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Unit 7 > Histology of the Male Reproductive system > Flashcards

Histology of the Male Reproductive system Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different categories of make factor infertility?

A

Pre-testicular
Testicular
Post testicular
Prostate enlargement

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2
Q

What are some of the causes of pre-testicular infertility?

A

HPT axis failure - low levels of testosterone
Lifestyle - smoking
Genetics

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3
Q

What are some examples of testicular male infertility?

A

Primary spermatogenic failure
Congenital (undescended testes)
Acquired: varicocele - enlargement of veins in the scortum.

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4
Q

What are some post testicular causes of male infertility?

A

Ejaculatroy/ erectile dysfunction
Obstructive azoospermia - sperm not in ejaculate despite being produced normally.
Prostate enlargement - blacks the passsage of semen and urine throught the urethrer.

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5
Q

What is the function of the testes?

A

Spermatocytogenesis
Spermiogenesis

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6
Q

What is the function of the epididymis?

A

The maturation and motility of sperm
Sperm remains in her for 1 month
Also stabilises the cell membrane.
Absords fluid
Phagocytosis
Secretions

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7
Q

What three glands produce seminal fluid?

A

Seminal vesciles
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral glands

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8
Q

What three structures aid in the transport of sperm?

A

The ducuts deferens - recieves fluid from seminal vesicles, from epipdiymis to the ejaculatory duct, reamina for several month
The ejaculatory duct - within the prostate
The penis - conatins the urtethra which deposits sperm within the female reproductive tract.

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9
Q

Describe what the seminferious tubules look like on histological cross section?

A

Are highly coiled so many sections appear on one image.
Have a white hollow lumen.
Has a wel defined basement membrane and myofibrils for transport
Contains germinal epithelium (sperm cells) and Sertoli cells

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10
Q

What is the interstritium in the testes?

A

Surrounds the seminiferous tubules
Contains Leydig Cells
Fibroblasts, collagen, capillaries and lymph vessels
Is dark purple in appearance.

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11
Q

What makes up the blood testes barrier?

A

The seminferous tubules are the inside environment.
The capillaries are located in the interstitium, their endothelial cells lie against the basal lamina of the seminiferous tubules.

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12
Q

What is the function of Leydig cells?

A

Located in the interstitum
Synthesise testosterone
Respons to LH hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

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13
Q

What is the function of sertoli cells?

A

Located in seminiferous tubules
Synthesise hormones/proteins
Respond to FSH
Are support cells for spermatogenesis.

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14
Q

How do you identify Leydig cells in histological cross section?

A

Identify the different basal lamina, use this to find the interstitium.
Looks for round cells, with a round nucleus.
May contain reinkes crystalloids which are rod shaped structures in the cytopslam

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15
Q

How do you identify sertoli cells in histological cross section?

A

Found within the seminiferous tubules
Must not be currently producing sperm or sperm cells obscure the sertoli cells
Are larger than sperm cells with a longer almost triangular nucleus and columnar shaped cell. Found near the peripherly of the seminferous tubules.
have cytoplasmic extensions
Are linked by tight junctions

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16
Q

What is the function of sertoli cells?

A

Guides sperm towards the lumen by forming and reforming tight junction
Part of blood testes barrier - create an immunologically safe environment
Secretess fluid to help mobillise the pserm
Transfer nutrients
Phagocytosis of residual cytoplasm and dead sperm
Produces ABP, inhibin, AMH and oestrogens.

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17
Q

What is the function of androgen binding protein?

A

ABP is produced by sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules.
Testosterone is lilophilic so can enter the seminferous tubules from the interstituim
A high concentration of testosterone is required for spermatogenesis
ABP binds to testoserone in the seminiferous tubules are reduces its lilophilic properties so it is harder for testosterone to leave
This reuslts in a higher concentration of testosterone in the ST compared to systemic circulation.

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18
Q

What are the two componenets of spermatogenesis?

A

Spermatocytogenesis - haploids produces
Spermiogenesis - spermatid becomes specalised into spermatozoa

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19
Q

What is the hierarchy of cells in spermatogenesis?
Where are they found?

A

Spermatagonia type A and type B
Primary spermatocyte
Secondary spermatocyte
Spermatids
Spermatozoa
Upper hiearchy are found closes to the periphery and psermatozoa closer to the lumen.

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20
Q

Explain the process of spermatocytogenesis?

A

A primary spermatognium (2n) undergoes mitosis producing a secondar spermatognium (2n) - ensures enough cells for future sperm production
This grows and gains nutrients to become a primary spermatocyte (2n)
This undergoes phase 1 of meosis to produce secondary spermatocyte (n)
The undergoes the second phase of mitosis to prodcue spermatids (n)

21
Q

What happens during spermiogenesis?

A

Spermatid consists of a nucleus, mitochondria, golgi and cytoplasm.
Golgi becomes the acrosome located as the sperm head ontop of the nucleus
The mitochondria migrate towards tht tail end of the sperm
Here the centriole has started to grow producing a flagellum, mitochondria collect on the proximal part of the flagellum
Residual cytoplasm and not needed components of the cells are lost
The centriole becomes the neck
The mitochondria the mid-piece
Are still immature and immobile

22
Q

What is the clinical relevance of the time duration of spermatogenesis?

A

Takes around 64 days for spermatogenesis to be complete
This long must be waited before repeating semen analysis tests.
This means if a man was ill etc his sperm count may be down for the following 64 days.

23
Q

How can you identify spermatogonia on a histological image?

A

The first cell in sperm production hierachy
Is within the ST found close to the basement membrane
Has a dark purple, clearly defined round nucleus

24
Q

How can spermatazoa be identified on a histological image?

A

Is the lowest hierachy cell in spermatogenesis
Is found closest to the lumen
Has thinner and more columnar shaped nucleus.

25
Q

How can spermatocytes and spermatids by identified on a histological image?

A

Spermatocytes - still quite large nucleus near the basement membrane
Has a fluffy or double layered appearance
Spermatids are located closer to the lumen, have a SMALL dark but solid circular nucleus

26
Q

What are the three different structural sections of a spermatozoa?

A

A head
Midpiece
Tail

27
Q

What is the clinical relevance of semen analysis?
What do they test for?

A

Male factor infertility accounts for 50% of infertility issues
First investigation is the semen analysis
Measures the quantitiy of sperm (volume, concentration, sperm per ejaculate) the morphology, the motility and vitality.
may test for anti-sperm antibodies

28
Q

What is the difference between motility and progressive motility?

A

Motility is simple bing able to move
Progresssive motility allows movement in a specif direction

29
Q

How important is sperm concentration is semen analysis?

A

Very important
Sperm concentration drops rapidly from the cervix to the egg
This is due to the immune response of the female and the acid vagina environment
Drops from around 10^7 to 10^2/3

30
Q

How important is sperm morphology in a semen analysis?

A

Not very important
It is normal for up to 95% of sperm to be malformed, commonly with different head shhapes, or double heads/tails and changes to the acrosome and midpiece
Is insufficient.

31
Q

Are mobility anf vitality important in a semen analysis?

A

Yes, must be considered together a vital but non mobile sperm will not function.
If low motility is identified then vitality is often tested.

32
Q

How can the epididymis be identified on a histlogical cross section?

A

Tall cloumnar epithelium with basal nuclei (found at the bottom of the cell)
Rim looks like a curled up centipede
Lumen contains clumps of spermatozoa
Tall microvilli
Is not as tightly coiled as the seminiferous tubules.

33
Q

What does the ductus deferens look like in histological cross section?

A

Three thick muscular layers - provide the froce to ejaculate sperm, three times the width of the lumen easy.
Tall columnar epithelium with folds (known as the stellate lumen)
Widens at the end (ampulla) to recieve fluid from the seminal vesciles

34
Q

What are the three different layers of muscle in the ductus deferenes?

A

Inner longitudinal
Circular layers
Outer longitudinal layer

35
Q

What happens to the sperm upon ejaculation?

A

Sperm are transported from the ductus defeernes
Recieves secretions from the seminal, vesciles, prostate and bulourethral glands
Now called semen
Enters the ejaculatory duct and then leaves the penis by the urethra.

36
Q

What is the function of the seminal vesciles?

A

Found posterior to the bladder
Drain into the ampulla of the ductus deferens and denotes the beginning of the ajaculatory duct
Secretes thick alkaline fluid (neutralise vaginal acidic ph), fructose (energy) and coagulation factors (sperm clumps together to aid survival in early transport through the female reporudtive system)
Makes up 60 to 70% of the final semen volume

37
Q

What is the function of the prostate?

A

Found around the neck of the bladder and the urethra
Think milk fluid secretions with cirate and zinc
Produce prostate specific antigen which acts after a time delay to liquify coagulated ejaculate to seperate sperm in the later part of the female reproductive tract
20% of the final semen volume

38
Q

How can the prostate be divided up in lobes?

A

Into 5 lobes based on the position relative to the urethra and ajacultory duct

39
Q

How is the prostate divided into zones?

A

For histological divsion
Central -25% surrounds the ejaculatory duct
Transitional - 5-10% surrounds the urthera
Peripheral - 65% - posterior and inferior section
Stroma - anterior section (no secretory)

40
Q

What are the three major componenets of the prostate?

A

Epithelium, glands and secretions

41
Q

Explain the organisation of the prostate tissue?

A

Secretory glands open into the urtehtra
Glands sit in a supportive stromal network of fibroblasts, collagn and smooth muscle
Septa divide ill defind lobes
Ducts open onto the urethral sinuses on eiher side of the longituidanl ridge called the urethra crest (paler purple)

42
Q

What are the different glands of the prostate?

A

The inner periurethral - opens directly onto the urethra
Outer periurethral - opens via short ducts into the urethra
Peripheral zone - opens via long ducts into the urrthra
Forms concentric rings from the centre outwards, outer most layer is smooth muscle and capsule
Each gland chas septae.

43
Q

What is the deal with the prostate epithelium?

A

The epithelium has tall columnar/cuboidal cells with pale cytoplasm.
basal staining - pathcy purple nuclei
In older individuals condensed glycoprotein secretions may calcify in the lumen and are called corpora amylacea (not pathological)

44
Q

What do the prostate gland secretions contain?

A

Acid phosphatase
Citric acid
Fibrinolysin
Amylase
Proteins

45
Q

How do the zone where prostate enlargement is found realte to pathological and no pathological conditions?

A

Patholigical cancers are oftne in the peripheral zone
Natural enlargement is often found in the transitional zone around the urethra.

46
Q

What is the function of the bulbourethral glands?

A

Pea sized glands, found in the external urethral sphincter
Sits between the pelvic floor and the urogenital triangle
Drains into the membranous urthera
Secretes mucus - 10% of final semen volume

47
Q

What is the purpose of the penis ejaculate?

A

is 90% semen and 10% sperm
Semen transported through the penile urethra
deposits in the upper vagina, must travel to the site of fertilisation.

48
Q

What is the mechanism of penile erection?

A

The corpora cavernosum is a smooth muscle with lost of sinusoids and an abundant blood supply
When the smooth muscle relaxes the arteries dilate (parasympathetic) and the veins are squished/flattened
This causes blood the be trapped in the sinusoids until the sympathetic tone increases.

49
Q

What is the histological cross section of the penis?

A

2 dorsal corpora cavernosa
1 ventral corpus spongiosum
surrounded by a fibrous capsule
The penile urethra runs through the corpus spongiosum

Unit 7 (20 decks)

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