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Reproductive System > L33. Male Reproductive System > Flashcards

L33. Male Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

Scrotum

A
  • pouch containing testes (x2)
  • left one sits lower than right one
  • divided in the middle internally by a median septum
  • together with the penis makes up the male external genitilia

FUNCTION:

  • to maintain testes at ~2 degrees below body temp
  • sperm production is optimal around 35 degrees (body temp= 37 degrees)
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2
Q

Testes

A
  • 2x oval shaped organs ~4cm long
  • enclosed in a fibrous capsule- tunica albugenia
  • internally divided into compartments which contain seminiferous tubules (site of sperm production)

Contain:

  • Sustenacular (sertoli or nurse) cells
  • Interstitial (Leydig) cells
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3
Q

Sustenacular (sertoli or nurse) cells

A
  • protect, nourish and promote sperm development

- secretes hormone inhibin

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4
Q

Interstitial (Leydig) cells

A
  • testosterone production

- located in between the seminiferous tubules

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5
Q

Sperm

A
  • receive little blood supply
    > develop large mitochondria
    > prepare for hypoxic vagina
  • immobile in the male
  • become mobilised in acidic environment of vagina
  • sperm are protected from the immune system by blood-testes barrier

Structures:

  • acrosome (pocket filled with enzymes)
  • head
  • neck
  • middle piece
  • flagellum
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6
Q

Spermatic Ducts

A
  • tubes the sperm needs to travel in the male before ejaculation

Order sperm travels:

  • seminiferous tubules (sperm production)
  • epididymis
  • vas/ ductus deferens
  • ejaculatory duct
  • prostate
  • urethra
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7
Q

Epididymis

A
  • site of sperm maturation/ storage
  • 20 days to mature
  • fertile for ~40-60 days
  • reabsorbed if not ejaulated
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8
Q

Ductus (vas) deferens

A
  • muscular tube

- joins with semivesical duct to form the ejaculatory duct

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9
Q

Ejaculatory duct

A
  • passes through the prostate gland, empties into the urethra
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10
Q

Accessory gland

A

SEMINAL VESICLES (x2):

  • located prosterior to the urinary bladder
  • size and shape of little finger
  • empties into the ejaculatory duct
PROSTATE GLAND (x1):
- doughnut shaped, surrounds urethra and ejaculatory duct 
BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS (x2):
- small round glands which empty into the urethra
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11
Q

Semen

A
  • fluid expelled during orgasm
  • typically 2-5 ml
  • 20-100 million sperm/ ml

Contents:

  • 10% sperm
  • 90% fluid from accessory glands
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12
Q

Prostatic fluid

A
  • thin, milky white fluid
  • clotting enzymes to make semen sticky
  • anti-biotics to kill bacteria
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13
Q

Seminal vesicle fluid

A
  • viscous, yellowish fluid, alkaline
  • fructose and carbohydrates for nourishing sperm
  • prostaglandins for thinning cervical mucous, promoting reverse peristalsis in female reproductive tract
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14
Q

Bulbourethral fluid

A
  • clear slippery fluid
  • lubricates head of penis
  • flushes out acidic urine in urethra
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15
Q

Penis

A
  • copulatory organ
  • deposits semen into vagina
  • half internal- root, half external- shaft and glands
  • skin around shaft is loose to allow expansion during erection
  • skim continuous over the glans to form the prepuce (foreskin)

Erectile Tissue- like sponge, fills with blood to produce erection
3 bodies of erectile tissue:
- corpus spongiosum (x1 ventrally)
- corpus cavernosum (x2 dorsally)

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16
Q

Hormonal regulation of male reproductive system

A
  1. GnRH from hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete FSH and LH
  2. FSH stimulates sustentacular cells to secrete androgen-binding protein (ABP)
  3. LH stimulates interstitial cells to secrete testosterone
  4. in the presence of ABP, testosterone stimulates spematogenesis
  5. testosterone also stimulates the libido and the development of secondary sex organs and characteristics
  6. testosterone has negative feedback effects that reduce GnRH secretion and pituitary sensitivity to GnRH
  7. sustentacular cells also secrete inhibin, which selectively inhibits FSH secretion and thus reduces sperm production without reducing testosterone secretion
17
Q

Effects of testosterone

A
  • stimulates spermatogenesis
  • high level of testosterone inhibit GnRH release by hypothalamus
    > decrease release of FSH and LH by Ant.pit
  • stimulates development of secondary sex characteristics: enlargement of testes, penis, growth of pubic, axillary and facial hair, voice changes, skin becomes thicker, darker, oily glands, scent glands
  • frequent erections, wet dreams
  • burst in growth
  • stimulates erythropoiesis –> higher haematocrit (RBC)
  • awaken libido

Reproductive System (4 decks)

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