4.1 the duct system & spermatic cord (workbook) Flashcards
where do sperms leave the testis via?
the interconnected passageways (rete testis) in the mediastinum
where do sperms enter after leaving the testis?
a series of coiled efferent ductules (ductuli efferentes)
where do efferent ducts emerge?
on the posterior surface of the testis
what do the efferent ducts join to form?
a long, single convoluted tubule (ductus epididymis)
what is ductus epididymis continuous with?
a straight, thick-walled ductus deferens (vas deferens) that forms part of the spermatic cord
anatomically, what does the epididymis consist of?
head (caput)
body (corpus)
tail (caudal)
where is the epididymis located?
on the superior and posterolateral surface of the testis
what is the main function of the epididymis?
to transport sperm, maturation and storage
during the passage through epididymis, what do the sperms undergo?
structural maturation and become motile - the capabilities that are essential for successful fertilisation
where is sperm stored after epididymis?
in the tail segment until ejaculation
what is the ductus deferens (vas deferens)?
a straight muscular tube that emerges from the cauda epididymis
what is the ductus deferens (vas deferens) contained within?
the spermatic cord
what is the main function of ductus deferens?
transport the sperms rapidly to the prostatic urethra
what is the terminal portion of the ductus deferens called?
ampulla
what forms the ejaculatory duct?
the terminal portion (ampulla) of ductus deferens and duct of the seminal vesicle
where does the ejaculatory duct open into?
prostatic urethra
what allows rapid contraction of ductus deferens?
rich autonomic innervation of SM fibres of the ductus deferens
what does rapid contraction of ductus deferens lead to?
propel tube’s contents towards ejaculatory ducts
what happens during ejaculation?
the ejaculatory duct and the duct of the seminal vesicle dilate to facilitate the entry of the sperms and seminal gland secretions into the prostatic urethra
what is the ductus epididymis lined by?
tall, pseudostratified columnar epithelium
on the inner surface of the basement membrane, what forms?
small basal cells form a discontinuous layer
what do the tall columnar cells of the ductus epididymis have?
tufts of non-motile cytoplasmic processes called stereocilia projecting into the lumen
where is the ductus epididymis?
distal end of epididymis, but before ductus deferens (vas deferens)
what is contained near the lumen of the ductus epididymis (where the stereocilia project)?
cytoplasm of tall cells contains occasionally dark-staining granules
what is the basement membrane of the ductus epididymis surrounded on the outside by?
a highly developed network of capillaries and a circular layer of SM fibres
what is in a section of the spermatic cord?
the ductus deferens is a thick, muscular tube
what surrounds the spermatic cord?
SM coat
what does the SM coat of the spermatic cord consist of?
inner and outer longitudinal layers and intermediate circular layer of muscle
what is the epithelium lining of the spermatic cord?
pseudostratified, columnar and the cells usually have stereocilia
where is the epithelium of the spermatic cord?
lies on a thin lamina propria containing a large number of elastic fibres
what is the result of large number of elastic fibres of the epithelium of spermatic cord? (fixed preparations)
in fixed preparations, the mucous membrane is thrown into numerous folds
what surrounds the ductus deferens?
a collection of small veins (pampiniform plexus)
what is the pampiniform plexus? (in terms of spermatic cord)
most bulky constituents of the spermatic cord
what is also present within the spermatic cord aside from pampiniform plexus?
numerous arteries, lymphatic vessels and nerves
what is the spermatic cord enclosed by?
a discontinuous layer of longitudinally-oriented strands of straited muscle - cremaster muscle
