The Reproductive System 461
Common Disease, Disorder, or ConditionConditions of the Prostate GlandEnlarged Prostate^
The prostate gland enlarges in almost every older adult man. If this occurs, it con-stricts
the urethra, making urination difficult. This condition can lead to kidney damage and
bladder infections. A physician can palpate the prostate gland through the rectal wall to
detect any changes in the size of the gland. It should be checked regularly as a man
ages. Enlarged prostate glands can be treated surgically. The prostate gland can also
hypertrophy or enlarge due to infections or tumors.
Prostate Cancer^
Cancer of the prostate gland is the third most prevalent type of cancer in men. It is a
slow-growing cancer that is not easily detected. However, if undetected, it can result in
death. Normal and regular checkups for the detection of enlargement or any abnormal
changes in the gland by a physician are an important procedure used to detect prostate
cancer.
supply the penis dilate and large quantities of blood enter
these blood sinuses. Expansion of these sinuses compresses
the veins that would normally drain the penis so that most
of this entry blood is retained. These changes in blood
vessels produce an erection, which helps the penis
penetrate the female vagina. Once sexual stimulation
ceases, the arteries supplying the blood constrict and the
veins drain the blood, resulting in the penis going limp and
the end of the erection.
During ejaculation, the smooth muscle sphincter at the
base of the urinary bladder is closed. This ensures that
urine is not expelled during ejaculation and that semen does
not enter the urinary bladder.
Media Link
Watch an animation about the male
reproductive system on the
Student Companion Website..The Female Reproductive System
The primary sex organs of the female reproductive system
are the ovaries (OH-vah-reez) or female go-nads. These
organs produce eggs, or ova, as exocrine glands and as
endocrine glands produce the female
sex hormones estrogen (ESS-troh-jen) and progester-
one (proh-JESS-ter-ohn). The accessory organs of the
system are the uterine or fallopian tubes, the uterus, the
vagina, and the external genitalia. Some acces-sory glands
also produce mucus for lubrication during sexual
intercourse. See Concept Map 19-2: The Female
Reproductive- System, and Figure 19-5. The female sys-
tem is more complex hormonally than the male system
because it must also nurture the developing fetus during
pregnancy.The Ovaries
The ovaries or female gonads are paired glands about the
size of unshelled almonds. They are found in the upper
pelvic cavity, one on each side of the uterus (Figure 19-6).
They are held in position by a series of ligaments.
Suspensory ligaments secure the ovaries to the lateral walls
of the pelvis. Ovarian ligaments anchor the ovaries
medially. In between, they are held in place and enclosed
by the broad ligament, which is a fold of peritoneum. A
microscopic view of an ovary reveals that each one consists
of a number of parts (Figure 19 - 7).
The surface of an ovary is covered with germinal
epithelium. The capsule of an ovary consists of collag-
enous connective tissue known as the tunica albuginea.
This is divided into an outer area called the cortex of the
stroma and contains ovarian follicles in various stages of
development and an inner area called the stroma of