, lies in folds around the glans.
- Three masses of erectile tissue, the corpus spongiosum and two corpora cavernosa, contain numerous sinuses that fill the shaft of the penis.
Spermatogenesis
- Spermatogenesis (the process of developing spermatozoa) begins at puberty and continues throughout life.
- Mature sperm consist of three distinct parts: the head, midpiece, and tail, which propels the sperm.
- Once deposited in the female reproductive system, mature sperm live approximately 48 hours (or in some cases up to 5 days).
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