Male Reproduction System Flashcards
What are the male accessory sex glands?
Male accessory sex glands include the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.
What do the seminal vesicles do?
The seminal vesicles produce a sugar-rich fluid (fructose) that provides sperm with a source of energy to help them move - this makes up the majority of semen.
What does the prostate do?
Secretes prostate fluid, one of the components of semen. The muscles of the prostate gland also help propel this seminal fluid into the urethra during ejaculation
What does the bulbourethral gland do?
Adds fluids to semen during ejaculation.
What is the tunica vaginalis?
The tunica vaginalis is the pouch of serous membrane that covers the testes.
Where is sperm produced?
Sertoli cells of seminiferous tubules of the testes
What does the epididymus do?
Stores the sperm and matures it until ejaculation.
What forms the blood-testis barrier?
Sustentacular (aka sertoli) cellswith tight junctions
What cells make up the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli cells (aka sustentacular cells) Spermatogenic cells
What do sertoli cells do?
Provide nutrients to nourish the spermatogenic cells.
Form the tight junctions that make the blood-testis barrier.
Secrete Mullerian regression factor
Secrete Inhibin and Activin
Secrete androgen binding protein and estrogen binding protein
What is mullerian regression factor?
A hormone that prevents ducts from developing into structures of the female reproductive tract.
What does a mutation of mullerian regression factor in men lead to?
Hermaphroditism
What does activin do?
Stimulate FSH synthesis and secretion.
What does inhibin do?
Inhibit FSH synthesis and secretion.
Where does the vas deferens run through?
Inguinal canal