BG710: Male Reproductive System, Pt. 2

Overview

In today's class, we will explore the male reproductive system nervous. We will study

• how the brain affects male development and sexuality
• hormones
• male reproductive organs, glands, and structures.

Expectations

You will see structures and words for male reproductive organs. We will use only the scientific names for body parts. Feel free to read and ask questions at your comfort level.

The brain and nervous systems are the most important parts of the body because no other organ system could function without them. No one could survive without the brain and the nervous systems.

However, people -- both males and females -- can survive without a reproductive system. Defects in or changes to the reproductive system may cause them to not work properly.

But what would happen to humans and animals if all reproduction systems stopped working or people and animals were no longer born with reproductive systems?

Why is it important for people to be able to continue to have babies?

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The purpose of the male reproductive system is to:

• produce, maintain, and transport sperm and semen
• provide sperm cells to combine with the egg cells in females
• produce and release male sex hormones

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The scrotum is a sac of skin that contains the testes.

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The testes (aka testicles) are the main male reproductive organs. They produce testosterone and sperm.

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The penis is the second most important organ of the male reproductive system. The penis has two functions:

• delivering sperm into the female to fertilize an egg cell
• urination

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The epididymis (eh-puh-di duh-muhs) transports and stores sperm cells that are produced in the testes. The epididymis also brings the sperm to maturity (full development).

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The prostate gland produces fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

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The seminal (seh-muh-nahl) vesicles (veh-suh-kuls) add fluid to sperm, making it easier for sperm to move.

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The (yu-ree-thruh) is a tube that carries semen (sperm in fluid) and urine through the penis to the outside of the body.

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The vas deferens (vas deh-fuh-rens) are tubes that transports the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.

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The ejaculatory (ee-jak-kew-luh-tuh-ree) ducts deposits semen (a mixture of sperm and fluids) into the urethra (yu-ree-thruh).

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So, how do the nervous and endocrine systems affect the male reproductive system?

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Your nervous system is your body's command center. It controls all the other body systems. The nervous system is responsible for sending signals to the male reproductive system to manage sexual development and to tell the endocrine system to release hormones.

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The Nervous System and the Male Reproductive System

The hypothalamus (hie-puh-tha-luh-mus) gland and the pituitary (peh-too-eh-teh-ree) gland are the main structures in the brain that affect the reproductive system.

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The Hypothalamus Gland

The hypothalamus (hie-puh-tha-luh-mus) gland releases hormones that tell the pituitary (peh-too-eh-teh-ree) gland to release different hormones that affect the male reproductive system.

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The Hypothalamus Gland

The hypothalamus (hie-puh-tha-luh-mus) gland controls the the pituitary (peh-too-eh-teh-ree) gland. The hypothalamus gland releases hormones that tell the pituitary gland to release different hormones that affect the male reproductive system.

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The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary (peh-too-eh-teh-ree) gland is called the master gland because it controls several other glands throughout the body. This gland releases hormones that affect the male reproductive system.

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The pituitary gland manages the production of the hormone testosterone in males. Testosterone makes the voice grow deeper, causes facial and body hair to grow, and tells the testes to make of sperm cells.

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