Question

What is the relationship between the parts of the male reproductive organs.

What is the relationship between the parts of the female reproductive organs?

Answer 1

The reproductive system consists of:

Primary sex organs (gonads)- produce gametes and hormones.

Secondary sex organs- participate in reproduction but not form gametes.

Accessory sex organs- cause differences in the appearance of two sexes.

Male reproductive system:

The male reproductive tract consists of glands with their ducts and supporting structures.

1. The glands include a pair of testes, a pair of seminal vesicles, a pair of bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands), and one prostate gland.

2. Ducts of testes include a pair of epididymis, a pair of vas deferens, a pair of ejaculatory ducts, and one urethra.

3. Supporting structures are divided into Internal (a pair of spermatic cords) and external (scrotum and penis)

Testes:

The male gonads, testes, begin their development in the abdominal cavity. During the last two months before birth, or shortly after birth, they descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotm. Scrotm provides a temperature of about 3 oC below normal body temperature. This lower temperature is necessary for the production of sperm. Short efferent ducts exit the testes. Interstitial cells (cells of Leydig), which produce male sex hormones, are located between the seminiferous tubules within a lobule.

Accessory glands:

Accessory glands include seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands.

Seminal vesicles are saccular glands posterior to the urinary bladder. Each gland has a short duct that joins with the ductus deferens to form an ejaculatory duct, which empties into the urethra.

The prostate gland is located just inferior to the urinary bladder. They function to enhance the mobility of the sperm.

Bulbourethral glands are located near the base of the penis. These secrete an alkaline mucus fluid that neutralizes the acidity of the female reproductive tract.