Video Transcript
Which of the following structures
does not majorly contribute to the secretion of seminal fluid in humans? (A) Cowper’s gland, (B) seminal
vesicle, (C) prostate gland, (D) vas deferens.
This question is asking us about
the male reproductive system, which we can see here. The purpose of this system is to
deliver semen, which contains sperm, to the female reproductive system using the
penis. A sperm cell can then combine with
an egg cell that’s made by the female reproductive system to make a fertilized
egg. This fertilized egg can then make a
baby, which can develop in the female reproductive system.
To answer our question, let’s go
through the parts of the male reproductive system and see how sperm is produced so
it can be released by the penis. Sperm is produced in the testes, or
testis as singular. These are sometimes called the
testicles. Sperm are sensitive to high
temperatures. So the testes are kept outside the
body in a sac of skin called the scrotum. The sperm that are made in the
testes are stored in a region called the epididymis.
When the male is sexually aroused,
the sperm can travel from the epididymis through a tube called the vas deferens. The sperm can then mix with seminal
fluids from different glands to make semen. One of these glands is called the
seminal vesicle. Another gland is called the
prostate gland. And the third gland that adds
seminal fluid to make semen is Cowper’s gland.
Now that semen is prepared, it can
be ejaculated, or ejected, from a tube called the urethra. During sexual intercourse, the
ejaculated semen can enter the female reproductive system, where a sperm cell in the
semen can fertilize an egg cell.
Getting back to our question, we
now know that the seminal vesicle, prostate gland, and Cowper’s gland all contribute
seminal fluid to make semen. Therefore, the option that doesn’t
contribute seminal fluid is given by answer choice (D), vas deferens.
