Male ducts and accessory glands

Question 1

What ducts are involved in male repro?

Answer 1

Seminiferous tubules
Rene testis
Efferent ductules
Epididymis
Vas
Ejaculatory duct
Urethra

Question 2

Where is the rene testis?

Answer 2

A network of tubules embedded in the capsule on the posterior side of the testis

Question 3

What happens in the rene testis?

Answer 3

Sperm partially mature here, moved along by a flow of secretions from Sertoli cells and cilia found on some of the rete testis cells

Question 4

What are the efferent ductules?

Answer 4

About 12 small efferent ductules arise from rene testis and carry the sperm to the epididymis

Question 5

What epithelium lines the efferent ductules?

Answer 5

Cells here are ciliated- to move sperm

Question 6

What happens in the epididymis?

Answer 6

SIte of sperm maturation and storage

Question 7

Describe the epididymis

Answer 7

Comma-shaped organ, with a head, body and tail
Lies along the posterior border of the testis
Consists of one tightly coiled tube, about 6m long

Question 8

What epithelium and why lines the epididymis?

Answer 8

Pseudostratified epithelium cells, some have long stereocilia to absorb excess testicular fluid

Question 9

How long must sperm stay in the epididymis?

How long can they stay?

Answer 9

Sperm are here for 10-14 days while their motility increases and they become fertile
Sperm may remain here for up to 1 month, and are then expelled or reabsorbed

Question 10

What does the epididymis absorb?

Answer 10

This duct absorbs 90% of the fluid secreted by the testis itself

Question 11

How long is the vas deferens and where does it run?

Answer 11

45 cm long, runs from epididymis through inguinal canal,and into the pelvic cavity
Loops medially over the ureter and descends along the posterior bladder wall

Question 12

The vas widens at the end, forming the _______ of the ductus deferens, and ends by uniting with the duct of the seminal _______ to form the _______ duct

Answer 12

ampulla
vesicle
ejaculatory

Question 13

What kind of epithelium lines the vas?

How are sperm moved down the vas?

Answer 13

Pseudostratified epithelium

A muscular tube, peristaltic contractions to move the sperm

Question 14

What is a vasectomy?

Answer 14

“the cutting of the vas”
A physician makes a small incision in the scrotum, and then cuts through and ties off each vas deferens
Sperm are produced, but eventually deteriorate and are phagocytosed
Can reverse, 50% success rate

Question 15

What is the ejaculatory duct?

Answer 15

2 cm where the vas joins duct from 2 seminal vesicles
Enters the prostate gland and joins into the prostatic urethra
Is the last of the spermatic ducts

Question 16

How long is the male urethra? What two substances does it convey?

Answer 16

18 inches

Urine and sperm

Question 17

What are the 3 parts of the urethra?

Answer 17

Prostatic urethra
Membranous urethra
Spongy urethra

Question 18

How long is the prostatic urethra, what epithelium?

Answer 18

2.5 cm, ciliated epithelium

Question 19

How long is the membranous urethra, and what epithelium?

Answer 19

0.5 cm, transitional epithelium

Question 20

Where does the membranous urethra go?

Answer 20

Passes thru urogenital diaphragm, the muscular floor of pelvic cavity

Question 21

How long is the spongy urethra, where is it, and what epithelium lines it?

Answer 21

15 cm, passes through penis, transitional to stratified squamous

Question 22

What are the 3 male accessory sex glands?

Answer 22

Seminal vesicles-2
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral glans-2

Question 23

What are the seminal vessicles?

What do they secrete?

Answer 23

Sac-like glands at the base of the bladder
Size of your pinkie
Secretes a yellowish, viscous, alkaline fluid that contains fructose to nourish sperm

Question 24

What is the prostate?

What does it secrete?

Answer 24

A single, donut shaped gland, that encircles prostatic urethra and ejaculatory duct
Size of a peach pit
Secretes a thin, milky white fluid that contains calcium

Question 25

What are the bulbourethral glands?

What do they secrete?

Answer 25

Contain trace semen
Look like a bulb, are pea-sized, inferior to prostate
Aka Cowper’s glands
Produce a thick, clear mucus that lubricates the urethra

Question 26

Describe semen

Answer 26

A mixture of sperm and secretions from the three accessory glands
Milky, white, somewhat sticky

Question 27

What % is sperm in ejaculate?

What is the threshold for infertility?

Answer 27

2-5 mL and only 10% sperm in each ejaculation, but 150m sperm/mL
If count is less than 20m/mL then considered infertile

Question 28

What composes ejaculate, by %?

Answer 28

60%- Fluid from seminal vesicles
30%- Fluid from prostate
10%- Sperm
Trace- secretions from bulbourethral glands