Chapter 14: The Male Reproductive System
Chapter Objectives
 Male reproductive tract and the function of
each part.
 Contents and functions of semen.
 Roots pertaining to the male reproductive
system.
 Main disorders of the male reproductive
system.
 Abbreviations used in referring to the
reproductive system.
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Key Terms
Normal Structure and Function (cont’d)
epididymis
A coiled tube on the surface of the testis that stores sperm until
ejaculation (root: epididym/o)
erection
The stiffening or hardening of the penis or the clitoris, usually because
of sexual excitement
follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH)
A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads.
In the male, FSH stimulates Sertoli cells and promotes sperm cell
development
gamete
A mature reproductive cell, the spermatozoon in the male and the
ovum in the female
glans penis
The bulbous end of the penis
gonad
A sex gland; testis or ovary
inguinal canal
The channel through which the testis descends into the scrotum in the
male
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Key Terms
Normal Structure and Function
androgen
Any hormone that produces male characteristics; root andr/o means
“male”
bulbourethral gland
A small gland beside the urethra below the prostate that secretes part
of the seminal fluid. Also called Cowper gland.
circumcision
Surgical removal of the end of the prepuce (foreskin)
coitus
Sexual intercourse
ductus deferens
The duct that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the
ejaculatory duct. Also called vas deferens.
ejaculation
Ejection of semen from the male urethra
ejaculatory duct
The duct formed by union of the ductus deferens and the duct of the
seminal vesicle; it carries spermatozoa and seminal fluid into the
urethra
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Key Terms
Normal Structure and Function (cont’d)
interstitial cells
Cells located between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that
produce hormones, mainly testosterone. Also called cells of Leydig (LI -dig).
luteinizing
hormone (LH)
A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that acts on the gonads
meiosis
The type of cell division that forms the gametes; it results in cells with 23
chromosomes, half the number found in other body cells (from the Greek
word meiosis meaning “diminution”)
penis
The male organ of copulation and urination (adjective: penile)
pituitary gland
An endocrine gland at the base of the brain
prepuce
The fold of skin over the glans penis; the foreskin
prostate gland
A gland that surrounds the urethra below the bladder in males and
contributes secretions to the semen (root: prostat/o)
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Key Terms
Normal Structure and Function (cont’d)
puberty
Period during which the ability for sexual reproduction is attained and
secondary sex characteristics begin to develop
scrotum
A double pouch that contains the testes (root: osche/o)
semen
The thick secretion that transports spermatozoa (roots: semin,
sperm/I, spermat/o)
seminal vesicle
A saclike gland behind the bladder that contributes secretions to the
semen (root: vesicul/o)
Sertoli cells
Cells in the seminiferous tubules that aid in the development of
spermatozoa; sustentacular (sus-ten-TAK-ū-lar) cells
spermatic cord
Cord attached to the testis that contains the ductus deferens, blood
vessels, and nerves enclosed within a fibrous sheath
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Key Terms
Normal Structure and Function (cont’d)
spermatozoon
Mature male sex cells (plural: spermatozoa) (root: sperm/i,
spermat/o)
testis
The male reproductive gland (plural: testes); also called testicle
testosterone
The main male sex hormone
urethra
The duct that carries urine out of the body and also transports
semen in the male
vas deferens
The duct that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the
ejaculatory duct. Also called ductus deferens.
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Key Terms
Disorders
benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH)
Nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate; frequently develops with
age; also called benign prostatic hypertrophy
cryptorchidism
Failure of the testis to descend into the scrotum
epididymitis
Inflammation of the epididymis. Common causes are UTIs and STIs.
erectile
dysfunction
A lack of ability to perform intercourse in males because of failure to
initiate or maintain an erection until ejaculation; impotence
impotence
Erectile dysfunction
infertility
Decreased capacity to produce offspring
inguinal hernia
Protrusion of the intestine or other abdominal organ through the
inguinal canal or through the wall of the abdomen into the scrotum
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Key Terms
Disorders (cont’d)
orchitis
Inflammation of a testis. May be caused by injury, mumps virus, or
other infections.
prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland. Often appears with UTI, STI, and a
variety of other stresses.
sexually
transmitted
infection (STI)
Infection spread through sexual activity; also called sexually transmitted
disease (STD) and formerly venereal (ve-NE-R-ē-al) disease (VD)
(from Venus, the goddess of love)
sterility
Complete inability to produce offspring
urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra; often caused by gonorrhea and chlamydial
infections
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Key Terms
Surgery
herniorrhaphy
Surgical repair of a hernia
prostatectomy
Surgical removal of the prostate
vasectomy
Excision of the vas deferens. Usually done bilaterally to
produce sterility. May be accomplished through the urethra
(transurethral resection)
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Supplementary Terms
Normal Structure and Function
emission
The discharge of semen
genitalia
The organs concerned with reproduction, divided into internal
and external components
insemination
Introduction of semen into a woman's vagina
orgasm
A state of physical and emotional excitement, especially that
which occurs at the climax of sexual intercourse
phallus
The penis
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Supplementary Terms
Disorders
balanitis
Inflammation of the glans penis and mucous membrane beneath it
(root balan/o means “glans penis”)
bladder neck
obstruction (BNO)
Blockage of urine flow at the outlet of the bladder. The common
cause is benign prostatic hyperplasia
hydrocele
The accumulation of fluid in a saclike cavity, especially within the
covering of the testis or spermatic cord
phimosis
Narrowing of the prepuce’s opening so that the foreskin cannot be
pushed back over the glans penis
priapism
Abnormal, painful, continuous erection of the penis, as may be
caused by drugs or specific damage to the spinal cord
seminoma
A tumor of the testis
spermatocele
An epididymal cyst containing spermatozoa
varicocele
Enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord
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Supplementary Terms
Diagnosis and Treatment
brachytherapy
Radiation therapy by placement of encapsulated radiation
sources, such as seeds, directly into a tumor or nearby tissue
(from Greek brachy-, meaning “short”)
castration
Surgical removal of the testes or ovaries. Hormones and drugs
can inhibit the gonads, to produce functional castration
Gleason tumor grade
A system for assessing the severity of cancerous changes in the
prostate; reported as a Gleason score
Whitmore-Jewett
staging
A method for staging prostatic tumors; and alternate to TNM
staging
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Abbreviations
AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
BNO
Bladder neck obstruction
BPH
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (hypertrophy)
DRE
Digital rectal examination
ED
Erectile dysfunction
FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone
GC
Gonococcus
GU
Genitourinary
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HSV
Herpes simplex virus
LH
Luteinizing hormone
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Abbreviations (cont’d)
NGU
Nongonococcal urethritis
PSA
Prostate-specific antigen
STD
Sexually transmitted disease
STI
Sexually transmitted infection
TPUR
Transperineal urethral resection
TSE
Testicular self-examination
TUIP
Transurethral incision of prostate
TURP
Transurethral resection of prostate
UG
Urogenital
UTI
Urinary tract infection
VD
Venereal disease (sexually transmitted infection)
VDRL
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis)
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Roots Pertaining to Male Reproduction
Root
Meaning
Example
Definition of Example
test/o
testis, testicle
testosterone
hormone produced in the
testis
orchi/o,
orchid/o
testis
anorchism
absence of a testis
osche/o
scrotum
oscheal
pertaining to the scrotum
semin
semen
inseminate
to introduce semen into a
vagina
sperm/i,
spermat/o
semen,
spermatozoa
polyspermia
secretion of excess semen
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Roots Pertaining to Male Reproduction
(cont’d)
Root
Meaning
Example
Definition of Example
epididym/o
epididymis
epididymitis
inflammation of the epididymis
vas/o
vas deferens,
vasostomy
ductus deferens;
also vessel
surgical creation of an opening
in the ductus deferens
vesicul/o
seminal vesicle
vesiculogram
radiograph of a seminal vesicle
prostat/o
prostate
prostatometer
instrument for measuring the
prostate
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Male Reproductive System
• Function:
– Produce gametes (reproductive cells)
• Generated by meiosis
• Number of chromosomes cut in half
• Fertilization restores chromosome number
– Produce hormones
• Aid production of gametes
• Used in pregnancy and lactation
• Regulate secondary sex characteristics
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The Testes
• Male germ cells (spermatozoa) produced inside
• Testes suspended outside body in scrotum
• Spermatozoa form within testes starting at puberty
• Gonads are stimulated by FSH and LH which are released
from the pituitary
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Male Genitourinary System
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Transport of Spermatozoa
• Sperm cells stored in epididymis
• Ejaculation propels them out through series of ducts
– Vas deferens
– Ejaculatory duct
– Urethra
– Penis
• Transports both semen and urine
• Enlarged at tip to form glans penis
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Formation of Semen
• Spermatozoa transported in semen
• Thick, whitish fluid containing:
– Sperm cells
– Secretion from:
• Seminal vesicles
• Prostrate gland
• Bulbourethral (Cowper) glands
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Clinical Aspects of the Male Reproductive
System
• Infections
• Most are sexually transmitted
–
Most common is caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis
–
Gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
–
Herpes caused by a virus
• Non-sexually transmitted
–
Mumps caused by a virus, infects testes
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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Prostate gland normally enlarges as men age
• Can press on urethra near bladder
• Can cause:
– Urinary retention
– Infection
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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (cont’d)
• Treatments include:
– Medications for relaxing smooth muscle in prostate
– Drugs that interfere with testosterone activity
– Saw palmetto (herbal remedy)
– Prostatectomy (removal of prostate)
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Cancer of the Prostate
• Most common malignancy in U.S. men
• Third leading cause of cancer-related deaths
• May metastasize rapidly
• Difficult to remove surgically
• Possible treatments
–
Radiation
–
Measures to reduce androgens (stimulates prostatic growth)
–
Chemotherapy
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Testicular Cancer
• Represents less than 1% of cancer in men
• Appears between ages 25 and 45 with no signs of genetic
inheritance
• Treatment:
– Removal of testis
– Radiation
– Chemotherapy
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Cryptorchidism
• Testes normally descend into scrotum by birth
• If not termed cryptorchidism from:
–
(Crypt/o) hidden
–
(Orchid/o) testis
• May correct itself within first year of life
• Must be surgically corrected to avoid:
–
Sterility
–
Increased risk of cancer
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Cryptorchidism
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Infertility
• Inability or diminished ability to reproduce
• Causes include:
–
Hereditary
–
Hormones
–
Related to disease
–
Exposure to chemical or physical agents
–
Sexually transmitted diseases
• Total inability to reproduce termed sterility
• Voluntary sterility done with vasectomy
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Erectile Dysfunction
• Also known as impotence
• Lack of ability to perform intercourse due to inability to:
–
Initiate erection
–
Maintain erection until ejaculation
• Causes:
–
Psychogenic
–
Physical
–
Neurogenic
–
Pharmacological
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Erectile Dysfunction (cont’d)
• Possible treatments:
– Drugs to dilate arteries in penis to increase blood
flow
• Sildenafil (Viagra)
– Penile vacuum pumps
– Penile prostheses
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Inguinal Hernia
• Testes descend through inguinal canal
• Canal may represent weakness in abdominal wall
• Can lead to hernia
–
Indirect (external) hernia
–
Direct (internal) hernia
–
Strangulated hernia
• Treatment
–
Herniorrhaphy (surgery to correct)
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Inguinal Hernia
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Pretest
1. The male germ cell, or gamete, is the:
(a) ovum
(b) testis
(c) spermatozoon
(d) semen
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Pretest
1. The male germ cell, or gamete, is the:
(a) ovum
(b) testis
(c) spermatozoon
(d) semen
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Pretest
2. Gametes develop in a gonad, which in males is called
the:
(a) testis
(b) seminal vesicle
(c) vas deferens
(d) penis
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Pretest
2. Gametes develop in a gonad, which in males is called
the:
(a) testis
(b) seminal vesicle
(c) vas deferens
(d) penis
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Pretest
3. The main male sex hormone is:
(a) estrogen
(b) amylase
(c) renin
(d) testosterone
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Pretest
3. The main male sex hormone is:
(a) estrogen
(b) amylase
(c) renin
(d) testosterone
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Pretest
4. The secretion that transports gametes in males is:
(a) bile
(b) semen
(c) urine
(d) pepsin
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Pretest
4. The secretion that transports gametes in males is:
(a) bile
(b) semen
(c) urine
(d) pepsin
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Pretest
5. The gland below the bladder in males is the:
(a) adrenal
(b) scrotum
(c) submandibular
(d) prostate
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Pretest
5. The gland below the bladder in males is the:
(a) adrenal
(b) scrotum
(c) submandibular
(d) prostate
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Pretest
6. Protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal
body opening is a(n):
(a) hernia
(b) occlusion
(c) stenosis
(d) embolus
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Pretest
6. Protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal
body opening is a(n):
(a) hernia
(b) occlusion
(c) stenosis
(d) embolus
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Pretest
7. Orchitis is inflammation of the:
(a) bladder
(b) kidney
(c) penis
(d) testis
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Pretest
7. Orchitis is inflammation of the:
(a) bladder
(b) kidney
(c) penis
(d) testis
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