PRE-LAB EXERCISES

Open Visible Body Suite. Search for and select each of the Reproductive System Views noted in the
exercises below. You can manipulate the images to see different views and isolate each structure.
Be sure to select the book icon under the structure name to read information specific to that
structure.

As you explore the modules, locate the organs and related structures on any additional charts,
models, or specimens available.

Make the following observations, and note that you are responsible for all bold terms and diagram labels.

A. Male Reproductive System Overview

Open the Reproductive System View “Reproductive System (M).”

Penis

Scrotum

1. The external organs of the male reproductive system, the penis and the testes, lie outside the
pelvis. In the Systems Tray on the left side of your screen, deselect the skin icon to hide the skin from
the view. Select any part of the penis or scrotum to see the dartos fascia, the connective tissue that
surrounds the external organs.

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Penis

Dartos fascia

Scrotum

2. Hide the dartos fascia and select either of the testicles (testes). This will highlight the spermatic fascia
that cover the testes and continue as tubes over the pubis and into the pelvic cavity.

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 Vas deferens

Bladder

Prostate

Buck's fascia Spermatic fascia

Testicle (inside
spermatic fascia)

Glans penis

3. In the Systems Tray, deselect the skeletal system icon (the skull) and follow the path of the
spermatic fascia to the vas deferens, over the bladder, and into the prostate.

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 Vas deferens

Bladder

Seminal vesicles

Prostate

Bulbourethral
(Cowper's) glands

4. Rotate the view so you can see the paired seminal vesicles attached to the posterior part of the bladder
above the prostate.

5. Locate the bottom of the prostate and note how it attaches to the penis. Zoom in and find the small paired
bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands. The bulbourethral glands, the prostate, and the seminal vesicles are
accessory glands of the male reproductive system.

TIME TO PRACTICE!
SEARCH FOR AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM QUIZZES:
OVERVIEW, REPRO. (M) AND EXTERNAL GENITALIA (M)

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B. Male Reproductive System: Testicles and Spermatic Cords

Gonadal Spermatic cord

vessels

Vas deferens

Spermatic fascia

Right testicle

1. Open the Reproductive System View “Testicles (M).” Select the right spermatic fascia and hide it.
Next, select the right testicle (testis) and read the definition in the content box.

a. What is the primary purpose of the testes?

b. Testes are the _________________________, the primary male sex organs.

c. What are gametes?

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 d. What is the name for male gametes?

e. Testes also secrete _________________________, a hormone important in the development of male

characteristics.

2. Refresh the model and use the Systems Tray to hide the skin once more. Look at the sheaths
formed by the spermatic fascia that enter the pelvis via the inguinal canal.

a. What are these sheaths called?

b. What is carried inside these sheaths?

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Vas deferens

Epididymis

Lobule

3. Open the Reproductive System View “Testicle Section (M).” Note the lobules formed
by connective tissue inside the testis.

a. What are contained in these lobules?

4. Sperm cells develop inside these tubules from puberty throughout a man’s life.

a. The male sex cells, sperm, contribute ______________ the genetic information required to form
an embryo.

5. Select the right epididymis, the small banana-shaped gland attached to the posterior region of
each testis. Read the definition and answer the following questions.

a. The epididymis is divided into three regions: the ______________, the ______________, and the
______________.

b. The epididymis collects _____________________________ from the seminiferous tubules.

c. Sperm cells remain in the epididymis for two to three months and, as they mature there, they
acquire the ability to swim and to fertilize an egg. After they leave the epididymis, sperm enter
the ____________________________.
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C. Male Reproductive System: Vas Deferens, Seminal Vesicles, and the Prostate Gland

Bladder

Seminal vesicle

Lobes of
prostate

Prostate

Prostatic portion
of urethra

Bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands

1. Open the Reproductive System View “Prostate (M).” Select one of the vas deferens and follow its
path to the prostate. Rotate the model in order to look at the posterior side of the prostate. Select the
prostate and read the definition in order to answer the following questions.
a. Accessory glands add fluids to the sperm to form seminal fluid, which is ejaculated from the
urethra during sexual activity. The prostate is one of the accessory glands, which are glands
that contribute to the fluid containing sperm, of the male reproductive system. Fluid from the
prostate enters into the prostatic portion of the ___________________________.

b. Prostate fluid contributes ___________________________ and other substances to semen.

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 c. Select the right side of the prostate and hide it. Select any of the lobes of the prostate. These
lobes contain ___________________________ tissue.

2. Locate the urethra, the tube that drains from the urinary bladder into the penis. Note that it passes
directly through the prostate. The portion of the urethra that passes through the prostate is called the
___________________________.

3. Select the prostate and then choose the pathology icon in the popup window (the stethoscope) to
see common diseases associated with the prostate. How could an enlarged prostate affect urination?

4. Locate the seminal vesicles, two glands attached to the posterior portion of the urinary bladder.
Locate the spot where the seminal vesicles join with the vas deferens as they enter the prostate.

a. What substances are secreted by the seminal vesicles?

b. What proportion of the seminal fluid is contributed by the seminal vesicles?

c. The vas deferens and the seminal vesicle ducts join to become the
___________________________.

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D. Male Reproductive System: Ejaculatory Ducts and the Bulbourethral Glands

Ejaculatory
duct
Prostatic urethra

Membranous urethra

Corpus spongiosum

Spongy urethra

Bulbourethral (Cowper's) gland

1. Open the Reproductive System View “Ducts (M).” Locate the ejaculatory duct, which carries sperm from
the vas deferens, along with seminal vesicle secretions, through the prostate to the prostatic urethra.

2. Note that the first part of the prostatic urethra carries only urine from the bladder. After the junction of the
ejaculatory duct, the urethra is responsible for carrying both sperm and urine (at different times).

3. Choose the portion of the urethra that lies between the prostate and the penis.

a. What is this called?

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 4. Near the membranous urethra are the two paired bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands. Ducts from
these glands join the urethra below the membranous urethra at the proximal portion of the spongy
portion of the urethra (the spongy urethra).

a. What do the bulbourethral glands secrete?

b. What is the function of this secretion?

5. Select the corpus spongiosum of the penis and hide it. Select the spongy urethra and follow it to
the slightly enlarged ending where the urethra ends externally at the end of the glans penis.

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E. Male Reproductive System: Penis

Dorsal artery
of penis Dorsal superficial
vein of the penis

Corpus cavernosum
Corpus
spongiosum

Glans penis

1. Open the Reproductive System View “Penis (M).” Note the skin (faded) that covers the penis.
Select the part of the skin that covers the glans penis. Part of it is removed during a procedure
called circumcision.

a. What is it called?

2. In the Systems Tray, deselect the skin icon to hide the skin from the view. Locate the glans penis,
the paired corpus cavernosum, and the corpus spongiosum. The latter two structures are made of
spongy tissue that fills with blood to cause the penis to become erect.

3. In the Systems Tray, deselect the muscular (the arm) and skeletal (the skull) system icons to hide
them from the view. Next, select the circulatory system icon (the heart) to add the circulatory structures
to the view. Locate the dorsal superficial vein of the penis and the dorsal artery of the penis. Next
locate the paired deep arteries of the penis. The spongy portions of the penis become engorged with
blood from these arteries during sexual arousal and the veins drain the blood after ejaculation.

4. Rotate the model so that you can see where the urethra exits the body at the tip of the glans penis.

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F. Pelvis Cross Section

Cross Section “Pelvis (Symphysis) (M)”

Corpus cavernosum
Buck's fascia

Corpus spongiosum

Deep dorsal vein of

the penis

Prostate
Urethra

Prostatic capsule

Search for “pelvis” and open the Cross Section “Pelvis (Symphysis) (M).” Locate the following:

a. Corpus cavernosum

b. Corpus spongiosum

c. Buck’s fascia

d. Deep dorsal vein of the penis

e. Prostate

f. Prostate capsule

g. Urethra

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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Name the structures through which sperm passes, from the testis to the glans penis.

List the accessory glands that contribute fluid to seminal fluid.

TIME TO PRACTICE!
SEARCH FOR AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM QUIZZES:
INTERNAL GENITALIA (M) AND REPRO. DUCTS (M)

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Source: Reproductive System View “Reproductive System (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Reproductive System (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Reproductive System (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Reproductive System (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Testicles (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Testicle Section (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Prostate (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Ducts (M)”

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Source: Reproductive System View “Penis (M)”

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Source: Cross Section “Pelvis (Symphysis) (M)”

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