Histo Male Reproductive Flashcards
The scrotum is 2-3 degrees lower than the rest o the body, how does this happen?
through countercurrent exchange via pampiniform plexus
What four things make up the testis?
tunica vaginalis (visceral leaf)
tunica albuginea
tunica vasculosa
seminiferous tubules
What are the 2 functions of the testis?
gametogenesis
steroidogenesis
Describe all the layers of the testis and scrotum (start inside out).
seminiferous tubules with fibrous septae tunica vasculosa tunica albuginea tunica vaginalis (visceral leaf) mesothelial cells parietal tunica vaginalis colles fascia dartos muscle epidermis with hair follicle, sebaceous gland, eccrine sweat gland and duct
What are the parts of the scrotum?
mesothelial cells parietal tunica vaginalis colles fascia dartos muscle epidermis with hair follicle, sebaceous gland, eccrine sweat gland and duct
Is there a space between the scrotum and testis?
yes it is between the tunica vaginalis (visceral leaf) and the parietal tunica vaginalis (on scrotum)
What are the 2 functions of the testis?
endocrine-> steroidogenesis to make testosterone
exocrine-> gametogenesisi to make sperm
The seminiferous tubules of the testis have two types of epithelium, what are they?
spermatogenic and sertoli cells
What does the peritubular connective tissue sheath contain?
blood vessels
lymphatics
myoepithelial cells
Explain the structure of the seminiferous tubules.
spermatogenic (make sperm) and sertoli cells (support sperm)
basement membrane
peritubular CT
What will the seminiferous tubules be like until puberty? What happens after puberty?
solid cords until puberty
site of spermatogenesis
The epithelium of the seminiferous tubules sit on what?
a basement membrane and connective tissue sheath
Between the seminiferous tubules you have interstitial space where you will find the (blank).
leydig cells (or interstitial cells) make testosterone*
The sertoli cells of the testis are all connected to each other through junctional complexes. T or F
T
Spermatogenesis occurs in portions of seminiferous tubules in (blank) which is referred to as the cycles of the seminiferous tubules.
waves
spermatogoonia have synchronous development via (blank)
intercellular bridges
how many days does it take for spermatogenesis to occur?
74 days in humans
What 2 hormones are needed for spermatogenesis?
FSH and testosterone
What 2 hormones are need for testosterone production?
LH and prolactin
Where do spermatogoonia come from?
yolk sac
(blank) stem cells undergo mitosis and become spermatogoonia
Type A primitive
(blank) stem cells undergo meiosis (haploid 23 chromosomes) and become secondary spermatocytes
Type B stem cells
Where does crossing over occur?
in primary spermatocytes
Explain spermatogenesis
type A primitive stem cells-> spermatogonia->Type B stem cells-> primary spermatocytes-> secondary spermatocytes-> spermatids supported by sertoli cells-> spermiogenesis-> spermatozoa.
What is the meiosis part of spermatogenesis?
primary spermatocyte-> 2ndary spermatocyte-> 2ndary spermatocyte-> spermatids
What do type B stem cells turn into?
primary spermatocyte
What do dark A stem cells?
they are reserve stem cells
What do pale A stem cells become?
they are mitotically active and become Type A or Type B stem cells
What is spermiogeneis?
the creation of spermatozoa from spermatids
What are the morphological phases of spermiogenesis?
Golgi phase
Cap phase/acrosomal phase
maturation phase
What is the acrosomal/cap phase of spermiogenesis?
Formation of the acrosomal cap
What is the acrosome made up of?
hyaluronidase
neuraminidase
acid phosphatase
proteases
What is the maturation phase of spermiogenesis?
nucleus is flattened
mitochondria
elongation
loss of excess cytoplasm
Are newly released sperm mobile?
no they are immobile
How do spermatozoa become mobile?
the epididymis gives it motility
Are spermatozoa capable of feritilization before it gets to the female reproductive system?
no, it is incapable, it must undergo capacitation in the uterine tube of the female reproductive system
What is capacitation exactly?
removal and replacement of glycocalyx on the sperm membrane in the uterine tube
Are all sertolic cells contiguous (touching)?
yes
What are the columnar cells which rest on the basement membrane and reach the lumen?
sertoli cells
(blank) form unique types of junctional complexes between themselves and the developing spermatogonia.
sertoli cells
What controls spermiogenesis (3rd phase of spermatogenesis)?
sertoli cells
(blank) are responsible for adlumenal and basal microenvironments.
sertoli cells
sertoli cells possess (blank) receptors
FSH
Sertoli cells are the primary target for (blank) and (blank). What is clinically significant about this?
testosterone and androgens
This means sertoli cells are the primary regulators of spermatogenesis
What is the blood testis barrier?
Sertoli cells create a barrier that protects against autoimmune response, protects against drugs, and toxic chemicals
When do sertoli cells phagocytize things?
during spermiogenesis they phagocytize excess material
SO the sertoli cells are supportive cells of the seminiferous tubules that aid the creation of sperm from the spermiogenic cells by regulating the (Blank)
microenvironment
What creates ABP and how?
Under the influence of FSH, sertoli cells will make ABP
What does ABP due and why is it important?
ABP (androgen binding protein) is a glycoprotein that binds testosterone and DHT and estrogen, that concentrates these in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. The high concentration of these hormones allows for spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.
How do sertolic cells control FSH production?
by secreting inhibin (in inhibits FSH)
In males, the anti-mullerian hormone gets rid of the paramesonephric duts (mullerian ducts) so that the female internal genitalia doesn’t develop. What produces this hormone?
Sertoli Cells
What synthesizes and secretes testicular transferrin?
sertoli cells
What synthesizes and secretion plasminogen activator (breaks down clots)?
sertoli cells
What secretes testicular fluid which is additive to semen?
sertoli cells
What all do Sertolic cells secrete?
ABP (concentrate testosterone) Inhibin (control FSH production) Anti-mullerian hormone (so no female parts) Testicular fluid (adds to semen) Testicular transferrin (for iron) Plasminogen activator (break down clots)
The interstitial cells of the testis are also called what?
leydig cells (produce testosterone)
Other than leydig cells, what else is found in the interstitium?
blood vessels and lymphatics
There are fetal leydig cells that do what? upon birth what happens to these cells? At puberty what happens?
fetal leydig cells produce testosterone which is responsible for sexual differentiation.
At birth you lose these cells
At puberty you gain adult leydig cells which produce testosterone (under LH stimulation)
How do you get adult leydig cell to produce testosterone?
LH stimulates these cells
Interstitial cells/ leydig cells have a special item inside of them, what is it?
crystallized proteins (crystals of Reinke)
What accentuates steroidogenesis of interstitial cells and how?
prolactin does by influencing the cells to uptake more cholesterol for steroid synthesis
(blank) is necessary for spermiogenesis and for male differentiation in utero.
testosterone
What influences metabolism, affects behavior, libido and the development and maintenance of accessory glands and tracts?
testosterone
What is responsible for the development of secondary male sexual characteristics?
testosterone
So what does testosterone do?
it makes you have male parts,
allows you to make sperm
makes you want to have sex and metabolize things
How do you regulate spermatogenesis?
maintain a good temp (35 degrees)
FSH and LH
Testosterone
ABP
How does FSH and LH help with spermatogenesis?
FSH promotes synthesis of ABP by sertoli cells
LH stimulates interstitial cells to produce testosterone
What does testosterone have negative feedback on?
What does inhibin have negative feedback on?
LH and GnRH
FSH and GnRH
Explain the path that sperm take inside the testi to the ductus defern
Seminiferous tubules go through series of ducts called the rete testes, which goes to ductuli efferentes, which go into the epididymis and then to the ductus deferens
Why do the efferent ductules have a sawtooth appearance?
fferbecause they are filled with really tall and short columnar cells with basal cells creating psuedostratified epithelium. With or without cilia.
What is the function of the efferent ductules having their ciliated and saw toothed shape?
to help move sperm to the epididymis
What surrounds the efferent ductules?
thin layer of circular smooth muscle
What kind of epithelium does the epididymis have and what kind of hair does it have?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia
What kind of cells are found within the epididymis?
basal cells and principle cells and layers of circular smooth muscle.
What kind of cells are basal cells?
stem cells
What do principal cells of the epididymis do?
function in fluid resorption secrete protein which initiates motility secretes glycerophosphocholine (inhibits capacitation)
What does glycerophosphocholine do?
inhibits capacitation
What does the epididymis serve as in humans?
as a storage site
Basal and principle cells function in absorbing (blank) and secrete a protein that initiates (blank).
seminiferous fluid
motility
What kind of epithelium does the ductus (vas) deferens have?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia
So all the duct systems (efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens) have what kind of epithelium?
all have pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Only the efferent ductules have cilia
the rest of stereocilia
What does the lamina propria of the ductus (vas) deferens have?
elastic fibers
What are the 3 layers of the smooth muscle?
IL , MC, OL
Does the ductus (vas) deferens have, a serosa or adventitia?
adventitia
What does the ductus deferens turn into?
ejaculatory duct entering into the prostatic urethra
What kind of epithelium does the seminal vesicle have?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium (that varies in height w/ testosterone)
What does the seminal vesicle have in the LP?
elastic fibers
What 2 things have elastic fibers in the LP?
seminal vesicle, ductus deferens
What makes the pseudostratified columnar epithelium vary in height?
testosterone
What are the 2 layers of muscle in the seminal vesicles?
ICOL
The seminal vesicles release a yellow secretory product into the semen, which is made yellow by the pigment (blank)
lipochrome
The secretory product of the seminal vesicles have what in it and what percent of ejaculate is made up by this?
fructose, prostaglandins, lipochrome pigment
70%
(blank) surrounds the urethra as it exits the bladder.
prostate
(blank) consists of 30-50 tubuloaveolar glands in a fibromuscular stroma.
prostate
The prostate is covered by what?
a fibroelastic capsule which penetrates and divides the prostate into lobes
What kind of the epithelium does the prostate have?
simple or pseudostratified columnar epithelium
The prostate has calcifications which are called…?
prostatic concretions or corpora amylacea
The prostatic calcifications increase with (blank)
age
What contributes to 25% of the ejaculate and is whitish in color and has a ph of 6.5?
prostatic fluid
What is rich in acid phosphatase, citric acid and fibrinolysin?
prostatic fluid
The prostatic gland has three concentric layers are the prostatic urethra. What are these three layers?
mucosal gland
submucousal gland
main prostatic gland
In the prostate, what gland is closest to the urethra?
the mucosal gland
In the prostate, what gland is peripheral to the mucosal glands?
submucosal glands
In the prostate, what gland is the outermost gland, what is significant about this?
main prostatic gland
This is where most prostatic carcinomas occur (posterior lobe, 33% of men over 75)
How can you detect prostate cancer?
through PSA levels and digital exams
What does the fibrinolysin of the prostate gland secretion do?
it helps liquefy the semen
Where are the bulbourethral glands(cowpers) located, what do they do?
located in UG diaphragm and empties secretions into the penile urethra and releases pre-ejaculate
What is the general organization of the penis?
Three cyclindrical bundles of spongy erectile tissue surrounded by CT sheath and covered by hairless thin skin.
What is the corpora cavernosa made up of?
2 dorsal erectile cylinders surrounded by thick tunica albuginea
What is the corpus spongiosum?
it has the penile urethra within it and is a single ventral cylinder surrounded by very thin CT.
What is the penile urethra filled with?
variety of epithelium
glands of Littre
What all does the erectile tissue have within it?
helicine arteries endothelial cushions (which are actually just smooth muscle just called endothelial cushions because they push into the endothelium)
Explain an erection
Parasympathetic makes NO release and causes vessels to dilate and push the tunica albuginea up to block the deep vein and artery which doesn’t allow the blood to leave.
Erection is due to a (blank) response
Emission is due to a (blank) response
Ejaculation is due to a (blank) response
parasympathetic
sympathetic
somatomotor response
Point and Shoot and Secrete
What is emission exactly?
movement of semen to the prostatic urethra
What is ejaculation?
Firing of bulbourethral prostate, seminiferous tubules/epididymis, seminal vesicles
What is considered normal sperm count?
What is considered sterile?
50-100 million sperm/cc
less than 20 million sperm/cc
What forms the glans penis and contains elastic fibers and is less turgid in erection?
corpus spongiosum
What is the order of secretion from glands?
bulbourethral glands
prostate
testicular duct
seminal vesicles
