A&PII Lab 16: The Male Reproductive System

Question 1

Testes

Answer 1

paired testicles; sperm-producing organs

Question 2

Male gonads

Answer 2

testes

Question 3

Scrotum

Answer 3

external sac containing testes

Question 4

Dartos muscle

Answer 4

smooth muscle under the scrotum; causes the scrotal skin to wrinkle when contracting

Question 5

Tunica vaginalis

Answer 5

capsule of connective tissue that envelops each testis, providing some support and protection

Question 6

Spermatic cord

Answer 6

cord of tissue attached to the tunica vaginalis; includes blood vessels, nerves, and the ductus deferens; extends upward into the body cavity

Question 7

Cremaster muscle

Answer 7

narrow continuation of the internal oblique muscles that surrounds the spermatic cord; contraction pulls the testis closer to the body wall for warmth when the exterior temp drops, and relaxation drops the testis to fall away when the exterior temp rises

Question 8

Tunica albuginea

Answer 8

thin capsule of fibrous connective tissue

Question 9

Seminiferous tubules

Answer 9

tiny tubes where sperm is produced

Question 10

Lobules

Answer 10

the seminiferous tubules are organized into these small compartments; formed by extensions of the tunica albuginea

Question 11

Straight tubules

Answer 11

from the seminiferous tubules, sperm cells pass into these tubes, which converge into a network of interconnecting tubes (rete testis)

Question 12

Rete testis

Answer 12

network of interconnecting tubes converged from straight tubules

Question 13

Efferent ducts

Answer 13

from the rete testis, sperm cells pass to these ducts

Question 14

Epididymis

Answer 14

structure that begins the male duct network; narrow, curved organ extending along the posterior side of the testis; consists of a single duct that winds through supportive connective tissue and blood vessels; site of sperm maturation and storage; has a smooth muscle wall that provides peristaltic contractions that move sperm into the next duct (ductus deferens)

Question 15

Ductus deferens (vas deferens)

Answer 15

thicker than the epididymis (abundance of smooth muscle – contracts to move sperm through by peristalsis); rises from its origin at the tail (inferior) end of the epididymis to join other parts of the spermatic cord

Question 16

Inguinal canals

Answer 16

spermatic cord enters the pelvic cavity through these openings in the anterior wall

Question 17

Ampulla

Answer 17

behind the urinary bladder, the ductus deferens broadens to form this structure, which joins the seminal vesicle duct to form the short ejaculatory duct

Question 18

Ejaculatory duct

Answer 18

2 short ducts that extend medially until they unite with the urethra within the soft prostate gland (inferior to the bladder)

Question 19

Prostatic urethra

Answer 19

1st segment of the male urethra

Question 20

Internal urethral orifice

Answer 20

prostatic urethra extends from this through the prostate gland

Question 21

Membranous urethra

Answer 21

as the urethra emerges from the prostate gland, this 2nd segment begins

Question 22

Spongy (penile) urethra

Answer 22

final segment of the male urethra; at the base of the penis

Question 23

External urethral orifice

Answer 23

the male urethra’s opening to the exterior

Question 24

Seminal fluid (semen)

Answer 24

when sperm cells are included in the mixture of water, buffers, and nutrients to support/encourage sperm motility and survival

Question 25

Seminal vesicles

Answer 25

pair of glands located against the posterior wall of the urinary bladder near the terminal end of the ductus deferens (the ampulla)

Question 26

Seminal vesicle ducts

Answer 26

seminal vesicles release their product into these structures, which unite with a ductus deferens on each side to form the short ejaculatory duct

Question 27

Prostate gland

Answer 27

walnut-sized organ that encircles the urethra as it emerges from the urinary bladder; secretes a milky product containing numerous protein-digesting enzymes into the prostatic urethra by way of several small ducts

Question 28

Bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands

Answer 28

pair of small, pea-shaped glands located on either side of the membranous urethra embedded within the urogenital diaphragm; produce an alkaline mucus which neutralizes acidic vaginal fluids and lubricates the spongy urethra

Question 29

scrotum

Answer 29

skin-covered sac that houses the testes

Question 30

Penis

Answer 30

external organ the conveys semen into the female vagina during sexual intercourse

Question 31

Coitus

Answer 31

sexual intercourse

Question 32

Root

Answer 32

part of the penis extending from the urogenital diaphragm to the pelvic wall

Question 33

Shaft

Answer 33

part which forms the exterior body of the penis

Question 34

Glans penis

Answer 34

enlarged distal end of the penis

Question 35

Prepuce

Answer 35

foreskin

Question 36

Corpora cavernosa

Answer 36

paired posterior cylinders within the penis; 2 of 3 elongated cylinders of erectile tissue

Question 37

Corpus spongiosum

Answer 37

single anterior cylinder of erectile tissue

Question 38

External urethral orifice

Answer 38

the spongy urethra opens at this point to the exterior

Question 39

Spermatogenesis

Answer 39

process of sperm production

Question 40

Spermatogonium

Answer 40

formation of 4 haploid sperm from a single diploid

Question 41

Primary spermatocytes

Answer 41

new haploid cells formed by meiotic divisions

Question 42

Spermatids

Answer 42

develop from primary spermatocytes

Question 43

Spermiogenesis

Answer 43

process of spermatids changing in shape

Question 44

Head

Answer 44

top of a normal sperm cell

Question 45

Acrosome

Answer 45

caps the head of a sperm cell

Question 46

Midpiece

Answer 46

part of a sperm under the head, contains mitochondria

Question 47

Tail

Answer 47

flagellum of a sperm; for propulsion

Question 48

Interstitial cells

Answer 48

cells of Leydig; located between the seminiferous tubules; secrete testosterone