reproductive system

each testis is in a separate sac within the scrotum
the spermatic cord includes the testicular artery and vein, plus nerves
spermatogenesis requires a temperature about three degrees Farenheit below body temperature

scrotum includes smooth muscle to regulate testicular temperature
testicular vein makes a fibrous network around the artery to draw some of the vascular heat away from the blood

cryptorchidism is when the testes do not "fall" at puberty, and predisposes the sufferer to testicular cancer

from the seminiferous tubules, they move into the rectus ductule to the rete testis, then into the epididymis
each testis is divided into many lobules; each lobule has its own network of seminiferous tubules
the rete testis is where all lobules join together

the vas deferens travels from the posterior scrotum to anterior pubis to lateral urinary bladder, to the posterior side of the bladder where it meets the urethra on the inferior, posterior side.
a vasectomy cuts the vas deferens where it exits the epididymis in the posterior scrotal sac; vasectomy appears to increase risk of prostate cancer

three glands add seminal fluid to the sperm as they move through the urethra

prostate gland : located at the "neck" of the bladder; it forms ~30% of the seminal fluid

fibrinolysin (enzyme), acid phosphatase (enzyme), sperm activating substances

seminal glands : located lateral to the prostate, on the inferior aspect of the bladder; they form ~60% of the seminal fluid

bulbourethral glands : inferior to the prostate; thick mucus secretion neutralizes any remaining urine in the urethra

the penis has four sections : glans (tip), shaft (body), bulb and root
internally, the penis has two sections of corpora cavernosa and one section of corpus spongiosum that are separated by tunica albuginea

the "bodies" are mostly spongy tissue (networks of vascular "spaces") and smooth muscle
during erection, blood fills the vascular spaces; this is a parasympathetic response where the arterioles of the penis dilate
ejaculation is a sympathetic response of duct and gland contraction, discharging sperm from the epididymis and seminal fluids from the prostate, seminal glands and bulbourethral glands, then contractions of the penile smooth muscle to propel the semen through the penile urethra and out

until puberty, mitosis of spermatogonia forms more spermatogonia
after puberty, mitosis forms a type A cell (which remains) and a type B cell (which will undergo meiosis)

the most anterior area is the mons pubis
labia major surround the urogenital orifices; analogous to the male scrotum
labia minor are medial to the labia major; analogous to the male corpus cavernosum
the clitoris is anterior to the urethral opening; it is analogous to the glans and is considering "erectile tissue"

perineum is the muscular area extending from the pubic symphysis to the coccyx, between the ischial tuberosities
ovaries are located anterior to the rectum, and are superior to most other female reproductive organs
fallopian tubes (or uterine tube) extend from each ovary to the uterus

the innermost layer of the uterus is the endometrium, which "sheds" monthly after puberty

the muscular layers of the uterus are the myometrium; smooth muscle runs in all planes in order to make the uterus one of the strongest organs in the body

mucous secreted by the cervix usually is a spermicidal mix designed to keep them out of the uterus
during ovulation, the mucous becomes slippery and more "forgiving," allowing sperm to enter the uterine area more freely

the vagina is the external opening, posterior to the urethra, anterior to the anus
the entire internal structure is held in place by ligaments