229 male histology

Question 1

What is the order of flow through the testes interior and exterior?

Answer 1

seminiferous tubules –> straight tubules –> rete testis in mediastinum –> epididymis –> ductus deferens

Question 2

What is the derivation of the interior and exterior testis?

Answer 2

interior testis derived from primary sex cords

exterior testis derived from mesonephric tubules

Question 3

What is the histology of seminiferous tubules?

Answer 3

lobules that are highly coiled and stratified

Question 4

What is the histology of the tunic albuginea?

Answer 4

dense CT projecting parallel septae into testes

Question 5

What cells make up the stroma of the testis?

Answer 5

leydig cells

Question 6

What is the histology of leydig cells vs. sertoli cells?

Answer 6

leydig = big round nuclei

sertoli cells = flattened, light-staining nuclei

Question 7

What is the histology of the rete testis?

Answer 7

simple cuboidal epithelium that becomes pseudostratified

Question 8

What are the different types of sperm as they develop?

Answer 8

spermatogonia (mitosis)
spermatocytes (meiosis)
spermatids (rounder cells)

Question 9

What types of cells make up the efferent ductules of the epididymis?

Answer 9

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 10

What changes occur in sperm in the epididymis?

Answer 10

sperm are mature but acquire motility here

Question 11

What type of cells make up the ductus deferens?

Answer 11

pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia

Question 12

What is the role of the ductus deference in sperm maturation?

Answer 12

transports spermatozoa from epididymis to ejaculatory ducts

Question 13

What is the function of the prostate in sperm development?

Answer 13

secretes alkaline fluid and nutrients (sorbitol, citrate, prostaglandins) into the sperm

Question 14

What are the 6 major functions of sertoli cells?

Answer 14

blood-testis barrier
androgen-binding protein production
metabolic/structural support
phagocytosis
AMH production
activation of leydig cells and pituitary (also negative feedback to pituitary)

Question 15

What is the function of the glands/vesicles associated with ejaculation?

Answer 15

bulbourethral glands - lubrication
prostate gland - fluid to liquify semen
seminal vesicles - nourish and add viscosity to ejaculate
bulbospongiosus muscle contracts to expel semen

Question 16

What is the mechanism of erection?

Answer 16

vascular sinuses in the corpus cavernosa and spongiosum engorge with blood within the deep fascia

Question 17

What changes occur during spermiogenesis?

Answer 17

round –> spermatid shape
acrosome enlarges (with enzymes to penetrate egg)
production of MT doublets for flagellum
sheath of mitochondria wrap axoneme by nucleus

Question 18

What is the process of spermiation?

Answer 18

release of sperm into lumen of seminiferous tubule

Question 19

How long does the process of sperm maturation/production take?

Answer 19

74 days

Question 20

What is capacitation? Where does it occur?

Answer 20

capacitation is the process of removing glycoproteins from the head of sperm to allow fertilization of ovum
occurs within the female genital tract

Question 21

What is the acrosome reaction?

Answer 21

a reaction that permits penetration of zona pellucida and oocyte membrane
release of hyaluronidase and proteases facilitate entry
two mechanisms for blocking other sperm: “fast block” –> depolarization of ovum membrane; “slow block” –> hardening of zona pellucida

Question 22

What is the most common site of benign tumors of the prostate? Malignant?

Answer 22

benign: mostly in transitional zone (can be in periurethral zone)
malignant: peripheral zone