Male Reproductive System Flashcards
primary Sex organs
testes
tunica albuginea
this surrounds some of the erectile tissue in the scrotum
- it is a fibrous layer that is just deep to the visceral layer in the tunica vaginalis of the testes
- it projects into the testes forming the mediastinum and the septa
raphe
this is what separates the scrotum into two sacs
scrotum
this is a skin covered sac around the testes
dartos muscle
layer of smooth muscle that is part of the scrotum wall
- this alls for the wrinkling of the skin of the scrotum
- this is more superficial than the cremaster muscle which makes sense since it has an effect on the scrotal skin
cremaster muscle
this is a layer of skeletal muscle in the scrotum
- this allows for the tensing of the scrotum to bring the scrotum closer to the body (which occurs when cold and when sexually aroused)
what is the importance of the dartos muscle and the cremaster muscle
realistically these are here to keep the temperature of the testes stable
-they contract to bring the testes close when the body is cold and they relax and allow the testes to descend when the body is warm
spermatic cord
- this starts inside the body and makes its way inside the body
- it contains the cremaster muscle, the testicular artery, the pampiniform plexus, autonomic nerves, and the ductus deferens
- it originates at the inguinal canal
pampiniform plexus
- this is responsible for the venous return of the testes
- also important for controlling the temperature regulation within the testes
internal and external spermatic fascia
these are layers that surround the spermatic cord
tunica vaginalis
a serous membrane that lines the scrotal cavity and reduces friction between the opposing outer parietal and inner visceral layer
septa
this is what divides the testes into lobules
- sort of like partitions
mediastinum of the testis
this supports the blood vessels and the lymphatics supplying the testes and the ducts that collect and transport the sperm
- contains the rete testes
rete testes
receive sperm from the straight tubule (via the seminiferous tubule)
- these are an extensively interconnected maze of the tubules that drain into the efferent ductules
seminiferous tubules
- where sperm is produced
- these are slender and tightly coiled
- these fill the spaces between the septa and they drain into the straight tubule