人類生理學/男性生殖系統

詞彙表

Androgen

The generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This includes the activity of the accessory male sex organs and development of male secondary sex characteristics. They are also the precursor of all estrogens, the female sex hormones. The primary and most well-known androgen is testosterone.

Apocrine Glands

Apocrine sweat glands develop during the early to mid puberty ages approximately around the age of 15 and release more than normal amounts of sweat for approximately a month and subsequently regulate and release normal amounts of sweat after a certain period of time. They are located wherever there is body hair.

These glands produce sweat that contains fatty materials. Mainly present in the armpits and around the genital area, their activity is the main cause of sweat odor, due to the bacteria that break down the organic compounds in the sweat.

Bulbourethral Glands

male accessory sex glands that secrete mucus for lubrication

Chemotaxis

Chemotaxis is a kind of taxis, in which bodily cells, bacteria, and other single-cell or multicellular organisms direct their movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. This is important for bacteria to find food (for example, glucose) by swimming towards the highest concentration of food molecules, or to flee from poisons (for example, phenol). In multicellular organisms, chemotaxis is critical to development as well as normal function. In addition, it has been recognized that mechanisms that allow chemotaxis in animals can be subverted during cancer metastasis.

Corpora Cavernosa

one of a pair of a sponge-like regions of erectile tissue which contain most of the blood in the male penis during erection

Ductus Deferens

epididymal ducts from each testis converge to form a large, thick walled, muscular duct

Ejaculatory Ducts

two ducts, receive sperm from the ductus deferens and secretions from the seminal vesicle; the ducts then empty into the urethra

Epididymis

comma shaped and loosely attached to the rear surface of each testis

Erectile Tissue

smooth muscle and connective tissue inside the penis that contain blood sinuses; large, irregular vascular channels

Erection

the penis at its enlarged and firm state; occurs when the corpora cavernosa become engorged with venous blood

Flagellum

the whip-like tail of a sperm, propels the sperm towards the egg in hopes of achieving fertilization

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

hormone that stimulates production of sertoli cells, to make immature sperm to mature sperm

Glans Penis

distal end of the penis, covered with the foreskin

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

hormone secreted by the hypothalamus into the pituitary gland; two types, FSH and LH

Libido

In its common usage, it means sexual desire; however, more technical definitions, such as those found in the work of Carl Jung, are more general, referring to libido as the free creative—or psychic—energy an individual has to put toward personal development, or individuation.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

hormone that stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone

Oviduct

the passage in females from the ovaries to the outside of the body.

Penis

external genital organ of the male

Prostate Gland

male accessory sex gland that secretes an alkaline fluid, which neutralizes acidic vaginal secretions

Puberty

the period of maturation and arousal of the dormant and nonfunctional reproductive system; usually occurs in males between the ages of 10 and 15

Scrotum

skin covered sac that houses the male testicles; keeps the testicles away form the body so that they can stay a few degrees cooler than the body, for better sperm production

Seminal Vesicle

male accessory sex glands that supply fructose to ejaculated sperm and secrete prostaglandins

Seminiferous Tubules

highly coiled tubules within the testes that produce spermatozoa

Sertoli Cell

A Sertoli cell (a kind of sustentacular cell) is a 'nurse' cell of the testes which is part of a seminiferous tubule.

It is activated by follicle-stimulating hormone, and has FSH-receptor on its membranes.

Its main function is to nurture the developing sperm cells through the stages of spermatogenesis. Because of this, it has also been called the "mother cell." It provides both secretory and structural support.

Sexual Homology

sex organs that evolve from the same tissues in both male and females

Sperm

main reproductive cell in males

Spermatogenesis

sperm production

Testes

located in the scrotum, produces testosterone which stimulates production of sperm

Testosterone

male sex hormone secreted by the leydig cells of the testes, vital for the production of sperm

TURP

transurethral resection of the prostate. During TURP, an instrument is inserted up the urethra to remove the section of the prostate that is blocking urine flow. This is most commonly caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A TURP usually requires hospitalization and is done using a general or spinal anesthetic. It is now the most common surgery used to remove part of an enlarged prostate.

Urethra

the last part of the urinary tract; in males, it is the passage for both urine and sperm

Varicocele

varicose vein of the testicles, sometimes a cause of male infertility

Vasectomy

most common sterilization procedure in males; small segment of each ductus deferens is surgically removed after it passes from the testis