male structures

2 major muscles in the testes

dartos muscle and cremaster muscle

dartos & cremaster muscles function

adjusts the srotum to bring it closer or farther from the body to keep the testes at the ideal sperm making temperature

structures within the spermatic cord

* nerves
* fascia
* muscle
* vas deferens
* blood vessels
* lymphatic vessels

seminiferous tubules

microscopic tubules within the testes where spermatozoa are produced

nurse/sustentacular cells functions

* maintain blood-testis barrier
* secrete the hormone inhibin
* help regulate the rate of spermatozoa production

interstitial cells function

produce androgens (testosterone)

3 functions of the epididymis

* stores and protects spermatozoa
* recycles damaged spermatozoa
* monitors and adjusts the composition of fluid produced by the seminiferous tubules

vas deferens from beginning to end

* begins at the tail of the epididymis
* passes through the inguinal canal
* goes toward the prostate gland and seminal vesicle

ampulla

expanded area of the vas deferens near the prostate gland

ejaculatory duct

junction of ampulla and seminal vesicle

what gland does the ejaculatory duct travel through to empty into the urethra

prostate gland

2 things that can travel through a male’s urethra

urine and spermatozoa

seminal vesicle

contributes to 60% of semen volume

prostate gland

contributes to 20-30% of semen volume

bulbourethral gland

contributes the least to semen volume and secretes a thick, alkaline fluid that helps neutralize urinary acids

number of seminal vesicles in a male

2

number of prostate glands in a male

1

number of bulbourethral glands in a male

2

3 parts of the penis

* root
* body
* glans penis

corpus cavernosum

erectile tissue located on the anterior portion of the penis

corpus spongiosum

erectile tissue that surrounds the urethra

nitric oxide

chemical responsible for erection

a typical ejaculation releases how many milliliters of semen

2-5ml

3 things that semen contain

* spermatozoa
* seminal fluid
* enzymes

head of spermatozoa

contains genetic material

middle piece & neck of spermatozoa

contains mitochondria

acrosomal cap

located at the tip of the head and contains enzyme

tail of a spermatozoa

has flagellum that makes sperm motile

capacitation

process by which spermatozoa become fully functional and capable of penetrating an oocyte

when does capacitation occur

occurs when the spermatozoa are exposed to seminal vesicle secretions and the female reproductive tract