Male Reproductive System

scrotum

a compartment external to the pelvic cavity that supports and protects the testes

dartos muscle

smooth muscle within the wall of the scrotum, involuntary muscle that assists in maintaining proper temperature for spermatogenesis

cremaster muscle

muscle located in the spermatic cord and surrounding the testis, elevates the testis when contracted

testis

paired oval-shaped organ located within the scrotum for sperm and hormone production, plural is testes, also called testicle

tunica albuginea

a fibrous connective tissue layer that directly covers the testis

seminiferous tubules

coiled sperm-producing tubes within the lobules of the testis

rete testis

convey sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis

epididymis

convoluted tube located on the posterior, superior portion of the testis that both stores sperm for continued maturation and transports sperm to the ductus deferens

ductus deferens

transports sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct, also called vas deferens

seminal vesicle

located behind the urinary bladder, its secretion combines with sperm being transported by the ductus deferens

ejaculatory duct

fusion of the ductus deferens and seminal vesicle duct about one inch long

prostate gland

chestnut-sized gland located inferior to the urinary bladder, covers the upper part of the urethra and the secretions combines with the sperm

bulbourethral gland

paired gland located inferior to the prostate gland and secretes mucus into the urethra

urethra

tube that transports both sperm and urine out of the body

prostatic urethra

first part of the urethra that passes through the prostate gland

membranous urethra

middle part of the urethra that traverses the urogenital diaphragm

spongy urethra

the last and longest part of the urethra located in the body of the penis

penis

cylindrical organ made of erectile tissue that becomes engorged with blood to achieve copulation

glans penis

the enlarged terminal portion of the penis, formed by the corpus spongiosum

body

elongated portion of the penis, composed of three chambers of erectile tissue

corpora cavernosa

paired column of erectile tissue located dorsal within the penis

corpus spongiosum

midventral erectile tissue that surrounds the urethra

superficial dorsal vein

paired superficial veins on the dorsal side that drain blood from penis

deep dorsal vein

deep vein on the dorsal side that drains blood from the penis

dorsal artery

located superior to the corpora cavernosa and supply the erectile tissue with blood

deep artery

located in each of the corpora cavernosa and supply erectile tissue with blood

dorsal nerve

main nerve located on the dorsal portion of the penis medial to the dorsal arteries

sperm cell

reproductive cells of a male human

head

made up of the acrosome and nucleus

acrosome

contains digestive enzymes to penetrate the female egg

nucleus

contains the genetic information

midpiece

contains mitochondria to generate energy for the tail

tail

flagellum that propels the cell forward