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Home , Nocturnal emission, Urinary bladder

Grades 4-5-6 n C

Appendix C Male Terms

1. Bladder: This hollow sac holds until it is time to urinate. It is not part of the reproductive system, but the urine leaves the bladder through the , which is also the exit for .

2. : Surgical removal of the foreskin of the is usually done within the first couple weeks of life. Some are circumcised, and others are not. This elective procedure has no bearing on reproductive capacity or ability to give or receive sexual pleasure.

3. Cowper’s glands: These are two of the glands that add fluid to the sperm as they travel out of the body.

4. : This is the release of semen from the penis during climax or nocturnal emission. Ejaculation of semen during may be a sign that sperm are being produced, but ejaculation may also occur prior to sperm production.

5. Epididymis: This long cord-like structure lies along the back of each testis. The sperm leave the and enter the epididymis where they are stored until they mature.

6. : During erection, the penis becomes stiff, enlarged, and erect. This usually occurs when the male-bodied person becomes sexually aroused; however, it may be caused by other factors, such as a full bladder or the rub of clothing. Male fetuses have beginning in the womb, but they increase in frequency during puberty. An erection will subside eventually, even without ejaculation or sexual release.

7. Foreskin: A tube of loose skin covers the tip, or head, of the penis. If a person is circumcised, this skin is removed.

1 Appendix C n Grades 4-5-6

8. Genitals or genitalia: This is a generic term for the external reproductive organs of people and animals. The genitals of with male bodies are the penis, , and testicles.

9. Nocturnal emission: The release of semen during is the body’s way of releasing excess sperm. Many, but not all, young people with a penis have this experience. It begins during puberty and may or may not continue into adulthood. Nocturnal emissions are not under the person’s voluntary control, and are natural, normal events. It is also called a wet .

10. Penis: This external male reproductive has two functions. One function is for reproduction and the other is for . The penis contains three cylinders of spongy tissue that become filled with blood during an erection. This causes the penis to become stiff, enlarged, and erect, or to stand out away from the body. The majority of the time, the penis is flaccid or limp.

11. gland: This gland adds fluid to the sperm as they travel out of the body. It is located next to and below the urinary bladder. Because it completely surrounds the urethra as it leaves the bladder, it can cause problems with urination if it becomes enlarged.

12. Scrotum: This skin sac holds the testes outside the between the legs. Because sperm must be cooler than body temperature in order to live, the scrotum raises and lowers the testes to maintain the proper temperature for the sperm.

13. Semen: This milky-white fluid is secreted by the glands of the and released during ejaculation. Once sperm production begins during puberty, semen contains sperm. The average ejaculation is about one teaspoon of semen and contains about 250-400 million sperm.

14. : These are two of the glands that add fluid to the sperm as they travel out of the body.

15. : Vaginal sexual intercourse involves the insertion of an erect penis into a . Having penis-in-vagina sexual intercourse may result in . (penis-in-) and (mouth-to-genitals) are other forms of sexual intercourse that can result in sexually transmitted infections, but not pregnancy.

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16. Sperm or These are the male germ cells which are produced in the testes and released in spermatozoa: semen during ejaculation. If sperm fertilizes the female germ cell (ovum or egg cell) it creates a new life. The sperm looks like a microscopic tadpole. When it is deposited inside a vagina during sexual intercourse, it propels itself with its tail through the and up the reproductive tract toward the egg cell. Under normal conditions, it has a life span of one or two days; however, it can be kept viable for years in a laboratory. Spermatozoon is the term for a single male germ cell.

17. Testes or testicles: Either term describes the two glands that produce the male hormone, testosterone, and the male reproductive cells, sperm. The testes begin this production during puberty and continue it throughout life. The singular is testis or .

18. Urethra: This is the tube that runs from the urinary bladder out the end of the penis. The vas deferens join the urethra below the bladder. The urethra carries urine and semen out of the body, but not at the same time.

19. Vas deferens: These two tubes carry the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra. The vas deferens are cut and plugged or tied off during a vasectomy.

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