The Reproductive System

Flashcards about the male reproductive system

What is the purpose of the reproductive system?

To produce offspring.

What are the gonads in females and males?

Ovaries in females, testes in males.

What is the reproductive role of males?

Produce sperm and deliver it to the female reproductive tract.

What is the reproductive role of females?

Produce eggs and provide an environment for offspring development if fertilization occurs.

What are the important roles of male and female sex hormones?

Development and function of reproductive organs, sexual behavior, and growth and development of other organs and tissues.

What are the primary sex organs in males?

Testes.

Where are sperm formed?

Seminiferous tubules.

What is the function of the epididymis?

Stores immature sperm; they mature as they travel through.

What is the role of the ductus deferens?

Propels live sperm into the urethra.

What is the path of sperm?

Seminiferous tubules → Epididymis → Ductus deferens → Ejaculatory duct → Urethra

What is the function of the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands as accessory glands?

They work together to produce semen, the sperm-containing fluid that exits the body.

What do seminal vesicles secrete?

Fluid that is rich in sugar, vitamins, and other substances to nourish sperm.

What does the prostate gland secrete?

An alkaline fluid that helps sperm survive and swim more efficiently.

What do bulbourethral glands secrete?

Mucus.

What is the scrotum?

Sac of skin that holds the testes outside the body cavity to provide the ideal temperature for sperm production.

What is the penis?

A shaft of spongy erectile tissue surrounding the urethra, designed to deliver sperm to the female reproductive tract.

What is spermatogenesis?

The process of sperm production.

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

Seminiferous tubules.

What does spermatogenesis start with?

Primitive stem cells called spermatogonia.

How many sperm cells does each stem cell produce?

4 haploid sperm cells.

What are the components of sperm structure?

Head, acrosome, midpiece (mitochondria), and tail (flagellum).

What does the acrosome contain?

Enzymes to help penetrate the protective layer around the ovum.

What is the function of the mitochondria in sperm?

Provides energy for swimming.

What stimulates the production of testosterone?

Luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary.

Besides sperm production, what is testosterone responsible for?

Development of male sex characteristics.