Making of the male

Question 1

Where do testicles form

Answer 1

in the gonadal region of the foetus

Question 2

When do testicles descend?

Answer 2

descend to scrotum before puberty

Question 3

What is Anorchidism?

Answer 3

Failure of testicular development

Question 4

What is Cryptorchidism?

Answer 4

temporary or permanent failure to descend

Question 5

What are pendulous testicles?

Answer 5

they protrude ventrally in the inguinal region

Question 6

What are non-pendulous testicles?

Answer 6

Protrude caudally in the perineal region

Question 7

What are intermediate testicles?

Answer 7

Protrude into caudal inguinal region

Question 8

What suspends the testes?

Answer 8

vascular cone (connective tissue with nerve input and lymphatic drainage)

Question 9

What is the function of the leydig cells?

Answer 9

androgen synthesis

Question 10

How do sperm leave the testes?

Answer 10

via the epididymis

Question 11

What are the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 11

an immune privileged site, any damage can lead to infertility

Question 12

What is spermiogenesis?

Answer 12

The process where rounded sperm cells become sperm (they mature)

Question 13

What is the function of the midpiece of the sperm?

Answer 13

the ‘mitochondrial engine’ that provides power/ energy to the flagellum

Question 14

What is anorchidism?

Answer 14

failure of testicular development

Question 15

What is cryptochordism?

Answer 15

failure of testicles to descend

Question 16

Where are leydig cells found?

Answer 16

In the interstitial tissue that surrounds the testes

Question 17

What are the 4 different stages during the production of sperm?

Answer 17

Spermatogonia-> Sperrmatocytes -> Spermatids -> Spermatozoa

Question 18

What are the 4 main things that happen during cytoplamsic remodelling of sperm?

Answer 18

Chromatin condenses, Flagellum and midpiece form, Acrosome is formed and the cytoplasm is shed

Question 19

What is another name for the ‘midpiece’ of the sperm?

Answer 19

‘the engine’

Question 20

What are the two functions of testosterone that has been produced by the leydig cells?

Answer 20

Negative feedback on the hypothalamus (except during puberty)
Acts on the sertoli cells to trigger the development of inhibin

Question 21

What is the function of inhibin?

Answer 21

Triggers the development of sperm

Question 22

How can you estimate DSO?

Answer 22

scrotal dimensions

Question 23

Where is sperm stored after it has been produced?

Answer 23

The Epididymis

Question 24

What do spermatogonia divide by mitosis to form?

Answer 24

spermatocytes

Question 25

What does LH act on in the male/

Answer 25

LH acts on the leydig cells which causes the production of testosterone

Question 26

Where are spermatids usually found?

Answer 26

In the adlumenal compartment

Question 27

Why do spermatogonia become spermatocytes?

Answer 27

Because spermatogonia are too large to pass through the blood-testis barrier

Question 28

What cells does FSH from the pituitary trigger?

Answer 28

Sertoli cells and therefore inhibin and spermatgenesis

Question 29

What cells does LH from the pituitary trigger?

Answer 29

Leydig cells and therefore an increase in testosterone (which has a negative feedback effect)

Question 30

What effect does testosterone have on the sertoli cells?

Answer 30

Increases spermatogenesis

Question 31

What is the function of ABP and what cells produce it?

Answer 31

Stimulates spermatogenesis and is produced by sertoli cells in the basal compartment

Question 32

When do the barriers between the interstitial space and the seminiferous tubules form?

Answer 32

They form at puberty to prevent movement between substances