Male Reproductive System

testes

primary male sex organs that produce gametes

sperm

male gametes

seminiferous tubules

where sperm are produced in the testes

seminiferous tubules (picture)

epididymis

the first part of the male duct system; temporary storage site for immature sperm

ductus deferens (picture)

urethra

part of the male duct system that both sperm and urine travel through

urethra (picture)

seminal vesicles

produce thick, yellow fluid (60% of semen) that nourishes the sperm and helps activate it

seminal vesicles (picture)

prostate

a doughnut shaped gland that wraps around the urethra and secretes a milky fluid that activates sperm

prostate (picture)

bulbourethral glands

produce a thick, clear mucus that cleanses the urethra of any traces of acidic urine before ejaculation and acts as a lubricant for sexual intercourse

bulbourethral glands (picture)

semen

mixture of sperm and accessory gland secretions

scrotum

a sac of skin that surrounds the testes

penis

organ designed to deliver sperm into the female reproductive tract

erectile tissue

the spongy tissue inside the penis that fills with blood during an erection

spermatogenesis

production of spermatids

spermatogonia

male reproductive stem cell; divides rapidly at birth

FSH in males

hormone released from anterior pituitary gland that activates sperm and testosterone production at puberty

primary spermatocyte

the cell that undergoes meiosis to form the spermatid

spermatid

immature sperm cell

spermiogenesis

the last stage of sperm development when a spermatid matures into a sperm

acrosome

covering over the head of the sperm cell that contains enzymes to help the sperm penetrate through the capsule that surrounds the ovum

acrosome (picture)

midpiece (picture)

testosterone

Hormone produced in the testes that produces male sex characteristics

vasectomy

the operation where a man's ductus deference is cut and/or tied off to prevent sperm from entering the rest of the duct system

ejaculation

when peristaltic waves squeeze sperm from the epididymis along to the outside of the male's body

Sertoli cells

cells found within the seminiferous tubules that provide metabolic support for the spermatids

Leydig cells

A cell that produces testosterone and other androgens and is located between the seminiferous tubules of the testes.

Spermatic cord

bundle of fibrous connective tissue containing the ductus deferens, blood and lymphatic vessels, and testicular nerve

glans

Head of penis covered by the prepuce (foreskin)

prepuce

foreskin; loose casing that covers the glans penis; removed by circumcision

LH in males

hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates interstitial cells (Leydig) to produce testosterone

Inhibin in males

Hormone released by the Testes and targets the Anterior Pituitary Gland, which then INHIBITS the release of FSH, resulting in a slow down of sperm production

epididymis (picture)

vas (ductus) deferens

long duct that serves as the passageway for sperm for the epididymis to the urethra

spermatic cord

bundle of fibrous connective tissue in males containing the ductus deferens, blood and lymphatic vessels, and testicular nerve

cremaster muscle

Muscle that pulls the scrotum closer to the body in cold temperatures and relaxes to let the testicles be farther away from the body in warmer weather

circumcision (male)

surgical removal of the foreskin

erection

during sexual arousal erectile tissue of the penis fills with blood, causing penis to enlarge and become rigid

The ________ is a long duct in the testicle where sperm develop.

Seminiferous tubule

The essential organs of the male reproductive system are the ________.

Testes

The pouchlike sac where the male gonads are located is called the ________.

Scrotum

The membrane that covers the testicle and also divides the interior into lobes is called the ________.

Tunica albuginea

The ________ are the cells in the testes that secrete testosterone.

Interstitial cells

The primary spermatocyte develops from a cell called the ________.

Spermatogonium

The primary spermatocyte forms sperm cells by undergoing a specialized type of cell division called ________.

Mieosis (Spermatogensis)

The sperm cell contains a(n) ________, which contains an enzyme that can digest the covering of the ovum.

Acrosome

The ________ is a reproductive duct that consists of a tightly coiled tube that lies along the top and behind the testes.

Epididymis

The ________ is a reproductive duct that permits the sperm to move out of the scrotum upward into the abdominal cavity.

Vas deferens (ductus deferens)

The ________ is a gland that secretes a thin, milk-colored fluid that makes up about 20% of the seminal fluid.

Prostate gland

The ________ are a pair of glands that produce a thick, yellowish, fructose-rich fluid that makes up about 60% of the seminal fluid.

Seminal vesicles

The penis is composed of three columns of erectile tissue: one is called the corpus spongiosum, and the other two are called the ________.

Corpora cavernosa

The essential organs of the female reproductive system are the ________.

Ovaries

Another name for a mature ovarian follicle is a(n) ________ follicle.

graafian follicle

The process that produces the female gamete is called ________.

Oogenesis

Meiosis in the female produces one large ovum and three small daughter cells called ________, which degenerate.

Polar bodies

The ________ are the reproductive tubes connecting the ovary and the uterus.

Fallopian tubes (Oviducts, Uterine tubes)

The muscle layer of the uterus is called the _______.

Myometrium

The uterus is composed of two parts: the upper part, called the body, and the narrow lower part, called the ________.

Cervix

The innermost layer of the uterus, which is shed during menstruation, is called the ________.

Endometrium

The ________ is the part of the female reproductive system that opens to the exterior.

Vagina

The ________ glands are glands that secrete a mucuslike lubricating fluid into the vestibule.

Greater vestibular

The milk-secreting glandular cells of the breast are arranged in grapelike structures called ________. These drain into ________ ducts that converge toward the nipple.

Alveoli, Lactiferous

Ovarian hormone that reaches its highest concentration during the secretory phase

 

progesterone

Pituitary hormone that stimulates the formation of an egg follicle

FSH

Caused by the rapid drop of blood levels of estrogen and progesterone

menstruation

What the egg follicle becomes after ovulation

corpus luteum

estrogen

Ovarian hormone that reaches its highest concentration in the proliferative phase

Phase of the reproductive cycle that begins after ovulation

secretory phase

Term used to describe the egg being released from the ovary

ovulation.

The uterine wall begins to thicken during this phase of the reproductive cycle

proliferative phase

Pituitary hormone that can be called the ovulating hormone

LH