Histo of Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Responsible for sperm and androgen production?
Testes
Responsible for semen production and sperm nutrient sources?
Seminal Vesicle
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral gland
Where are the Testes located?
In the scrotum and associated posteriorly with the epididymis
What lines the testes and is the outermost structure?
Tunica vaginalis
What are the 2 layers of the Tunica Vaginalis?
- Outer parietal layer
2. Inner visceral layer
Deep to the inner visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis is?
Tunica Albuginea (TA)
The testes have septa that creates 250-300 ____ filled with?
Lobules filled with seminiferous tubules
What lines seminiferous tubules?
Seminiferous epithelium
What cell types are located within the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli cells
Spermatogenic cells
Seminiferous tubules are surrounded with 3-5 layers of?
Peritubular myoid cells
Job of peritubular myoid cells?
Create peristaltic contractions to help move the spermatozoa
Where can you find the interstitial cells of leydig?
Found in between seminiferous tubules in the testes
What do the interstitial cells of leydig contain and sit next to?
Contain steroid hormones (testosterone) and lipid droplets and sit next to blood vessels to release those products
How do interstitial cells of leydig stain?
White speckles due to the lipid droplets they contain
What cells accompany the interstitial cells of leydig?
Peritubular myoid cells and fibroblasts
What type of cells are sertoli cells (epithelium)?
Columnar cells with extensive processes
- Extend full thickness of epithelium
What is the hallmark feature of a sertoli cell?
Cyclops nucleus
Sertoli cells surround spermatogenic cells and occupy the spaces between them. What are the sertoli cells bound by?
Tight junctions
The tight junctions that bind sertoli cells together creates?
Sertoli cell - to - Sertoli cell junctional complex
What does the sertoli cell - to - sertoli cell junctional complex then create?
Blood - Testis - barrier
How do you find the Blood - Testis - Barrier?
Draw a horizontal line between the cyclops nuclei of the sertoli cells
What do the spermatogenic cells do?
Replicate and differentiate into mature sperm
What and where are spermatogonia?
Most immature spermatogenic cells that rest on basal lamina
What and where are the spermatids?
More mature spermatogenic cells that are attached to the apical surface of the sertoli cells near the seminiferous tubule lumen
Where are spermatogonia located?
Basement membrane
What are the 2 types of spermatogonia?
Type A
Type B
Type A spermatogonia can divide how?
It can generate copies of ITSELF OR
It can differentiate into a Type B spermatogonia
Type B spermatogonia can divide how?
They enter the meiotic prophase as primary spermatocytes
Spermatocytes undergo ____ meiotic divisions
2
Where do spermatocytes undergo meiotic divisions?
In the blood-testis barrier