Term | Definition |
bulbourethral glands | Pair of exocrine glands near the male urethra. They secrete fluid into the urethra. Also called Cowper glands. |
ejaculation | Ejection of sperm and fluid from the male urethra. |
ejaculatory duct | Tube through which semen enters the male urethra. |
epididymis (plural; epididymides) | One of a pair of long, tightly coiled tubes above each testis. It stores and carries sperm from seminiferous tubules to the vas deferens. |
erectile dysfunction | Inability of an adult male to achieve an erection; impotence. |
flagellum | Hair-like projection on a sperm cell that makes it motile (able to move). |
fraternal twins | Two infants resulting from fertilization of two separate ova by two separate sperm cells. |
glans penis | Sensitive tip of the penis; comparable to the clitoris in the female. |
identical twins | Two infants from division of one fertilized egg into two distinct embryos. Conjoined ("Siamese") twins are incompletely separated identical twins. |
interstitial cells of the testes | Specialized cells that lie adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testes. These cells produce testosterone and are also called Leydig cells. |
parenchymal tissues | Essential distinctive cells of an organ. In the testis, the seminiferous tubules that produce sperm are parenchymal. |
penis | Male external organ of reproduction. |
perineum | External region between the anus and scrotum in the male. |
prepuce | Foreskin; fold of skin covering the tip of the penis. |
prostate gland | Exocrine gland at the base of the male urinary bladder. The prostate secretes fluid that contributes to semen during ejaculation. HINT: Don't confuse prostate with prostrate, which means lying down. |
scrotum | External sac that contains the testes. |
semen | Spermatozoa (sperm cells) and seminal fluid (prostatic and seminal vesicle secretions), discharged from the urethra during ejaculation. |
seminal vesicles | Paired sac-like exocrine glands that secrete fluid (a major component of semen) into the vas deferens. |
seminiferous tubules | Narrow, coiled tubules that produce sperm in the testes. |
spermatozoon (pluarl: spermatozoa) | Sperm cell. |
sterilization | Procedure that removes a person's ability to produce or release reproductive cells; removal of testicles, vasectomy, and oophorectomy are sterilization procedures. |
stromal tissue | Supportive, connective tissue of an organ, as distinguished from its parenchyma. Also called stroma. |
testis (ral: testes) | Male gonad (testicle) that produces spermatozoa and the hormone testosterone. Remember: Testis means one testicle, and testes are two testicles. |
testosterone | Hormone secreted by the interstitial tissue of the testes; responsible for male sex characteristics. |
vas deferens | Narrow tube (one on each side) carrying sperm from the epididymis toward the urethra. Also called ductus deferens. |