Chapter 11 Flashcards
(127 cards)
Genital organs
Male internal and external genitalia
Genitourinary system
The structures of the genitourinary system include the external genitalia and the internal genitalia. The genitourinary system shares some structures with the urinary system and is also known as the urogenital system.
Corpora cavernosa
Two columns of erectile tissue along the upper surface of the penis. They fill with blood during sexual arousal.
Corpus Spongiosum
Column of erectile tissue along the underside of the penis. It fills with blood during sexual arousal.
Epididymis
Long, coiled structure of the outer wall of each testis. It receives spermatozoa fro the seminiferous tubules, adds a cap-like layer of enzymes to them, and destroys defective spermatozoa.
Glans penis
Enlarged tip at the end of the penis
Gonads
The male sex glands
Inguinal canal
Opening in the abdominal wall muscle of a fetus. Each testis and its spermatic cord pass through the inguinal canal on their way to the scrotum.
The opening of the inguinal canal usually closes before age 2.
Interstitial cells
Cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testes. They secrete testosterone when stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH).
Lumen
Central open area throughout the length of a tube or duct (such as the seminiferous tubule, vas deferents, ejaculatory duct, or urethra)
Penis
Organ that contains three columns of erectile tissue that fill with blood during sexual arousal to make an erection. At other times, the penis helps urine to be removed from the body via the penile urethra.
Penile urethra
Part of the urethra that is within the penis. It is the passageway for semen and for urine. The urethral meatus is at the tip of the glans penis.
Perineum
Area on the outside of the body between the posterior scrotum and the anus.
Prepuce
In uncircumcised males, the prepuce is a fold of skin that covers the glans penis.
Also known as the foreskin.
Scrotum
Pouch of skin behind the penis that holds each testis, epididymis, and part of each vas deferns. Muscles in the wall of the scrotum move it closer to or farther away from the body to control the temperature of the scrotum for sperm production.
Seminiferous tubules
Small, tightly coiled tubes within each testis that produce spermatozoa.
Spermatic cord
A tube that, before birth, contains the vas deferents as well as arteries, veins and nerves for each testis.
In the fetus, each testis and its spermatic cord pass through the inguinal canal and into the scrotum.
There the spermatic cord separates into the vas deferens and the other structures.
Spermatozoon
An individual mature sperm. Each spermatozoon has a head and a tail (flagellum) that propels it forward.
A spermatozoon is a gamete because it is a cell whose nucleus of 23 chromosomes can unite with another cell nucleus of 23 chromosomes (the egg of the female) to form a new cell of 46 chromosomes.
Testis
Egg-shaped gland in each side of the scrotum. Also known as a testicle.
It contains interstitial cells that secrete testosterone and seminiferous tubules that produce spermatozoa.
The testis is an endocrine gland because it secretes testosterone; it also secretes a small amount of the female hormone estradiol.
Testosterone
Most abundant and most biologically active of the male sex hormones.
It is secreted by the interstitial cells of the testes. It stimulates spermatozoa to mature. It stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics in the male.
Vas deferens
Long duct that receives spermatozoa from the epididymis and stores them.
As each vas deferens travels superiorly, it becomes part of the internal genitalia in the pelvic cavity.
Bulbourethral gland
Small, bulb-like gland on the side of the urethra after the urethra leaves the prostate gland.
Each gland produces thick mucus that makes up part of the semen.
The duct of the gland empties into the urethra.
Ejaculatory duct
Collecting duct that holds spermatozoa from each vas deferens and fluid from each seminal vesicles. The ejaculatory duct enters the prostate gland and joins with the prostatic urethra.
Prostate gland
Doughnut-shaped gland at the base of the bladder. The prostatic urethra goes through its center.
The prostate gland produces prostatic fluid, a milky fluid that becomes part of the semen.