Testes Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the primary function of the male reproductive system?
To produce, support, transport, and deliver viable sperm for reproduction
What hormone influences the formation of male sex organs prenatally?
Testosterone
What are the three parts of the penis?
- Root
- Body (shaft)
- Glans (tip)
What is the role of the scrotum?
To house the testes and maintain an optimal temperature for sperm production
What is spermatogenesis?
The process of producing sperm in the testes
Where does sperm mature and get stored?
Epididymis
What is the function of the ductus (vas) deferens?
To transport mature sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts during ejaculation
What do seminal vesicles produce?
A fructose-rich fluid that nourishes sperm and contributes to semen volume
What is the function of the prostate gland?
To add enzymes and citric acid to semen, maintaining fluidity and supporting sperm viability
What do bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands secrete?
A clear mucus that lubricates the urethra and neutralizes residual acidity from urine
True or False: Testosterone is essential for the differentiation of male genitalia.
True
What triggers the development of male characteristics during prenatal development?
The presence of the sex-determining region Y protein (SRY) gene on the Y chromosome
What can testosterone be converted into in peripheral tissues?
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
- Estradiol
What are the layers of the scrotum from superficial to deep?
- Skin
- Dartos fascia
- External spermatic fascia
- Cremasteric fascia
- Internal spermatic fascia
- Tunica vaginalis
What is the median septum in the scrotum?
The division that forms two compartments, each containing a testis, epididymis, and part of the spermatic cord
What is the role of the dartos muscle?
To regulate temperature by wrinkling the skin to reduce heat loss
What is the function of the cremaster muscle?
To elevate the testes as part of thermoregulation
What is the tunica vaginalis?
A mesothelial layer surrounding the testes with parietal and visceral components
What does the tunica albuginea do?
Forms septa that partition the testis into lobules containing seminiferous tubules
What are Leydig cells responsible for?
Producing testosterone under stimulation by luteinizing hormone
What is the function of seminiferous tubules?
Lined with germ cells and Sertoli cells, they support spermatogenesis and produce inhibin B
Fill in the blank: The _______ plexus drains both the testis and epididymis.
pampiniform
Where do the testes receive arterial supply from?
- Bilateral testicular arteries from the aorta
- Cremasteric branch of the inferior epigastric artery
- Artery to the ductus deferens
