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Male Reproductive Functions: Did You Get It?

1) Spermatogenesis is the process by which sperm are produced in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. It begins with stem cells called spermatogonia and involves mitosis and meiosis to produce mature sperm. 2) FSH stimulates spermatogonia to undergo mitosis and build up the stem cell line during puberty. Some daughter cells then enter meiosis to become spermatocytes and eventually mature sperm through spermiogenesis. 3) The chief role of the male in reproduction is to produce sperm and the hormone testosterone through the processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis in the seminiferous tubules.

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Krizziane Ivy Cuajotor
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69 views1 page

Male Reproductive Functions: Did You Get It?

1) Spermatogenesis is the process by which sperm are produced in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. It begins with stem cells called spermatogonia and involves mitosis and meiosis to produce mature sperm. 2) FSH stimulates spermatogonia to undergo mitosis and build up the stem cell line during puberty. Some daughter cells then enter meiosis to become spermatocytes and eventually mature sperm through spermiogenesis. 3) The chief role of the male in reproduction is to produce sperm and the hormone testosterone through the processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis in the seminiferous tubules.

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Krizziane Ivy Cuajotor
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 16: The Reproductive System

569

sexual excitement. This causes the penis to enlarge


and become rigid. This event, called erection,
helps the penis serve as the male organ of copula-
tion (sexual intercourse) to deliver the semen into
the female reproductive tract.

Did You Get It?


4. What is the function of the erectile tissue of the penis?
5. What is an important function of each of these two Seminiferous
components of semen—sperm and seminal fluid? tubule Basement membrane
6. Adolph, a 68-year-old gentleman, has trouble
urinating and is given a rectal exam. What is his most Spermatogonium 2n 2n Daughter cell
probable condition, and what is the purpose of the (stem cell) type A (remains
rectal exam? at basement
Mitosis membrane
2n
For answers, see Appendix A.) as a stem cell)
Growth
Daughter cell type B
Male Reproductive Functions Enters
prophase of
(moves toward tubule
lumen)
➔ Learning Objectives meiosis I 2n
Primary
□□ Define spermatogenesis and meiosis.

Meiosis
spermatocyte
Meiosis I
□□ Describe the structure of a sperm, and relate its
completed
structure to its function.
n n Secondary
□□ Describe the effect of FSH and LH on testis
spermatocytes
functioning. Meiosis II
Spermatogenesis

The chief role of the male in the reproductive pro- Early


n n n n
cess is to produce sperm and the hormone testos- spermatids
terone.
Spermiogenesis

n n n n Late
Spermatogenesis spermatids
Sperm production, or spermatogenesis (sper″mah-
to-jen′ĕ-sis), begins during puberty and continues
throughout life. A man makes millions of sperm
daily. Only one sperm fertilizes an egg, so it seems
that nature has made sure that the human species
will not be endangered for lack of sperm.
Sperm are formed in the seminiferous tubules Sperm
of the testis, as noted earlier. The process is begun n n n n
by primitive stem cells called spermatogonia
(sper″mah-to-go′ne-ah), found in the outer edge,
or periphery, of each tubule (Figure 16.3).
Spermatogonia go through rapid mitotic divisions to Lumen of
seminiferous
build up the stem cell line. From birth until puberty,
tubule
all such divisions simply produce more stem cells.
During puberty, however, follicle-stimulating hor-
16
mone (FSH) is secreted in increasing amounts by the
Figure 16.3  Spermatogenesis. Flowchart showing
anterior pituitary gland. the relative position of the spermatogonia in the wall of

➔
the seminiferous tubule. Although the stem cells and
ConceptLink the primary spermatocytes have the same number of
Recall that FSH is a tropic hormone that, in males, tar- chromosomes (46, designated as 2n) as other body
gets the testes and stimulates sperm production cells, the products of meiosis (spermatids and sperm)
(Chapter 9, p. 343). have only half as many (23, designated as n).

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