Male reproduction

Role of testes

Produce sperm and testosterone

Role of epididymis

The passageway of sperm from the testes to the vas deferens

Role of head

Sperm not capable of fertilization or motility

Role of body

Sperm gain motility

Role of tail

storage site until ejaculation; sperm fertile & mobile 

Role of Vas Deferens

transport sperm from the testes to the penis

Role of Accessory Sex Glands

secrete components of seminal fluid

Overall functions of the male

• produce and maintain a supply of sperm 

• Detect females in estrus 

• Inseminate females and fertilize the female gamete 

What is the term for producing and maintaining a supply of sperm

Spermatogenesis

How do males detect females in estrus

Pheromones, visual cues

structure of spermatic Cord

contains vas deferens, pampiniform plexus, and external cremaster muscle nerves

Role of Tunica Albuginea 

connective tissue that holds the testes together (surrounds testes)

Role of seminiferous Tubule

Sperm producing cells - true germinal epithelium

Role of Rete Testes

Function in sperm transport from the seminiferous tubules - 100 tubules

Role of the Caput (head) Epididymis

function in the maturation of spermatozoa

Role of the Corpus (body) Epididymis

Maturation of spermatozoa 

Role of the Cauda (tail) Epididymis

Final maturation and storage, only sperm are capable of feralization

Role of Efferent Ducts

6-12 tubules absorb fluids

Role of the scrotum

Protection and temperature regulation

Where is the Tunica Albuginea located? 

Found below the scrotum and associated fat tissue 

What does LC stand for?

Leydig Cells

What is the role of LC?

Source of testosterone

What is the role of ST?

Somniferous Tubules

What is spermatozoa

sperm, male sex cells

What is the role of ST

Source of spermatozoa

What does CT stand for?

Connective Tissue

What does BV stand for?

Blood Vessels

What does BM stand for?

Basement Membrane 

Where do the spermatozoa mature?

Within the ST

What are the stages of spermatozoa?

Germinal Cells (GC) at the outer edge → mature to spermatocytes → mature to spermatids in the center of the ST

What do spermatids develop?

Flagella

Role of mitosis (Proliferation)

Spermatogonia undergo multiple mitotic divisions to generate a larger number of spermatocytes 

Role of meiosis 1& 2

Replication of DNA to produce haploid spermatids

Role of differentiation

no further cell divisions: result in a fully differentiated immature sperm (spermatids) that is released into the lumen

What cells does the Lobule contain?

Sertoli and Leydig cells

Location of the Mediastinum 

In the center of the testes

Role of the Mediastinum

Transport spermatozoa from lobules within testes to epididymis

What are the stages that the sperm travels through the epididymis?

Head → Body → Tail

What happens to the sperm as they move through the epididymis?

They mature and gain motility

Characteristics of the tail of the epididymis

• Sperm are stored until ejaculation 

• Motile and capable of fertilization