The Reproductive System Outline
Chapter 16 outline * The Reproductive system
The gonads or primary sex organs: testes in men, and ovaries in women. a. Produce sex cells or gametes, and secrete sex hormones
Male and female reproductive systems are different.
Sex hormones play vital roles both in the development and function of the reproductive organs.
Anatomy of the male reproductive system A. Testes
Plum-sized and approx. 4cm long and 2.5cm wide
Fibrous connective tissue capsules, te tunica albuginea surrounds each testis.
Each lobule contains one to four tightly coiled seminiferous tubules. a. The seminiferous tubules of each lobe empty sperm into another set of tubules, the rete testis, located at one side of the testis.
Sperm travel through the rete testis to enter the first part of the duct system, the epididymis, which hugs the external surface of the testis.
The interstitial cells produce androgens-the most important of which testosterone.
Thus sperm-producing and hormone producing functions of the testes are carried out by completely different cell populations. B. Duct System a. Epididymis 1. The cup shaped epididymis is a highly coiled tube about 6m long that caps the superior part of the testis and then runs down its posterolateral side. 2. It’s the first part of the male duct system and provides a temporary home for immature sperm. 3. The sperm travel this long tube that takes about 20 days to mature, gaining the ablility to swim. 4. When the male is sexually stimulated, he ejaculates, the walls of the epididymis contract to expel the sperm into the next part of the duct system, the ductus deferens. b. Ductus Deferens 1. This is also often referred to as the vas deferens. 2. It runs upward from the epididymis through the inguinal canal to the pelvic cavity and arches over the superior aspect of the urinary bladder. It then loops medially over the ureter and descends along the posterior bladder wall. 3. This
The gonads or primary sex organs: testes in men, and ovaries in women. a. Produce sex cells or gametes, and secrete sex hormones
Male and female reproductive systems are different.
Sex hormones play vital roles both in the development and function of the reproductive organs.
Anatomy of the male reproductive system A. Testes
Plum-sized and approx. 4cm long and 2.5cm wide
Fibrous connective tissue capsules, te tunica albuginea surrounds each testis.
Each lobule contains one to four tightly coiled seminiferous tubules. a. The seminiferous tubules of each lobe empty sperm into another set of tubules, the rete testis, located at one side of the testis.
Sperm travel through the rete testis to enter the first part of the duct system, the epididymis, which hugs the external surface of the testis.
The interstitial cells produce androgens-the most important of which testosterone.
Thus sperm-producing and hormone producing functions of the testes are carried out by completely different cell populations. B. Duct System a. Epididymis 1. The cup shaped epididymis is a highly coiled tube about 6m long that caps the superior part of the testis and then runs down its posterolateral side. 2. It’s the first part of the male duct system and provides a temporary home for immature sperm. 3. The sperm travel this long tube that takes about 20 days to mature, gaining the ablility to swim. 4. When the male is sexually stimulated, he ejaculates, the walls of the epididymis contract to expel the sperm into the next part of the duct system, the ductus deferens. b. Ductus Deferens 1. This is also often referred to as the vas deferens. 2. It runs upward from the epididymis through the inguinal canal to the pelvic cavity and arches over the superior aspect of the urinary bladder. It then loops medially over the ureter and descends along the posterior bladder wall. 3. This