study guide
Chapter 19 - Reproductive Systems
Reproductive System:
What is the function of the male and female reproduction systems? Produce and nurture sex cells
(gametes), and transport them to the site of fertilization.
Male:
The male sex organs are designed to transport sperm to eggs. Primary sex organs (gonads) produce sperm and hormones while accessory sex organs have a supportive function.
The Testes:
The testes are ovoid structures suspended in the skin-covered pouch called the scrotum.
Each of the testes is made up of about 250 lobules separated by connective tissue; each lobule holds one to four highly coiled seminiferous tubules. They are lined with stratified epithelium that produces sperm cells.
Interstitial cells lie between the seminiferous tubules and produce the male hormones.
What is the function of the epididymis? It stores sperm.
Spermatogenesis:
In the male embryo, the spermatogenic cells are undifferentiated and are called spermatogonia; each contains 46 chromosomes.
During spermatogenesis, these cells enlarge and become primary spermatocytes.
These new cells undergo division by meiosis I and form haploid secondary spermatocytes with 23 chromosomes. These haploid cells divide again to form spermatids, each of which matures into a sperm cell.
Describe the parts of a sperm. A sperm cell has a head containing the haploid nucleus, a midpiece containing mitochondria, and a tail that is a flagellum.
At the tip of the head is the acrosome, a bag of digestive enzymes that helps to erode tissues surrounding the female egg cell.
Male Accessory Organs:
The accessory organs of the male reproductive tract include the epididymides, vasa deferens, ejaculatory ducts, urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands.
Epididymis: Each epididymis is a tightly coiled tube lying adjacent to the testis and leading from it to the testis to the ductus deferentia.
What happens in the epididymis? It lengthens and stretches.
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Reproductive System:
What is the function of the male and female reproduction systems? Produce and nurture sex cells
(gametes), and transport them to the site of fertilization.
Male:
The male sex organs are designed to transport sperm to eggs. Primary sex organs (gonads) produce sperm and hormones while accessory sex organs have a supportive function.
The Testes:
The testes are ovoid structures suspended in the skin-covered pouch called the scrotum.
Each of the testes is made up of about 250 lobules separated by connective tissue; each lobule holds one to four highly coiled seminiferous tubules. They are lined with stratified epithelium that produces sperm cells.
Interstitial cells lie between the seminiferous tubules and produce the male hormones.
What is the function of the epididymis? It stores sperm.
Spermatogenesis:
In the male embryo, the spermatogenic cells are undifferentiated and are called spermatogonia; each contains 46 chromosomes.
During spermatogenesis, these cells enlarge and become primary spermatocytes.
These new cells undergo division by meiosis I and form haploid secondary spermatocytes with 23 chromosomes. These haploid cells divide again to form spermatids, each of which matures into a sperm cell.
Describe the parts of a sperm. A sperm cell has a head containing the haploid nucleus, a midpiece containing mitochondria, and a tail that is a flagellum.
At the tip of the head is the acrosome, a bag of digestive enzymes that helps to erode tissues surrounding the female egg cell.
Male Accessory Organs:
The accessory organs of the male reproductive tract include the epididymides, vasa deferens, ejaculatory ducts, urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands.
Epididymis: Each epididymis is a tightly coiled tube lying adjacent to the testis and leading from it to the testis to the ductus deferentia.
What happens in the epididymis? It lengthens and stretches.
1