Male repro Flashcards
Is the epididymis a paired organ?
Yes
Where are the testes located?
Usually within the scrotum
Male reproductive system consists of?
Testes Epididymis Deferent duct Urethra Accessory sex glands Penis
When does the male reproductive system switch from paired to unpaired?
After deferent duct (urethra)
3 components of the fibrous skeleton of the testes?
- External tunica albuginea
- Central rod of tissue - the mediastinum
- A series of fine lamellae, the septula testis - radiate out of the mediastinum to blend with tunica albuginea - resulting in division f testicular parenchyma into seperate wedge like testicular lobules
Seminiferous tubules
Part of testicular parenchyma
Highly convoluted tubules - open at each end into a terminal straight portion
2 types of epithelial cells lining seminiferous tubules?
- Sustentacular/ Serotoli cells - tall columnar cells - support for spermatogenic cells
- Spermatogenic cells - mature to become sperm cells
Sperm maturation
They begin peripherally in the epithelium as spermatogonia, which divide by mitosis to become primary spermatocytes, which divide by meiosis I into secondary spermatocytes, which divide by meiosis II into spermatids, which then undergo maturation without further division to become spermatozoa
As the spermatogenic cells divide and mature, they are pushed from the base of the epithelium towards the lumen of the tubule, ascending along the sides of the sustentacular cells
Ultimately, spermatozoa are released from the terminal ends of the sustentacular cells (spermiation) and float free in a small amount of liquid in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules (spermatozoa is not motile at this stage)
Spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules by contraction of the peritubular cells move towards the straight terminal portions of the tubules
From here, the spermatozoa pass into a network of microscopic channels within the mediastinum, the rete testis
They trickle along these channels towards the end of the testis
From here, the spermatozoa enter efferent ductules, which exit the testis by passing through the tunica albuginea
The whole process of spermatogenesis can be divided into:
Spermatocytogenesis
Meiosis I & II
Spermiogenesis (cell maturation without division)
How are sperm transported along seminiferous tubule?
Peritubular contractile cells that surround the seminferous tubule
What do interstitial cells between seminferous tubules produce?
Male hormones - such as testosterone
Efferent ductules combine to form?
A single, long epididymal duct
The epididymis containing the epididymal duct can be divided into 3 segments?
- The head - marks the end where the efferent ductules come together to form the epididymal duct and is firmly anchored to the testis by these ductules.
- The body
- The tail - Opposite end to the head, the tail of the epididymis, the epididymis is again anchored to the testis by a short connective tissue cord, the proper ligament of the testis
Why is the head of the epididymis large?
There is a lot of efferent ductules there
Why is the tail of the epididymis large?
Acts as a storage centre for sperm
Are the sperm motile during their passage through the efferent ductules and epididymal duct?
No, transport through the system is via cilia in the epithelial cells lining the efferent ductules, and then via contractile cells surrounding the epididymal duct
Is the passage of sperm through the epididymal duct slow or fast?
Slow, epididymal duct is very long - during this slow passage excess fluid is absorbed by the epididymis
When do sperm become functionally fertile and motile?
When they loose the residual cytoplasmic droplet
After the epididymis where do the sperm travel?
Deferent ducts
What is the role of the deferent ducts?
To rapidly transport sperm from the tail of the epididymis to the urethra - during ejaculation
- to do this it has a very thick muscular wall & is a straight tubule unlike the convoluted epididymis
How is sperm loss from the epididymis reduced outside of ejaculation periods?
The muscle of the deferent ducts is contracted, reducing sperm loss from the tail of the epididymis
Some sperm is still lost due to lack of sphincters in male repro tract