Male Reproductive System

Question 1

The primary sex organs are the organs that actually _____. Sperm, the gametes produced
by the male, are produced by the _____. (The singular form of this word is ‘_____.’)

Answer 1

produce gametes; testes; testis

OR testicle

Question 2

The testes are formed within the _____, but because sperm can only be produced if the
testes are _____ than the body, they descend shortly before birth into the _____.

Answer 2

abdominopelvic cavity; cooler;

scrotum

Question 3

The scrotum is a two-chambered sac at the root of the penis. The distance from the body
and surface area can be altered to increase or decrease the _____.

Answer 3

temperature of the testes

Question 4

The cremaster muscle _____ to increase warmth, and the dartos muscle _____ to
conserve heat.

Answer 4

elevates the testes; wrinkles

the skin of the scrotum

Question 5

Within the testes, sperm production, or _____, occurs in the _____, which are surrounded
by endocrine interstitial cells which produce the male sex hormones. A mnemonic: to
begin the process, divide AT Outset.

Answer 5

spermatogenesis; seminiferous

tubules

Question 6

Two types of cells are found in the seminiferous tubules: the _____ cells, which _____,
and the _____ cells, which support and _____ the sperm from the body’s immune system.

Answer 6

spermatogenic; produce
sperm; Sertoli OR
sustentacular; protect

Question 7

The cells of the seminiferous tubules are surrounded by endocrine interstitial cells which
_____. These are often given the name, ‘_____.’

Answer 7

produce the male sex

hormones; Leydig cells

Question 8

Less than five seminiferous tubules are coiled into each of several hundred separate
_____ which are regions of the testes that are separated from one another by _____.

Answer 8

lobules; septa

Question 9

The _____ of the testes are extensions of the firm outer layer, the _____. They are the
structures that physically divide the testis into several hundred _____.

Answer 9

septa; tunica albuginia; lobules

Question 10

The tunica vaginalis is the _____ which surrounds _____. As with other serous
membranes, it has two layers.

Answer 10

outer, serous membrane; each

testis

Question 11

After the sperm are nearly mature, they are transported out of the lobule where they were
formed via the tubulus rectus (a straight connecting tubule), then into a network of tubules
called the rete testis, and finally _____ through the _____.

Answer 11

out of the testis; efferent

ductules

Question 12

The efferent ductules form the _____, which is a comma-shaped organ adjoining each
testis. Sperm _____ here as they travel to the _____ through the long (over 3x a man’s
height!) duct of the epididymis, a trip that takes 2 - 3 _____ .

Answer 12

head of the epididymis; mature;

tail of the epididymis; weeks

Question 13

From the epididymis, the sperm are transported to the _____, a long tube which connects
each testis to the _____ in the prostate gland, which is the region in which they are
activated and begin to swim during the ejaculatory process.

Answer 13

ductus deferens OR vas

deferens; ejaculatory duct

Question 14

Sperm are stored for up to several months in the _____ and the _____, after which they
are destroyed.

Answer 14

tail of the epididymis; ductus

deferens

Question 15

The ductus deferens, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves, enter or leave the
scrotum inside of the _____, a connective tissue tube. This tube travels in front of the
pubis and forms a channel into the abdominopelvic cavity through the _____.

Answer 15

spermatic cord; inguinal canals

Question 16

The blood entering the scrotum transfers heat to the _____, and so is already a bit below
body temperature when it reaches the testes. This transfer of heat from between liquids
flowing in opposite directions is an example of a(n) _____.

Answer 16

blood that is leaving;

countertransport system

Question 17

When the male becomes sexually aroused, peristaltic contractions conduct sperm to the
_____, the widest part of the ductus deferens and the final storage site for the sperm prior
to ejaculation.

Answer 17

ampulla

Question 18

The _____ are adjacent to the ampulla of the ductus deferens, behind the bladder. They
produce a bit more than half of the liquid which forms semen.

Answer 18

seminal vesicles

Question 19

Sperm are metabolically inactive and immobile and must be transported by the peristaltic
actions of the tubules and tubes through which they travel until _____.

Answer 19

they are mixed with the
secretions of the seminal
vesicles

Question 20

Semen is a mixture of three major components: _____ fluid, which contains fructose
(which the sperm use for fuel), buffers, and factors which activate the sperm; _____
secretions, which include an antibiotic; and of course, the _____.

Answer 20

seminal; prostatic; sperm

Question 21

The _____ is inferior to the bladder, surrounding the _____, and produces a bit less than
half of the liquid which forms semen.

Answer 21

prostate gland; urethra

Question 22

When the male becomes sexually excited and is approaching orgasm, the _____ secrete
an alkaline, clear mucus into the urethra to neutralize any acidity which might remain from
the urine, preparing the way for the sperm.

Answer 22

bulbourethral glands OR

Cowper’s glands

Question 23

The seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate gland are called the _____,
because they don’t actually produce gametes and yet are necessary to reproduction.

Answer 23

accessory glands

Question 24

During ejaculation (which normally follows a period of sexual stimulation), the sympathetic 
system causes the muscular ducts and accessory glands to contract, expelling their 
contents into the \_\_\_\_\_ where they mix to form \_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 24

urethra; semen

Question 25

During ejaculation, the _____ to prevent urine (which would kill sperm) from leaking into the urethra.

Answer 25

bladder sphincter constricts

Question 26

During ejaculation, the _____ contracts rhythmically to propel the semen from the urethra at high velocity. (The farther the semen travels, the more likely the encounter between sperm and egg.)

Answer 26

bulbospongiosus

Question 27

During sexual intercourse, the erect penis penetrates far into the female's vagina to deliver the sperm as close as possible to the location where _____.

Answer 27

an encounter with an egg is | likely

Question 28

The penis has three regions: the attached _____ which connects it to the body, the _____ or _____, which is the columnar portion, and the slightly larger tip, the _____.

Answer 28

root; shaft; body; glans penis

Question 29

The penis consists largely of three long cylinders consisting of _____. Blood flow into this tissue can be regulated: under resting conditions, blood delivery is just enough to provide _____ and _____/_____ exchange.

Answer 29

erectile tissue; oxygen; nutrient; | waste

Question 30

The urethra travels through one of the erectile bodies: the _____.

Answer 30

corpus spongiosum

Question 31

During an erection, arteriole blood delivery to the two _____ and the _____ increases, causing them to engorge with blood. This compresses the veins and venules which leave these structures against the outer fibrous layer, the _____ of the erectile bodies.

Answer 31

corpora cavernosa; corpus | spongiosum; tunica albuginea

Question 32

The changes in _____ that occur during erection cause the normally flaccid penis to extend and stiffen as it _____. These events are controlled by the _____ nervous system.

Answer 32

blood flow; fills with blood; | parasympathetic

Question 33

The neurotransmitters responsible for penile erection are _____ and _____.

Answer 33

acetylcholine; nitric oxide (NO)

Question 34

During penile erection, blood flow through the penis is _____; indeed, 'priapism,' or abnormally prolonged erection, is an extremely painful condition that can lead to tissue damage or tissue death.

Answer 34

greatly reduced

Question 35

Penile erection is required for _____, but may also occur in response to other stimuli such as _____; it also occurs during certain phases of the _____.

Answer 35

sexual intercourse; bladder | fullness; sleep cycle

Question 36

Ejaculation is controlled by the _____ nervous system. Normally, erection precedes sexual activity and ejaculation, but the two events are distinct and may occur separately.

Answer 36

sympathetic

Question 37

The glans penis is hidden by an encircling fold of skin called the _____; for various cultural reasons, this is often removed in a procedure called _____.

Answer 37

prepuce OR foreskin; | circumcision

Question 38

During the formation of sperm, each cell division brings the sperm-to-be closer to the _____ of the _____.

Answer 38

lumen; seminiferous tubule

Question 39

The cells which are farthest from the lumen, and which divide only by mitosis, are the _____.

Answer 39

spermatogonia

Question 40

During childhood, spermatogonia divide only to increase their number. After puberty, each division produces one replacement cell called a(n) _____ and one _____, which is destined to change with each division, ultimately forming mature sperm.

Answer 40

type A daughter cell; type B | daughter cell

Question 41

After its formation, each type B cell is pushed _____ of the seminiferous tubule. It soon reaches a point at which it is ready to divide again, and here this cell is called a(n) _____.

Answer 41

toward the lumen; primary | spermatocyte

Question 42

Each primary spermatocyte passes through meiosis, producing four _____; these are cells which contain the genetic material that they need to be sperm cells, but which do not yet have the correct structure. (A(n) _____ Isn't Diploid.)

Answer 42

spermatids; spermatid

Question 43

The process by which spermatids mature to become sperm is called _____. A mnemonic: I'm almost done, I Only need to mature.

Answer 43

spermiogenesis

Question 44

Spermatogonia, their daughter cells, primary spermatocytes, and spermatids are all (as a group) called _____.

Answer 44

spermatogenic cells

Question 45

The sperm that are released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules seem mature in many ways, but even if they are somehow included in the ejaculate, they will not be able to _____.

Answer 45

swim

Question 46

The sperm is a specialized cell which swims well by using ATP supplied by many mitochondria in the _____; a long _____, or flagellum, for propulsion; and a bullet shaped _____ which contains the _____ to deliver the genetic material to the egg.

Answer 46

midpiece; tail; head; DNA

Question 47

In addition to the DNA, the head of the sperm (at its very tip) also contains the _____, a specialized lysosome which contains enzymes which are released on impact with an egg, allowing the sperm to _____.

Answer 47

acrosome; penetrate the egg's | surface

Question 48

_____ surround each seminiferous tubule. The tight junctions between these cells prevent contact between the _____ and the _____, which would result in destruction of the sperm by the immune system.

Answer 48

Sertoli or sustentacular cells; | sperm; blood

Question 49

_____ surround the spermatids and immature sperm until they are released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule; they provide it with nutrition, guide its movements, and secrete the testicular fluid which provides nutrients and growth signals.

Answer 49

Sertoli or sustentacular cells

Question 50

Spermatogenesis and testosterone release are controlled by the hypothalamus, which releases _____, a hormone that indirectly stimulates both processes.

Answer 50

gonadotropin releasing | hormone (GnRH)

Question 51

GnRH binds to receptors in the _____, which releases _____ and _____ in response.

Answer 51

``` anterior pituitary; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); luteinizing hormone (LH) ```

Question 52

FSH stimulates _____ cells to release _____; this in turn causes the _____ to increase their binding of, and thus response to, testosterone.

Answer 52

Sertoli or sustentacular; androgen binding protein (ABP); spermatogenic cells

Question 53

LH stimulates _____ to release _____.

Answer 53

interstitial cells OR Leydig cells; | testosterone

Question 54

. Sperm maturation depends upon _____, the hormone which controls it.

Answer 54

testosterone

Question 55

GnRH secretion is inhibited by the last hormone in the sequence of hormones which it controls: _____. Its release is also inhibited by _____, a hormone released by the Sertoli (or sustentacular) cells when the sperm count is _____.

Answer 55

testosterone; inhibin; too high

Question 56

Testosterone is active without chemical change in many cells in the body, including the _____ (which enlarge) and _____ (which becomes denser). In other cells it must be converted to another form, _____, in order to have an effect.

Answer 56

muscles; skeleton; DHT

Question 57

Testosterone is the main stimulus for sex drive in _____. This is possible because the _____ also produce low levels.

Answer 57

both males and females; | adrenal glands