male physiology Flashcards
pathway of sperm
created in testes, travels to epididymis then travel through vas deferens, which coils around bladder, then seminal vesicles and prostate create the fluid - semen - which is carried along urethra and ejaculated out penis
what happens to sperm in epididymis
stored there for ~3mo to mature
what are the lobules called in the testes
seminiferous tubules
lobules made due to penetration of tunica albuginea
3 parts of epididymis
head, body and tail
3 types of cells within seminiferous tubules
germ cells
sertoli cells
interstitial (leydig) cells
what do germ cells do
produce sperm
what do sertoli cells do
support sperm producing cell
produce inhibin
what do interstitial (leydig) cells do
produce testosterone
lie in between tubules
function of testes
sperm production
testosterone production
avg sperm cycle
approx 3 months
what does FSH do/act on
controls spermatogenesis through sertoli cells
what does LH do/act on
acts on Leydig cells to produce testosterone
two distinct phases of spermatogenesis
spermatocytogenesis: clonal expansion and maturation through mitotic and meiotic process
spermiogenesis: differentiation into mature sperm cells
what medical factors affect spermatogenesis
pretesticular:
- funtional e.g. excessive weight loss/gain
- prolacitnoma
- intracranial tumour/bleed
- medications e.g. opiates, testosterone
testicular
- surgery e.g. orchidectomy
- STI
- testicular trauma
- radiotherapy/chemo
environmental/lifestyle factors affecting spermatogenesis
smoking
obesity
mum - use of cosmetics, body creams etc
dad - occupationl/environmental chemical exposure
