Male Physiology Flashcards
why is male physiology important to dentistry?
hormones impact:
salivary flow
bone loss
tooth loss
diseases
SjD (inflammation in salivary glands)
what is the relationship between male testosterone levels and Sjögren’s disease?
they are inversely related
SjD = decreased testosterone
Male reproductive organs have a dual function (2)
- Production/Transmission of germ cells (gametogenesis)
- Secretion of sex hormones
Testes secrete a large amount of ______ and small amounts of _____
androgens (testosterone)
estrogen
Male gonadotropic secretion occurs in a __-____ fashion with a slow
decrease with aging
non-cyclic
males maintain the ability to produce ___ ____ as they age
viable gametes
*ability to fertilize last longer with age
how many seminiferous
tubules per testis?
200-400 per testis
Spermatozoa are formed in the ___ of
seminiferous tubules from the primitive germ cells
walls
Spermatozoa are formed in the walls of
seminiferous tubules from the __ ___ cells
primitive germ cells
spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa are formed in the walls of
seminiferous tubules from the primitive germ cells
male physiology: Both ends of each loop drain into a network of ducts in the head of the ____
epididymis
after drainage into the epididymis where do the spermatozoa go?
spermatozoa pass through the tail of the epididymis into the vas deferens
Both ends of each loop drain into a network of ducts in the head of the epididymis. From there, spermatozoa pass through the tail of the epididymis into the __ ___
vas deferens
after spermatozoa enter the vas deferens, they enter through the ___ ____ into the urethra
ejaculatory ducts
spermatozoa enter through the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra in the body of the _____ at the time of ejaculation
prostate
Seminiferous Tubules
Tubules where spermatogenesis occurs
septa
Fibrous tissue that subdivides the testis into ~250 lobules
Tunica Albuginea
fibromuscular connective tissue capsule of the testis
Rete Testis
tubules located in the hilum of the testicle that carries sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the efferent ducts
epididymis
highly coiled, single tube that is a storage reservoir for spermatozoa
Vas Deferens
duct that transports sperm between the epididymis and the ejaculatory duct in anticipation of ejaculation
Between the tubules in the testes are nests of ___ ___
Leydig cells
Leydig cells
Secrete testosterone into the bloodstream
Blood spermatic arteries runs _____ but in the ______ direction to blood in the
spermatic veins
parallel
opposite
Blood spermatic arteries run parallel and opposite direction to blood in the
spermatic veins which allows for …
countercurrent exchange of heat
and testosterone
The composition of the fluid in the
seminiferous tubules is different from
plasma in what ways?
low protein and glucose
high in androgens, estrogens, K+, inositol, and glutamic and aspartic acids.
Maintenance of its composition depends on the blood testis barrier.
Blood-Testis barrier formed by tight
junctions of what cells?
Sertoli Cells
Blood-Testis barrier protects germ cells from:
Bloodborne pathogens/toxic agents
Blocks antigenic products of germ cell division from entering the circulation and generating an autoantibody response
Help establish an osmotic gradient that
facilitates the movement of fluid into the tubular lumen
what issues with male reproductive
system post SARS infection has been noticed?
Increased IgG in seminal fluid (change morphology and increased apoptosis)
The walls of the seminiferous tubules
are lined by what? (2)
primitive germ cells and Sertoli cells
Germ cells must stay in contact with
Sertoli cells to survive via ?
thru cytoplasmic bridges (CB)
Germ cells must stay in contact with
___ to survive; thru cytoplasmic
bridges (CB)
Sertoli cells
Cytoplasmic Bridge functions (3)
- Tight junctions form a blood-testis
barrier - Passing macromolecules between cells
- Enables synchronous cell development
As cells (sertoli cells/primitive germ cells) mature, they pass from ____ to the ____
basal lamina region to the lumen