Chemistry Reference and  Research
           
 
Periodic Table
- standard table
- large table
 
Chemical Elements
- by name
- by symbol
- by atomic number
 
Chemical Properties
 
Chemical Reactions
 
Organic Chemistry
 
Branches of Chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Biochemistry
Computational Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Environmental chemistry
Geochemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Materials science
Medicinal chemistry
Nuclear chemistry
Organic chemistry
Pharmacology
Physical chemistry
Polymer chemistry
Supramolecular Chemistry
Thermochemistry

Hemipenes

Hemipenes are the paired reproductive organs of male snakes and lizards. They are usually held inverted, within the body, and are everted for reproduction via erectile tissue like that in the human penis. Only one is used at a time, and some evidence indicates males alternate use between copulations. The hemipene itself has a variety of shapes, depending upon species. Often the hemipene bears spines or hooks, in order to anchor the male within the female. Some species even have forked hemipenes (each hemipene has two tips). Due to being everted and inverted, hemipenes do not have a completely enclosed channel for the conduction of sperm, but rather a seminal groove which seals as the erectile tissue expands.

01-04-2007 01:16:19
The contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. How to see transparent copy