Lecture 4: Histology of the Male Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four parts of the male reproductive system?

A
  1. Testis-production of spermatozoa and secretion of male sex hormones
  2. Genital ducts: collect, store and conduct spermatozoa from each testis
  3. Accessory glands: secrete a NUTRITIVE and LUBRICATING fluid called seminal fluid
  4. Penis: copulating organ
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2
Q

What is spermiogenesis?

A

The process by which haploid spermatids are transformed into spermatozoa

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3
Q

Where does spermatogenesis take place?

A

The pyramidal compartments (lobules)

-empties into rete testis

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4
Q

What are myoid cells?

A

They have components of smooth muscle; helps sperm propel from seminiferous tubule to rete testis
Lie in the BASAL LAMINA of the seminiferous tubule
Help with spermatogenesis

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5
Q

What are characteristics of Leydig cells?

A
  1. Secretes testosterone

2. Has eccentric nuclei

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6
Q

What is the point of cytoplasmic bridges?

A

To exchange proteins from sperm to sperm (because some sperm only have X while others only have Y)

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7
Q

What is the tunica albuginea?

A

The dense fibrous capsule the surrounds the testis

Also surrounds the corpus cavernosum/spongiosum

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8
Q

How is testis divided?

A

By interlobular septa into 250 pyramidal compartment or testicular lobules
Each esticular lobule contiains 1-4 seminiferous tubules

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9
Q

What are seminiferous tubules?

A

Where spermatozoa are ultimately produced

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10
Q

What lies between seminiferous tubules?

A

FibroCOLLAGENOUS tissue that contains

1. leydig cells (interstitial cells)
2. fibroblasts
3. collagen
4. blood and lymphatic vessels
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11
Q

What is TEX14? Significance?

A

A testis-expressed gene for a novel protein that localizes to germ cell intercellular BRIDGES
No TEX14 = no cytoplasmic bridges
Hence TEX14/cytoplasmic bridges = essential for fertility

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12
Q

What happens when you have no intercellular bridges?

A

You halt the first meiotic division of male spermatogenesis

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13
Q

What is spermatozoa?

A

The PROPER term for mature sperm

Mature sperm = spermatozoa

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14
Q

Where are spermatogonia located?

A

CLOSEST to the basal lamina

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15
Q

What are the two types of spermatogonia?

A

Type A spermatogonia: dark chromatin, dark all over

Type B spermatogonia: condensed chromatin

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16
Q

What are the principal changes that occur to spermatids in spermiogenesis?

A
1. Development of an acrosome
Acrosome = lysosome
2. Creation of a residual body
3. condensation and elongation of nucleus
4. Development of flagellum
5. loss of much of cytoplasm
17
Q

What is the most notable difference between gametogenesis of male and female?

A

Each spermatocyte that undergoes meiosis, you get 4 gametes

Female oogona that undergo meiosis only forms 1 gamete

18
Q

What is the course of male gaemetogenesis?

A
  1. Spermatogonium
  2. Spermatogonia
  3. Primary Spermatocytes
    (Reductional division = 2n  n)
  4. Secondary Spermatocytes
    (Equational division n  n)
  5. Spermatid
  6. Late spermatid
  7. Mature spermatoZOA
19
Q

What are the stages of spermiogenesis?

A
  1. Golgi phase
  2. cap phase
  3. Acrosome phase
  4. Maturation phase
20
Q

What is Kartagener Syndromer?

A

Immotile spermatozoa and resulting infertility
Absence of DYNEIN or other proteins required for flagellar motility
Associated with chronic respiratory infections because this means that respiratory epithelial cilia aren’t working either

21
Q

What does Type B spermatogonia do?

A

Differentiates into primary spermatocytes, which then enter meiosis

22
Q

Can you see secondary spermatocytes in cross section?

A

No because this is such a transient state

23
Q

What is the role of Sertoli cells?

A
  1. Support, protect and provide nutrition to the developing germ cells
  2. Phagocytize residual bodies and abnormal germ cells
  3. Secretes the following:
    i. androgen-binding protein (concentrated in luminal side of Sertoli Cell)
    ii. Inhibin (negative feedback for FSH)
    iii. Activin (positive feedback)
  4. Produce anti-Mullerian Hormone (fetal stage)
24
Q

What is preleptotene?

A

Earliest stage of prophase in meiosis

25
Q

What are the two compartments of the seminiferous tubule as determined by sertoli cell? Significance?

A
  1. Basal
    • contains the spermatogonia
    • cells in this compartment have access to material found in blood
  2. adluminal
    • contains spermatocytes and spermatids
    • is protected from blood by blood-testis barrier
26
Q

What is the composition of blood-testis barrier?

A

Formed by the tight junctions of the Sertoli Cells

27
Q

What are the functions of the blood-testis barrier?

A
  1. Divides the testis into a basal compartment and an adlumenal compartment
  2. Protects more advanced stages of spermatogenesis from blood-borne products
    • so won’t get killed by lymphocytes
28
Q

What is the function of the epididymis?

A
  1. Accumulation, storage and maturation of sperm
  2. Epithelium of epididymis
    • resorbs testicular fluid
    • phagocytizes residual bodies and degenerate spermatozoa
    • secretes glycoproteins, sialic acid, glycerylphophorylcholine
29
Q

What is the process of sperm maturation in the epididymis?

A

Includes stabilization of condensed chromatin

  • changes membrane surface charge and new surface proteins
  • acquisition of motility
30
Q

What is the epithelium of the epididymis and vas deferens?

A

Pseudostratified epithelium with STEREOCILIA

31
Q

What is characteristic of the vas deferens?

A

Has 3 smooth muscle layers that propel sperm forward

Pseudostratified epithelium as well

32
Q

What is the the function of seminal vesicle?

A
Secretes the following into the semen:
1. Fructose
2. Citrate
3. Prostaglandins
4. Proteins
Secretes 70% of human ejaculate
33
Q

What is corpus amylacea?

A

Dense bodies of glycoproteins
Calcified in older men
Seen in prostate gland

34
Q

What are the hallmark features of the Benign prostate hyperplasia?

A

Enlargment of prostatic glands in mucous and submucosal gland groups due to increase in number and size of glands and ducts
Increase in fibromuscular stroma
Can compress urethra to fuck with micturition
NOT prostate cancer because only peripheral glands can lead to that

35
Q

What do the ductus efferent ducts look like?

A

Single layer epithelium
Surrounded by ciliar to propel nonmotile spermatozoa
Smooth muscle around each ductus
Efferent ductus  ductus epididymis

36
Q

What is the prostate?

A

A collection of 30-50 branched tubuloaveolar glands that empties into the urethra