Male Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the first stage of childhood and adolescence?

Answer 1

From birth - 6 years
* Physical body is primary
* sexual intersts, curiosity, arousal and behaviour are spontaneously expressed unless or until the child is taight to repress or inhibit their pleasure orientation

Question 2

What is the second stage?

Answer 2

• 6-12 years
• Physical growth ratio slows
• Basic gross and fine motor coordination is accomplished and reliable and the primary attention of the child shifts from the physical body to the mental realm
• Desire for sexual pleasure continues - thoughtful about discriminating about their sexual behaviour and expressions
• Need for privacy and autonomy characterise this stage
• Wide range of physical growth among 12 years but majority show some evidence of beginning puberty

Question 3

What are the bodily changes in the second stage?

Answer 3

• Growth of the penis and scrotum may preceed or succeed pubic hair
• Pubertal fat is common - emerges into accelerated growth and sex characteristics (broader shoulders, longer arms, increased muscle definition)
• Discussion of sexual matters with peers is common and in their absence boys will seek out the information they need from printed sources
• Masturbation increases in frequency and may not yet produce ejaculation
• Erections may occur with or without external cause and may happen spontaneously at inappropriate moments
• Kissing is a favourite activity and having a partner is more a social phenomenon than interpersonal

Question 4

What is the third stage?

Answer 4

• 13-15 years
• Hormones - body is primary with rapid growth spurts, development sex characteristics, increasesd snsations and a new awareness of the physical self and its impact on others in the social sense
• Sexual behaviours respond to a stronger biological mandate becoming a preoccupation which may be characterised by poor social judgement, high risk behaviour and lack of discrimination

Question 5

What are the bodily changes in the third stage?

Answer 5

• Genitals are adult size
• Body and facial hair show adult patterns
• Reach 95% of their adult height - better balance and proportion
• Established a regular pattern of sexual outlet
• Fewer erections to non-sexual stimuli
• Fewer sexual materials around as fantasy is enough
• Masturbatory frequency increases some will have regular sex with partners - may cause problems

Question 6

What is the fourth stage?

Answer 6

• 16+ years
• Body growth rate slows
• Hormonal balance is achieved
• Secondary sex changes are incorporated into the body image
• Sexual response cycle is accomodated through masturbation and/or sex
• Sexual gratification is integrated into the context of a relationship

Question 7

What do androgens do?

Answer 7

• Increaase deposition of amino acids and protein in skeletal muscle and reduces the excretion of nitrogen
• Results in the characteristic increased buscle mulk in the male

Question 8

What are the male sex hormones?

Answer 8

• Hypothalamus secretes Gonadotrophic releasing hormone (GnRH)
• Communicates with pituitary to produce Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• LH - slimulates secretion of sex hormones - mainly tesosterone from the interstitial cells (Leydig cells)

Question 9

What do male hormones do?

Answer 9

• FSH communicates with specialised cells within the testes that produce a protein that binds testosterone
• Spermatogenesis - cooperation of FSH and testosterone
• Negative feedback - high levels of FSH in the blood cause a reduction in GnRH

Question 10

What is testosterone?

Answer 10

• Adrenal cortex produces androgens but over 95% of testosterone is produced by the testes
• Testosterone is responsible for
  
  1. Appropriate differenciation of reproductive genitalia
  2. Primary and secondary adult male characteristics
  3. Anabolic metabolism to promote muscle growth

Question 11

What is the science of male sex?

Answer 11

• Spinal relfexes - stimulation of these sensory receptors evokes spinal reflexes causing several changes in male genitalia:
  
  • Vasocongestion
  • Fluid secretion
  • Muscle contraction
• Arterioles in corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernose dilate, become engorged with blood during sexual excitement
• Outflow of blood is minimal as erectile tissue expands the veins emptying the corpora
• Increasing tissue pressure increases stimulation of the cutaneous receptors and this increases the intensity of sensation and the reflex response.
• Increased glandular secretion during sexual arousal

Question 12

What are the 4 phases of human sexual response?

Answer 12

1. Excitement Phase
2. Plateau phase
3. Orgasmic phase
4. Resolution phase

Question 13

What is the excitement phase?

Answer 13

• Response to thoughts, mental imagery, general physical contact and specific sexual contact involving the erogenous zones

Question 14

What is the plateau phase?

Answer 14

• sexual stimulation is maintained in an effeective wa
• Stimulation ceases - long tension-laden resolution phase may occur
• Mucoid like emission from Cowpers gland
• Glands enlarge and colour deepends, scrotum thickens, full testicular elevation and rotation, urethra becomes wider and seminal fluid collects

Question 15

What is the orgasmic phase?

Answer 15

• sexual stimulation continues
• Sudden increase in intensity of erotic sensations and muscular contraction and ejaculation
• Contraction of accessort organs (Seminal vesicles, prostate glands, ejaculatory duct, vas deferens)
• Contraction of penile urethra, testicles draw up more, external rectal sphincter contractions and relaxation of external bladder sphincter with simultaneous contraction of internal sphincter so no sperm can enter the bladder nor urine can be voided
• Stages of ejaculation
  
  • First - emission - genital ducts and accessory glands empty their contents into the posterior urethra
  • Second - ejeculation proper - semen is expelled from the oenis by a series of rapid muscular contractions

Question 16

What is the resolution phase?

Answer 16

• Male has an acute refractory period in which further erection is virtually impossible
• occurs due to vasoconstriction of the arterioles in the penus, hence venous compression is reduced

Question 17

What is impotence?

Answer 17

• Primary - man has never maintained an erection for sufficient time to perform sexual intercourse
• Secondary - organic causes or may result from taking certain medications of alcohol as well as psychological factors