4,503
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Avian Male Reproductive Tract - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 09:57, 22 July 2008
, 09:57, 22 July 2008→Testes
* Medially, they lie close to the aorta and caudal vena cava.
* Medially, they lie close to the aorta and caudal vena cava.
* Each testical suspended by a short '''mesochorium''' and surrounded medially by the abdominal air sac.
* Each testical suspended by a short '''mesochorium''' and surrounded medially by the abdominal air sac.
* Left tends to be larger than right in immature birds.
* Left tends to be larger than right in immature birds.
* Dimentions increase rapidly with sexual activity.
* Dimentions increase rapidly with sexual activity.
* Dormant testes light brown/yellow in colour, turn white when sexually active.
* Dormant testes light brown/yellow in colour, turn white when sexually active.
** In some psittacine species, immature or dormant testes may appear black due to melanocytes located in the interstitium.
** In some psittacine species, immature or dormant testes may appear black due to melanocytes located in the interstitium.
* '''Semniferous tubules''' produce '''sperm''' from the epithelium.
* '''Semniferous tubules''' produce '''sperm''' from the epithelium.
* Interstitial '''Leydig cells''' lie between semniferous tubules.
* Interstitial '''Leydig cells''' lie between semniferous tubules.
* '''Epididymis is small and can be considered absent'''. '''Sperm maturation occurs in the Vas Deferens'''.
* '''Epididymis is small and can be considered absent'''. '''Sperm maturation occurs in the Vas Deferens'''.
* Vas Deferens closely associated with the Ureter in the dorsomedial midline coelom, distinguished by its zig-zag appearance.
* Vas Deferens closely associated with the Ureter in the dorsomedial midline coelom, distinguished by its zig-zag appearance.
* Vas Deferens enters dorsal wall of the Urodeum.
* Vas Deferens enters dorsal wall of the cloacal urodeum.
* No [[Male_Reproductive_Tract_-Accessory_Sex_Glands_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology|accessory sex glands]].
** Straightens and abruptly widens at ats junction with the cloaca.
*** Structure known as the receptacle.
*** Receptacle appears bean-shaped when engorged with semen.
----
----