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Year Three - Reproductive System > Male Physiology > Flashcards

Male Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the eight male reproductive organs?

A

Testicles

Epididymis

Spermatic cord

Seminal vesicles

Prostate gland

Urethra

Bulbourethral glands

Penis

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2
Q

Where are the testicles located?

A

Scrotum

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3
Q

What are the two functions of the testes?

A

To produce sperm

To produce testosterone

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4
Q

What shape are the testes?

A

Ellipsoid

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5
Q

Explain the structure of the testes

A

They consist of a series of lobules, each containing seminiferous tubules, which are supported by interstitial tissue

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6
Q

What three cell types make up the seminiferous tubules?

A

Germ Cells

Sertoli/Sustentacular Cells

Leydig/Interstitial Cells

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7
Q

Where are germ cells found in the testes? What is their function?

A

They line the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules

They produce sperm

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8
Q

Where are sertoli cells found in the testes? What is their function?

A

They are spaced in between the germ cells

To support sperm and inhibin production

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9
Q

Where are leydig cells found in the testes? What is their function?

A

They are found in the interstitial tissue surrounding the seminiferous tubules

To produce testosterone

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10
Q

Describe the course of spermatozoa in the testes

A

Once the spermatozoa have been produced in the seminiferous tubules, they travel through the tubules into the rete teste

Ducts known as efferent tubules then transport the sperm from the rete testes to the head of the epididymis

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11
Q

What is the rete testes?

A

The site at which all the seminiferous tubules merge together

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12
Q

What is the inner layer that covers the testes?

A

Tunica vaginalis

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13
Q

What are the two layers of the tunica vaginalis?

A

Visceral - inner

Parietal - outer

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14
Q

What is found between the two layers of the tunica vaginalis?

A

Fluid

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15
Q

What is tunica vaginalis formed from?

A

Parietal peritoneum

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16
Q

What are the two functions of the tunica vaginalis?

A

It lubricates the surfaces of the testes

It allows for friction-free movement

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17
Q

What is the outer layer that covers the testes?

A

Tunica albuginea

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18
Q

What is the function of the tunica albuginea?

A

It penetrates the parenchyma of each testicle dividing it into lobules

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19
Q

Where is the epididymis located?

A

The posterolateral aspect of each testicle

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20
Q

What is the function of the epididymis?

A

It acts as a storage site of sperm before ejaculation

The sperm are stored here for three months

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21
Q

What are the three divisions of the epididymis?

A

Head

Body

Tail

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22
Q

In which epididymis division is sperm specifically stored?

A

Head

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23
Q

Where is the epididymis head located?

A

It is the most proximal part

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24
Q

What is the epididymis head formed from?

A

The efferent tubules of the testes

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25
Q

What is the epididymis body formed from?

A

The heavily coiled duct of the epididymis

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26
Q

Where is the epididymis tail located?

A

It is the most distal part

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27
Q

What originates at the epididymis tail?

A

Vas deferens

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28
Q

What is the spermatic cord?

A

It refers to a collection of vessels, nerves and ducts that run from the inferior abdomen to the testes

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29
Q

Where is the spermatic cord formed?

A

The opening of the inguinal canal, known as the deep inguinal ring

30
Q

What structure does the spermatic cord pass through to reach the scrotum?

A

It passes through the inguinal canal via the superficial inguinal ring

31
Q

Where is the vas deferens located?

A

It is a component of the spermatic cord

It travels from the epididymis, through the inguinal region, to the posterior aspect of the bladder

32
Q

What is the function of the vas deferens?

A

To transport mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra

33
Q

What are the seminal vesicles?

A

They are a pair of glands located between the bladder fundus and the rectum

34
Q

What is the function of the seminal vesicles?

A

To produce multiple secretions into semen

35
Q

What do the seminal vesicles combine with? What does this form?

A

Vas deferens

Ejaculatory duct

36
Q

Where does the ejaculatory duct drain into?

A

The prostatic urethra

37
Q

What is the largest accessory gland in the male reproductive system?

A

Prostate gland

38
Q

Where is the prostate gland located inferiorly to?

A

Bladder neck

39
Q

Where is the prostate gland located superiorly to?

A

External urethral sphincter

40
Q

Where is the prostate gland located anteriorly to?

A

Rectum

41
Q

What is the function of the prostate?

A

To secrete proteolytic enzymes into semen, which act to break down clotting factors in the ejaculate

This allows the semen to remain in a fluid state, moving throughout the female reproductive tract for fertilisation

42
Q

What is the function of the urethra?

A

To transport both semen and urine from the bladder to the external urethral orifice

43
Q

What are the four anatomical divisions of the urethra?

A

Pre-prostatic

Prostatic

Membranous

Spongy

44
Q

What type of glands are the bulbourethral glands - exocrine or endocrine?

A

Exocrine

45
Q

In which perineal pouch are the bulbourethral glands located?

A

Deep

46
Q

What are the bulbourethral glands located posterolaterally to?

A

Membranous urethra

47
Q

What are the bulbourethral glands located superiorly to?

A

Bulb of the penis

48
Q

Where do the bulbourethral gland ducts open into?

A

The proximal part of the spongy urethra

49
Q

What is the function of the bulbourethral glands ?

A

To contribute the final volume of semen by producing a lubricating mucus secretion containing glycoproteins

50
Q

What are the two functions of the penis?

A

Sexual intercourse

Micturition

51
Q

Describe the physiology of an erection

A

During erotic stimulation, the penis becomes engorged with blood

52
Q

What is ejaculation?

A

The semen moves out of the urethra through the external urethral orifice

53
Q

What is remission?

A

When the penis returns to a flaccid state after ejaculation

54
Q

What is micturition?

A

When the urethra carries urine from the bladder to the external urethral orifice

55
Q

Which axis controls the male reproductive system?

A

Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis

56
Q

What is the HPG axis?

A

The hypothalamus releases gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

This stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to produce luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

57
Q

What is the overall function of LH and FSH?

A

To stimulate the production of testosterone

To stimulate the production of sperm

58
Q

What cells does FSH bind to?

A

Sertoli cells in the testes

59
Q

What are the two functions of FSH?

A

To stimulate sperm production

To synthesis proteins for the production and action fo steroid hormones

60
Q

What cells do LH bind to?

A

Leydig cells in the testes

61
Q

What is the function of LH?

A

To produce testosterone

62
Q

What are the four functions of testosterone?

A

Spermatogenesis

Libido (sexual drive) maintenance

Secondary sexual characteristics development

External genitalia growth

63
Q

What type of feedback system regulates the male reproductive system?

A

Negative feedback system

64
Q

What two negative feedback systems regulate the male reproductive system?

A

As the levels of testosterone increase, there is increased suppression on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to suppress the release of GnRH, LH and FSH.

As the levels of inhibin increase, there is increased suppression on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to suppress the release of GnRH, LH and FSH.

65
Q

What is spermatogenesis?

A

It is an ongoing differentiation process in the seminiferous tubules of the testes that results in the production of sperm from primordial germ cells

66
Q

When does spermatogenesis start and end?

A

Puberty, which is generally around 10-16 years old

This process continues throughout life

67
Q

What are the two phases of spermatogenesis?

A

Spermatocytogenesis

Spermiogenesis

68
Q

What are spermatogonia?

A

They are the initial pool of diploid cells (2n)

69
Q

What is spermatocytogenesis?

A

Spermatogonia divide by mitosis to give two identical cells, referred to as A1 spermatogonia and B spermatogonia

A1 spermatogonia are used to replenish the pool of spermatogonia, which allows males to be fertile throughout their adult life.

B spermatogonia will eventually form mature sperm.

Type B spermatogonia are known as primary spermatocytes (2n) and are undergo two meiotic divisions…

  • Meiosis I results in the production of two haploid cells, known as secondary spermatocytes (n).
  • Meiosis II results in the production of four haploid cells, known as spermatids (n).
70
Q

What is spermiogenesis?

A

It is the process in which the spermatids undergo remodelling and differentiation into mature sperm, which are capable of fertilisation

This process occurs as the spermatids travel along the seminiferous tubules until they reach the epididymis

From the seminiferous tubules, cells will travel to the rete testis

This acts to concentrate the sperm by removing excess fluid

The cells then move to the epididymis where the sperm is stores and undergoes the final stages of maturation

71
Q

How long does spermatogenesis take?

A

64 days

72
Q

Is spermatogenesis continuous or intermittent?

A

Continuous - multiple spermatogenic processes are occurring simultaneously within the same seminiferous tubule

Year Three - Reproductive System (52 decks)

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