Directions: In the following questions a statement of assertion is fo...
In human male, one pair of testes are present in thin walled skin pouches called scrotal sacs (so are extra abdominal) hanging from the lower abdominal wall between the legs. Testes is held in position in the scrotum by gubernaculum and spermatic cord. Scrotal sac act as thermoregulators and keep the testicular temperature 2°C lower than body temperature for normal spermatogenesis, as high abdominal temperature kills the spermatogenic tissue.
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Directions: In the following questions a statement of assertion is fo...
Assertion: In human males, testes are extra-abdominal and lie in scrotal sacs.
Reason: Scrotum acts as a thermoregulator and keeps testicular temperature lower by 2°C for normal spermatogenesis.
Explanation:
The testes in human males are located outside the abdominal cavity and are situated in the scrotal sacs. This is an anatomical adaptation that serves an important function in maintaining the appropriate temperature for spermatogenesis, the process of sperm production.
The scrotum acts as a thermoregulator for the testes by keeping the temperature lower than the core body temperature. The reason behind this is that the process of spermatogenesis requires a slightly lower temperature than the normal body temperature. The scrotum achieves this by allowing the testes to hang away from the body, thus exposing them to a cooler environment.
The scrotum has several mechanisms to regulate temperature. It contains a network of blood vessels known as the pampiniform plexus, which helps in heat exchange. The blood vessels in the plexus act as a countercurrent heat exchanger, which means that the warm arterial blood supplying the testes is cooled down by the cooler venous blood returning from the testes. This helps in reducing the temperature of the testes.
Additionally, the scrotum also undergoes contraction and relaxation of its smooth muscles in response to external temperature changes. When it is cold, the scrotal muscles contract, pulling the testes closer to the body to maintain a higher temperature. Conversely, when it is warm, the scrotal muscles relax, allowing the testes to hang away from the body and cool down.
Therefore, the reason provided is a correct explanation for the assertion. The extra-abdominal position of the testes in scrotal sacs allows for the regulation of testicular temperature, which is essential for normal spermatogenesis.
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