What do the Bladder, Seminal Vesicle, Vas Defirnes, Prostate Gland, Cowpeis Gland, Epididqmis, Testicles,Scortum, Urethra mean? I'm having trouble with the definitions.
These are all parts of male anatomy. You can look these up on a hard copy or online dictionary, if you spell them correctly. Below are my class notes covering these concepts.
II. Scrotum is a bag of skin below that is covered with hair at maturity. It functions like a radiator to keep sperm about 5 degrees F below body temperature for sperm viability. Scrotum contains:
A. Testes (testicles), which are aligned one slightly below the other. They contain:
1. Seminiferous tubules are responsible for spermatogenesis of about 500 million sperm a day. Sperm production of about 500 million/day related to FSH from pituitary. Sperm have a head, neck and tail and take 65-75 days to develop.
2. Leydig (interstitial) cells are between tubules and produce androgens like testosterone. Hormone production related to interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH, analogous to LH in women) from the pituitary.
B. Epididymus is 20-foot long tubule on top of and in back of each teste where sperm mature.
C. From the epididymus, the sperm travel (.5"/5 minutes) up the vas deferens to reach the urethra via the ejaculatory ducts.
D. Men should give themselves testicular exam monthly.
III. Perineum is sensual area between genitals and anus of both genders.
IV. Semen is the male ejaculate, which varies from milky white to yellowish or grayish in color. It combines:
A. With 150-500 million per ejaculation, sperm is about 1% of semen volume.
B. Fluid from seminal vesicles are almost two-thirds of volume. This fluid contains sugars to nourish sperm and give them energy to move. Sperm are dormant before ejaculation, but the alkaline property of this fluid (and others) activates the sperm. This fluid is white to yellowish with a mucus-like consistency.
C. The prostate is a gland at the base of the bladder with both the urethra and ejaculatory ducts going through it. It blocks off the bladder during ejaculation and blocks ejaculatory duct during urination. Its fluids are alkaline and whitish in color and close to one-third of the volume of semen. Prostatic problems are likely to occur in men over 50 years old. A prostatectomy will lead to a retrograde ejaculation and sterility.
D. Cowper's (bulbourethral) glands release a small amount of clear, mucus-like fluid during sexual excitement (without sensation) before ejaculation. This fluid neutralizes urine in the urethra and lubricates the glans. In contrast to semen with its cloudy white color, Cowper's fluid is clear and has very few (35,000-50,000) sperm, if any.
If any of the above terms are still confusing or are not included, you can look them up.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.