Gynecology Sexual anatomy

Aedeagus Wikipedia

An aedeagus (plural aedeagi) is a reproductive organ of male insects through which they secrete sperm from the testes during copulation with a female insect. The sperm contains capsules called spermatophores, which contain the spermatozoa. In addition to the spermatophores, in some insect species the aedeagus also discharges a spermatophylax, which serves as a nutrition|nutriment to the female.

The aedeagus is part of the male's abdomen, which is the most caudal of the three segments of an insect. The pair of testes of the insect are connected to the aedeagus through the so-called genital ducts. The aedeagus is part of the male insect's phallus, which also includes insome species the valva|valvae, which are paired organs which help the male hold on to the female during copulation.

During copulation, the aeadagus connects with the ovipore of a female.

In males of most species of Lepidoptera (e.g. moths), the aedegaus has a sheath which is supported by an organ called the juxta, which is located between the aforementioned valvae.

insect-stub

Category:Reproductive system
Category:Sexual anatomy

Last Modified:   2005-12-19