SCIENCE

• Major organs of the male reproductive system:

  • Penis
  • Testes
  • Epididimys
  • Scrotum
• Penis:

  • External reproductive organ
  • Urethra passes through the penis allowing urine and semen to exit the body
• Testes:

  • Responsible for the production of semen
  • Produces sperm and hormones (testosterone)
• Epididimys:

  • Comma-shaped part of the male reproductive system
  • Stores sperm and serves as the site for sperm maturation
• Scrotum:

  • Sac or pouch holding the testes
  • Function is to maintain the proper temperature of the testes (slightly cooler than body temperature)
  • Sperm is destroyed unless a temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit is maintained
• Transport tubes of the male reproductive system:

  • Urethra
  • Vas Deferens
  • Ejaculatory duct
• Urethra:

  • Tube allowing urine and semen to exit the body
  • Connects to the bladder
• Vas Deferens:

  • Long transport tube carrying sperm from the epididimys to the ejaculatory duct
• Ejaculatory Duct:

  • Formed by the vas deferens and the seminal vesicle
  • Carries the sperm to the urethra
• Accessory glands of the male reproductive system:

  • Seminal Vesicle
  • Prostate Gland
  • Bulbourethral gland or Cowper’s Gland
• Seminal Vesicle:

  • Secretes alkaline fluid containing sugar providing energy to the sperm cell
• Prostate:

  • Gland secreting fluid that is a component of semen
  • Milky fluid that liquifies the semen making the sperm move faster
• Bulbourethral gland or Cowper’s Gland:

  • Releases alkaline substance in the urethra to neutralize the acid from the urine
• Parts of the sperm cell:

  • HEAD: encloses the nucleus containing the genetic material
  • MIDDLE PIECE: contains the mitochondria providing energy for the sperm to move
  • TAIL: used by the sperm cell for movement
• Spermatogenesis:

  • The process of producing sperm which happens in the seminiferous tubules of the testes
• Epididymis is a comma-shaped part of the male reproductive system stores the sperm and serves as the site for sperm maturation
• Seminal Vesicle secretes an alkaline fluid that contains sugar which provides energy to the sperm cell
• Urethra carries both urine and semen out of the body
• The prostate gland secretes fluid which is a component of semen. A milky fluid that liquefies the semen making the sperm move faster