Chapter 34 - Male Reproductive System

what is the course of sperm through the organs of the male reproductive system?

1. testes (scrotum)

2. epididymis

3. vas deferens (ductus deferens)

4. ejaculatory duct

5. prostate gland

6. urethra

7. penis

what is a testis? (plural testes)

male gonad that contains seminiferous tubules

what is the function of seminiferous tubules in the testes?

to produce the male sex cell and male hormone

what is the male sex cell?

sperm or spermatozoa (produced by seminiferous tubules)

what is the male hormone?

testosterone (produced by seminiferous tubules)

how many testes are in the male reproductive system?

2

where are the testes located?

external to the abdominal cavity within a skin pouch called the scrotum

why are the testes located in the scrotum?

because the production of sperm occurs at a temperature slightly LESS than body temperature (can't occur at regular body temp)

what is the process of the production of sperm called?

spermatogenesis

how does sperm exit the seminiferous tubules in which it was made?

via efferent ducts --> passing into the epididymis

what is the epididymis?

C-shaped structure that receives sperm from the testes and stores the sperm

when does the epididymis release the sperm?

during the process of ejaculation

where is the epididymis located?

on the posterior surface of each testis

what is the ductus deferens also called?

vas deferens

where does the ductus deferens begin?

at each epididymis

what is the spermatic cord?

structure formed collectively by a ductus deferens and its associated arteries and veins

where does the spermatic cord ascend?

through the scrotum to the inguinal ring

what is the inguinal canal?

an opening in the external oblique muscle through which the spermatic cord passes

what is the course of the ductus deferens?

begins at the epididymis and has a lengthy course WITHIN a spermatic cord THROUGH the inguinal canal

where does the ductus deferens course?

along the superior surface of the bladder and inferiorly along the posterior surface of the urinary bladder where it terminates

how does each ductus deferens terminate?

terminates on each side by joining the duct of seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct

what is a seminal vesicle?

- an exocrine gland that produces seminal fluid that gets added to the sperm

- one of the three accessory glands

what are accessory glands of the male reproductive system?

glands that function in the production of seminal fluid

- seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands

because seminal vesicles are exocrine glands, what are they drained by?

a duct - the duct of the seminal vesicle

where are the seminal vesicles located?

posterior surface of the urinary bladder

what do the ductus deferens and seminal vesicles join to form?

the ejaculatory duct

where does the union of the ductus deferens and seminal vesicle (to form the ejaculatory duct) occur?

posterior to the urinary bladder just above the prostate

where does the ejaculatory duct enter?

the substance of the prostate gland

what is the prostate gland?

(second of the three accessory glands) that secretes seminal fluid that gets added to the seminal fluid produced by the seminal vesicles

where is the prostate gland located?

in the pelvis posterior to the pubis and below the urinary bladder

what happens within the substance of the prostate gland?

the two ejaculatory ducts join with the duct draining the urinary bladder to form the urethra

what is the urethra?

fibro-muscular tube that carries urine during urination and sperm during ejaculation

where does the urethra extend from?

extends from the prostate gland through the urogenital diaphragm and then through the penis to the outside of the body

what is the urogenital diaphragm?

skeletal muscle located between the right and left ischiopubic rami

how many parts is the urethra divided into & what are they?

3 parts:

prostatic urethra

membranous urethra

spongy urethra

what is the prostatic urethra?

the part of the urethra that traverses the prostate gland

what is the membranous urethra?

the part of the urethra that traverses the urogenital diaphragm

what is the spongy urethra?

the part of the urethra that traverses the penis

what is the 3rd accessory gland?

the bulbourethral glands

what are the bulbourethral glands?

2 small exocrine glands that secrete additional seminal fluid

where are the bulbourethral glands located?

on either side of the midline within the substance of the urogenital diaphragm

where do the ducts draining the bulbourethral glands empty into?

the ducts empty the secretion directly into the spongy urethra

what is the penis?

external genital organ - male organ involved in sexual intercourse

what passes through the penis?

the urethra

what is the penis composed of?

3 longitudinal connective tissue structures that are filled with blood spaces (venous sinuses)

what are the names of connective tissue structures of the penis?

corpora cavernosa (2)

corpus spongiosum

what happens during an erection?

the longitudinal spaces in the penis fill with blood

what are the corpora cavernosa?

the connective tissue structures of the penis made up of venous sinuses only

what is the corpus spongiosum?

the connective tissue structure of the penis that contains venous sinuses and the spongy urethra

what is the blood supply to the majority of the structures of the male reproductive system?

internal pudendal artery & other branches off the internal iliac artery

What is the gonadal artery in males called

testicular artery

what does the gonadal artery (testicular artery in males) supply?

the testes and epididymis