Male Repro Microanatomy

Question 1

what do the seminiferous tubules do?

Answer 1

spermatogenesis

Question 2

what do the interstitial tissues do?

Answer 2

steroidogenesis

Question 3

what makes up the parenchyma?

Answer 3

seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues

Question 4

what is the seminiferous epithelium made up of?

Answer 4

-sertoli cells –> somatic cells
-germ cells

Question 5

what is spermiation?

Answer 5

release of sperm into the lumen

Question 6

what are sertoli cells?

Answer 6

-provide physical and nutritional support to germ cells
-mediate movement of cells and molecules across the epithelium
-phagocytize degenerating germ cells
-secrete molecules into the epithelium and the interstitial tissue

Question 7

what is the blood testis barrier made up of

Answer 7

cell membrane of sertoli cells and tight junctions between adjacent sertoli cells

Question 8

what does the blood testis barrier do?

Answer 8

-creates 2 different compartments in the epithelium
-protection of germ cells from autoimmune response
-sequestering and secreting of proteins, ions and carbs that are required by specific types of germ cells

Question 9

what makes up the adluminal compartment of the btb?

Answer 9

spermatocytes
spermatids

Question 10

what makes up the basal compartment of the btb?

Answer 10

spermatogonial stem cells
differentiating spermatogonia

Question 11

what is secreted from the interstitial tissue and blood vessels in the btb?

Answer 11

-estrogen
-MIS
-inhibine
-ABP

Question 12

what makes up the tubular wall?

Answer 12

peritubular myoid cells –> smooth muscle

laminin, fibronectin, collagen

Question 13

what makes up the interstitial tissue?

Answer 13

leydig cells
blood vessels
lymphatic vessels
nerves
macrophages

Question 14

what are leydig cells

Answer 14

synthesis and secretion of androgens

Question 15

what makes up excurrent ducts

Answer 15

rete testis and efferent ducts

Question 16

describe the pathway up to the epididymis

Answer 16

1) seminiferous tubules
2) tubuli recti
3) rete testis
4) efferent ducts
5) epididymis

Question 17

what are tubuli recti?

Answer 17

simple, low columnar or cuboidal epithelium devoid of germ cells

Question 18

what are rete testis?

Answer 18

flattened channels

cuboidal ciliated cells

Question 19

what are efferent ducts?

Answer 19

-columnar ciliated cells and columnar cells with microvilli
-absorption of seminiferous fluid

Question 20

where does sperm maturation happen?

Answer 20

head and body of the epididymis

+ forward motility and fertilization

Question 21

where is sperm storage?

Answer 21

tail of epididymis

Question 22

what are the ampullary glands?

Answer 22

-secretory epithelium –> simple, tall columnar
-secretion = fluid rich in fructose and ergothioneine
–> may become calcified –> corpora arenacea
-secretion maintains sperm viability
-function and integrity are highly dependent in testicular androgens

Question 23

what 3 things make up the vesicular glands?

Answer 23

1) stroma –> fibroelastic capsule that extends as trabeculae
2) secretory epithelium –> simple, tall columnar
3) secretion = alkaline viscid fluid rich in fructose and coagulating proteins –> sperm viability and semen consistency

Question 24

what 4 things make up the prostate?

Answer 24

1) stroma
2) secretory epithelium –> pseudostratified with tall columnar cells
3) secretion
4) prostatic concretion –> condensed secretion, may become calcified

Question 25

what 3 things make up the bulbourethral glands?

Answer 25

1) stroma –> fibrous CT
2) secretory epithelium –> simple, columnar
3) secretion –> clear viscid mucus for urethral cleaning and lubrication before ejaculation

Question 26

what classifies a seminoma?

Answer 26

high presence of germ cells
round big nuclei and high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio

Question 27

what classifies a sertoli cell tumor?

Answer 27

high presence of cells with nuclei of irregular shape and high cytoplasm to nucleus ratio

Question 28

what classifies a leydig cell tumor?

Answer 28

high presence of cells with typical leydig cell phenotype