Male and Female Reproductive System Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on anatomical structures, organs, glands, and tissues of the male and female reproductive systems based on lecture notes.

Gonads

The primary reproductive organs (testes in males and ovaries in females) that produce gametes or sex cells for reproduction.

Gametes

Sex cells (sperm and oocytes) produced by the gonads for reproduction.

Gametogenesis

The process of forming new gametes within the reproductive organs.

Cremaster muscle

Smooth muscle tissue surrounding each testis in the scrotum that contracts to adjust the testes' distance from the body to maintain sperm production temperature at about $34^\text{C}$ (about $94^\text{F}$).

Spermatic cord

A connective tissue structure extending from deep to the scrotum into the pelvic cavity through the external inguinal ring, surrounding the cremaster muscle, testicular artery, pampiniform venous plexus, ductus deferens, and testicular nerves.

Pampiniform venous plexus

A network of veins within the spermatic cord that drains blood from the testis.

Inguinal canal

A passageway leading into the pelvic cavity whose entrance is the external inguinal ring.

Seminiferous tubules

Tightly coiled tubules located inside the testicular lobules where spermatogenesis occurs.

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm cell formation taking place within the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Rete testis

A network of vessels near the superior part of the testis where seminiferous tubules converge, leading immature sperm to the epididymis.

Epididymis

The first segment of the male reproductive duct system where immature sperm migrate to finish their maturation.

Ductus deferens

A long tube that transports mature sperm from the epididymis up through the pelvic cavity and over the urinary bladder toward the ejaculatory duct.

Ampulla (male)

The widened terminal portion of the ductus deferens on the posterior surface of the urinary bladder.

Seminal vesicles

Exocrine glands on the posterior urinary bladder that, together with the prostate gland, produce about $90$ percent of semen volume.

Ejaculatory duct

A short passage formed by the merging of the ductus deferens' ampulla and the seminal vesicle duct, passing through the prostate gland.

Prostate gland

An exocrine gland located on the inferior surface of the urinary bladder surrounding the prostatic urethra; contributes to semen production.

Bulbourethral glands

A pair of small exocrine glands located at the root of the penis that secrete an alkaline fluid prior to ejaculation.

Corpus spongiosum

A single ventral erectile body of the penis that surrounds the spongy urethra and expands distally to form the glans penis.

Corpora cavernosa

Paired dorsal erectile bodies of the penis composed of vascular spaces that fill with blood during an erection.

Glans penis

The distal enlarged end of the corpus spongiosum at the tip of the penis.

Ovaries

The female gonads located in the peritoneal cavity that produce oocytes enclosed in follicles.

Oocytes

Female sex cells contained within follicles inside the ovaries.

Follicles

Small sacs in the ovary that contain developing oocytes.

Ovarian ligament

A ligament that attaches the ovary directly to the uterus.

Broad ligament

A broad sheet of connective tissue that anchors the ovary, uterine tubes, and uterus to the pelvic wall.

Suspensory ligament

A ligament anchoring the ovary to the posterolateral pelvic wall that encloses the ovarian blood vessels and nerves.

Uterine tube

The initial organ of the female duct system that receives the released oocyte from the pelvic cavity and transports it toward the uterus.

Fimbriae

Fingerlike extensions of the uterine tube that wrap around the ovary to catch a released oocyte.

Uterus

The pelvic organ in which a fertilized ovum implants and a conceptus develops; divided into the fundus, body, and cervix.

Endometrium

The inner epithelial and connective tissue lining of the uterine wall where a fertilized ovum implants.

Myometrium

The thick middle layer of the uterine wall composed of smooth muscle tissue.

Perimetrium

The outermost layer of the uterine wall, made of serous membrane posteriorly and connective tissue anteriorly.

Round ligaments

Ligaments that anchor the uterus to the anterior abdominal wall.

Vagina

An internal passage about $8-10\text{ cm}$ ($3.1-3.9\text{ in.}$) long extending inferiorly from the cervical os to the vaginal orifice.

Fornix

A recess formed by the superior end of the vagina surrounding the cervical os.

Vulva

The collective term for the female external genitalia.

Mons pubis

The rounded area of fatty tissue over the pubic symphysis, covered in pubic hair after puberty.

Vestibule

The region enclosed by the labia minora that contains the urethral and vaginal orifices.

Clitoris

An anterior structure composed of erectile tissue located superior/anterior to the urethral orifice in females.

Mammary glands

Modified sweat glands belonging to the integumentary system containing $15-25$ lobes that function in milk production.

Lactiferous sinuses

Milk storage areas formed by expanded lactiferous ducts prior to opening at the nipple.

Areola

The darkly pigmented skin region surrounding the nipple.

Gonads

The primary organs of the reproductive system—specifically the testes and ovaries—that produce gametes, or sex cells.

Gametes

Sex cells produced by the gonads for reproduction.

Gametogenesis

The process of forming new gametes within the reproductive organs.

Testes

The male gonads that produce gametes; situated externally in the scrotum because sperm production requires a temperature of about $34^\bullet\text{C}$ ($94^\circ\text{F}$).

Scrotum

An external structure containing a connective tissue septum along its midline that divides it into two chambers, one for each testis.

Cremaster muscle

Smooth muscle tissue surrounding each testis in the scrotum that contracts to adjust the distance of the testes from the body for temperature regulation.

Spermatic cord

A connective tissue structure deep to the scrotum extending into the pelvic cavity, surrounding the cremaster muscle, testicular artery, pampiniform venous plexus, ductus deferens, and nerves.

Pampiniform venous plexus

A group of veins in the spermatic cord that drain the testis.

Ductus deferens

A duct within the spermatic cord that transports sperm from the epididymis toward the ejaculatory duct.

Inguinal canal

A small passageway through which the spermatic cord passes into the pelvic cavity via the external inguinal ring.

Seminiferous tubule

A tightly coiled tubule located within the testicular lobules where spermatogenesis occurs.

Spermatogenesis

The formation of sperm cells within the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Rete testis

A network formed by the convergence of seminiferous tubules near the superior part of the testis.

Epididymis

The first segment of the male reproductive duct system where immature sperm migrate to finish maturation.

Ampulla

The widened terminal portion of the ductus deferens on the posterior surface of the urinary bladder.

Ejaculatory duct

A short passage formed by the merger of the duct leaving the ampulla of the ductus deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicle.

Prostate gland

An exocrine gland located on the inferior surface of the urinary bladder that surrounds the prostatic urethra and contributes to semen volume.

Seminal vesicles

Exocrine glands that, together with the prostate gland, produce approximately $90\%$ of semen volume.

Bulbourethral glands

A pair of small exocrine glands at the root of the penis that secrete an alkaline fluid prior to sperm release during ejaculation.

Semen

A fluid produced by the male exocrine glands that contains chemicals to nourish and activate sperm.

Penis

The male copulatory organ composed of three erectile bodies containing vascular spaces that fill with blood during an erection.

Corpus spongiosum

A single erectile body surrounding the spongy urethra that enlarges distally to form the glans penis.

Corpora cavernosa

Paired, dorsal erectile bodies located within the body of the penis.

Glans penis

The enlarged distal portion of the corpus spongiosum located at the tip of the penis.

Ovaries

The female gonads situated in the peritoneal cavity that produce oocytes.

Oocytes

Female gametes located inside small sacs called follicles in the ovary.

Follicles

Small sacs in the ovary that enclose and contain oocytes.

Ovarian ligament

A connective tissue ligament that attaches the ovary directly to the uterus.

Broad ligament

A sheet of connective tissue anchoring the ovaries, uterine tubes, and uterus to the lateral pelvic walls.

Suspensory ligament

A ligament attaching the ovary to the posterolateral pelvic wall that carries the blood supply and nerves for the ovary.

Uterine tube

The initial segment of the female duct system that catches and brings released oocytes in from the pelvic cavity.

Fimbriae

Fingerlike extensions of the uterine tube wrapping around the ovary to pull released oocytes into the tube.

Uterus

The female reproductive organ situated posterior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum in which a fertilized ovum implants and a conceptus develops.

Fundus

The dome-shaped superior region of the uterus.

Cervix

The narrow inferior portion of the uterus that opens through the cervical os.

Cervical os

The opening of the uterine cervix into the vagina.

Endometrium

The inner epithelial and connective tissue lining layer of the uterine wall in which a fertilized ovum implants.

Myometrium

The middle layer of the uterine wall composed of smooth muscle tissue.

Perimetrium

The outermost layer of the uterine wall, consisting of a serous membrane posteriorly and connective tissue anteriorly.

Round ligaments

Ligaments anchoring the uterus to the anterior abdominal wall.

Vagina

An internal passage about $8\text{--}10\,\text{cm}$ ($3.1\text{--}3.9\,\text{in.}$) long extending inferiorly from the cervical os to the vaginal orifice.

Fornix

A recess formed by the superior end of the vagina around the cervical os.

Vulva

The collective term for the external female genitalia.

Mons pubis

The rounded area over the pubic symphysis covered in pubic hair following puberty.

Vestibule

The region enclosed by the labia majora and labia minora containing the urethral and vaginal orifices.

Clitoris

An erectile tissue structure located anterior to the urethral orifice within the female vulva.

Mammary glands

Modified sweat glands of the integumentary system with reproductive function in milk production, consisting internally of $15\text{--}25$ lobes.

Lactiferous ducts

Ducts through which milk leaves the milk-producing alveoli within the mammary lobes.

Lactiferous sinuses

Expanded storage areas formed by the merging of lactiferous ducts before milk leaves through the nipple.

Areola

The darkly pigmented region surrounding the nipple of the mammary gland.