L20 Ch27 Male Reproductive System Study Review

A collection of flashcards based on lecture notes covering the anatomy, physiology, and processes of the male reproductive system.

What are gametes?

Haploid cells (having half the chromosome number) involved in sexual reproduction, including sperm (male) and oocytes (female).

What is the term for the union of a sperm and an oocyte?

Fertilization

What is a zygote?

The diploid cell formed by the fusion of a sperm and oocyte.

In the reproductive system, what are the gonads?

Primary reproductive organs that produce gametes and hormones, specifically the Testes in males and Ovaries in females.

What is the scrotum?

A sac of skin housing the testes outside the body.

What is the specific temperature requirement for sperm development?

Approximately $96.6^\circ\text{F}$, which is slightly cooler than body temperature.

What is the raphe?

A ridge marking the boundary between the two scrotal chambers.

What structures are enclosed within the spermatic cords?

The ductus deferens, blood vessels, and nerves, all enclosed in a sheath of fascia, connective tissue, and muscle.

What are the seminiferous tubules?

Tightly coiled tubes within the lobules of the testis where sperm production (spermatogenesis) occurs.

What is the rete testis?

A network of channels formed by interconnecting straight tubules.

What are spermatogonia?

Stem cells for sperm located on the periphery of the seminiferous tubules that remain dormant until puberty.

What occurs during meiosis in the male reproductive system?

Cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid spermatids from each diploid primary spermatocyte.

What is the function of Interstitial Cells (Leydig Cells)?

They are located in the spaces between the seminiferous tubules and secrete male sex hormones, primarily Testosterone.

What are some of the main effects of Testosterone?

Stimulates spermatogenesis, promotes sperm maturation, maintains accessory reproductive organs, develops secondary sex characteristics, and stimulates sexual drive.

What is the definition of spermiogenesis?

The final physical maturation process where haploid spermatids transform into streamlined, motile sperm cells.

What is the primary function of Nurse Cells (Sertoli Cells)?

To support and nourish developing sperm and maintain the blood-testis barrier via tight junctions.

What is the function of the acrosome in a mature sperm cell?

A cap-like structure at the anterior end of the head containing enzymes crucial for penetrating the egg during fertilization.

What is the function of the middle piece of a sperm cell?

It is packed with mitochondria to produce ATP for motility.

What is the pathway of sperm from the testis to the epididymis?

Seminiferous tubules $\rightarrow$ Straight tubules $\rightarrow$ Rete testis $\rightarrow$ Efferent ductules $\rightarrow$ Epididymis.

What is capacitation?

The process where mature sperm become fully motile and capable of fertilization, typically occurring in the female reproductive tract.

Which gland produces approximately $60\%$ of semen volume?

Seminal Glands (Seminal Vesicles).

What are the components of the fluid secreted by the Seminal Glands?

Fructose (energy), Prostaglandins (smooth muscle contraction), and Clotting factors.

What is the contribution of the Prostate Gland to semen volume?

Approximately $20-30\%$.

What is the function of the Bulbourethral Glands (Cowper's Glands)?

They produce thick, sticky alkaline mucus (approx. $5\%$ of semen volume) to neutralize urinary acids in the urethra and lubricate the tip of the penis.

What is the average volume and sperm count of semen per ejaculation?

Approx. $2-5\,\text{ml}$ per ejaculation, with $20-100\text{ million}$ sperm cells per milliliter.

What are the two types of erectile tissue found in the penis shaft?

Two posterior Corpora Cavernosa and one anterior Corpus Spongiosum (which surrounds the urethra).

What is the male climacteric (andropause)?

A gradual decline in reproductive function efficacy and testosterone levels that occurs between ages $50$ and $60$.