Making of the male Flashcards
Where do testicles form
in the gonadal region of the foetus
When do testicles descend?
descend to scrotum before puberty
What is Anorchidism?
Failure of testicular development
What is Cryptorchidism?
temporary or permanent failure to descend
What are pendulous testicles?
they protrude ventrally in the inguinal region
What are non-pendulous testicles?
Protrude caudally in the perineal region
What are intermediate testicles?
Protrude into caudal inguinal region
What suspends the testes?
vascular cone (connective tissue with nerve input and lymphatic drainage)
What is the function of the leydig cells?
androgen synthesis
How do sperm leave the testes?
via the epididymis
What are the seminiferous tubules?
an immune privileged site, any damage can lead to infertility
What is spermiogenesis?
The process where rounded sperm cells become sperm (they mature)
What is the function of the midpiece of the sperm?
the ‘mitochondrial engine’ that provides power/ energy to the flagellum
What is anorchidism?
failure of testicular development
What is cryptochordism?
failure of testicles to descend
Where are leydig cells found?
In the interstitial tissue that surrounds the testes
What are the 4 different stages during the production of sperm?
Spermatogonia-> Sperrmatocytes -> Spermatids -> Spermatozoa
What are the 4 main things that happen during cytoplamsic remodelling of sperm?
Chromatin condenses, Flagellum and midpiece form, Acrosome is formed and the cytoplasm is shed
What is another name for the ‘midpiece’ of the sperm?
‘the engine’
What are the two functions of testosterone that has been produced by the leydig cells?
Negative feedback on the hypothalamus (except during puberty)
Acts on the sertoli cells to trigger the development of inhibin
What is the function of inhibin?
Triggers the development of sperm
How can you estimate DSO?
scrotal dimensions
Where is sperm stored after it has been produced?
The Epididymis
What do spermatogonia divide by mitosis to form?
spermatocytes
What does LH act on in the male/
LH acts on the leydig cells which causes the production of testosterone
Where are spermatids usually found?
In the adlumenal compartment
Why do spermatogonia become spermatocytes?
Because spermatogonia are too large to pass through the blood-testis barrier
What cells does FSH from the pituitary trigger?
Sertoli cells and therefore inhibin and spermatgenesis
What cells does LH from the pituitary trigger?
Leydig cells and therefore an increase in testosterone (which has a negative feedback effect)
What effect does testosterone have on the sertoli cells?
Increases spermatogenesis
What is the function of ABP and what cells produce it?
Stimulates spermatogenesis and is produced by sertoli cells in the basal compartment
When do the barriers between the interstitial space and the seminiferous tubules form?
They form at puberty to prevent movement between substances
