Male Reproductive Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the testes?

A

Produce and secrete sperm and hormones

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2
Q

What are the structures part of the duct system of the Male Reproductive System?

(5)

A
  1. Efferent ductules
  2. Epididymis
  3. Ductus deferns (vas deferens)
  4. Ejaculatory duct
  5. Urethra
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3
Q

What are the 3 functions of the duct system?

A
  1. Transport and stores sperm
  2. Assist in sperm maturation
  3. Convey sperm to the exterior
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4
Q

What are the 3 accessory glands?

and what is their overall Fx

A
  1. Seminal vesicles
  2. Prostate gland
  3. Bulbouretheral gland
    Fx: provide secretions to the semen
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5
Q

What are the 2 supporting structures of the male reproductive system?

and Fx

A
  1. Scrotum
  2. Penis
    Fx: Support the testes and deliver sperm to female reproductive tract
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6
Q

What is the function of the Scrotum?

A

Temperature regulation of sperm (2-3 degrees C below core body temp)

Maintainted outside pelvic cavity

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7
Q

Dartos muscle function

In the scrotum

A

Subcutaneous layer of smooth muscle that contracts d/t cold temps (wrinkles) and vice versa for warm temps

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8
Q

What are the contents of the Spermatic Cord?

3 main
6 others

A

1. Ductus deferens
2. Cremaster muscle
3. Pampiniform plexus of testicular veins

4. Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve
5. Testicular artery
6. Cremaster artery
7. Artery of the ductus deferens
8. Sympathetic nerves
9. Lymphatics

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9
Q

Function of Ductus deferens

A

Transports spermatozoa from epididymis to ejaculatory duct

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10
Q

Function of the Cremaster muscle

A
  1. Originates from internal oblique
  2. Contraction moves testes closer to the body (cold) and opposite for warm
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11
Q

What is the function of the Pampiniform plexus of testicular veins?

A

Plexus of veins that play a role in regulating heat exchange for the testes

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12
Q

Function of Leydig Cells

A
  1. Interstitial cells
  2. Located in spaces between adjacent seminiferous tubules
  3. Secretes testosterone
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13
Q

Size of Testes

A

Paired oval glands (approx 2 in long X 1 in diameter)

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14
Q

Where are the testes formed?

A

Develop in the posterior abdomen & descend into the scrotum through inguinal canals at 7-8 months

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15
Q

Where is the site of sperm production throughout the adult life (starting in puberty)?

A

Testes

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16
Q

What are the 4 structures of the testes?

A
  1. Tunica vaginalis (serous membrane derived from peritoneum during descent of testes
  2. Tunic albuginea (thick connective tissue capsule, extends inward to form septa)
  3. Lobules (200-300 internal copartments, each lobule contains 1-4 seminiferous tubules
  4. Seminiferous tubules produce spermatozoa
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17
Q

Seminiferous epithelium

Two cell populations

A
  1. Sertoli cells-supporting cells that nourish spermatogenic cells
  2. Spermatogenic cells-replicate and differentiate into mature sperm
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18
Q

Main functions of Sertoli cells

3

A
  1. Blood-testis barrier-isolates gametes to protect from immune response
  2. Secrete inhibin-hormone that inhibits FSH secretion
  3. Secrete androgen-binding protein-binds testosterone to keep concentration high
19
Q

Blood-testis barrier

A

Isolates the developing gametes from the blood and thus, prevents and immune response against the spermatogenic cell’s surgace antigens which the immmune system recognizes as foreign

20
Q

Spermatogenesis overview

A
  • Development of spermatogonia into sperm
  • Involes both meiosis and mitosis (lasts 65-75)
21
Q

Spermatogenesis

In depth

A
  1. Spermatogonia (stem cells) 2n, 2d diploid
  2. 1 Primary spermatocyte 2n, 4d diploid
  3. 2 Secondary speramtocyte 1n, 2dhaploid
  4. 4 Spermatids 1n, 1d haploid
  5. 4 Spermatozoa-mature sperm 1n, 1d haploid
22
Q

Head of sperm

A
  1. Acrosome: vesicle contains enzymes required for penetration of the zona pelucida of the oocyte
  2. Nuclues: 23 condensed chromosomes (22, X or Y)
23
Q

Tail (Flagellum) of Sperm

A
  1. Neck
  2. Middle Piece: mitochondria provide ATP for sperm motility
  3. Principle piece
  4. End piece

Core of microtubules & dynein motor proteins

24
Q

Cryptorchidism

Definition, if not treated, and risk for cancer

A
  • Condition when testes do not descen into scrotum
  • If untreated, results in sterility
  • 30-50x greater risk of testicular cancer

Most will descend spontaneously during first year of life

25
Q

Testicular Cancer general information

A
  1. Most common cancer in males aged 20-35 yrs
  2. Most cases (>95% arise from mutations in spermatogenic cells within seminiferous tubules
  3. No associated pain
  4. Regular self exam for masses, lumps, swellings
26
Q

Hormonal Control of Testes

A
  1. Hypothalamus: GnRH
  2. Anterior Pituitary:
    * LH-stimulates Leydig cells to secrete testosterone
    * FSH-stimulates Sertoli cells to secrete androgen binding protein

Sertoli Cells also secrete inhibin that inhibits FSH secretion

27
Q

What happens with a high level of testosterone?

A
  1. Hypothalamus: decreases secretion of GnRH
  2. Anterior Pituitary: decreased secretion of LH
  3. Leydig cells: decrease secretion of testosterone
28
Q

Intratesticular ducts

3

A
  1. Seminiferous tubules
  2. Straight tubules (Tubuli recti)
  3. Rete testis
29
Q

Excurrent ducts

4

A
  1. Efferent ducts
  2. Epididymis
  3. Ductus deferens
  4. Ejactulatory ducts
30
Q

Seminferous Tubules

Type of epithelium

Intratesticular duct

A

Seminiferous epithelium

31
Q

Straight tubules (Tubuli recti)

Structure and function

Intratesticular duct

A
  1. Short terminal portion of the seminiferous tubule
  2. Only contains sertoli cells changing to simple cuboidal
32
Q

Rete testis

Structure and function

Intratesticular duct

A
  1. Network of channels
  2. Simple cuboidal to low columnar
33
Q

Efferent ducts

Type of Epithelium

Excurrent duct

A

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

34
Q

Epididymis

Structure and Function

Excurrent Ducts

A
  1. Head, body, and tail
  2. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia
35
Q

Ductus deferens

Type of epithelium

Excurrent Ducts

A

Pseodostratified columnar epithelium with sterocilia

36
Q

Ejaculatory ducts

Structure and function

Excurrent Duct

A

Union of the duct of seminal vesicle and ampulla of ductus deferens

36
Q

Ejaculatory ducts

Structure and function

Excurrent Duct

A

Union of the duct of siminal vesicle and ampulla of ductus deferens

37
Q

Seminal vesicles

Functions (2), volume of semen

A
  1. Paired glands posterior to bladder-duct
  2. Secrete an alkaline viscous fluid. Fructose (ATP production by sperm for motility). Prostaglandins & clotting proteins
  3. Produce about 60% of the volume of semen
38
Q

Prostate

Volume of semen

Size, location, and function (2

A
  1. Single gland inferior to bladder
  2. Size of a golf ball
  3. Surronds the prostatic urethra
  4. Secretes a milk, slightly acidic fluid into the prostatic urethra
    * citric acid, proteolytic enzymes, acid phosphatase, seminalplasmin
  5. Produces 25% of volume of semen
39
Q

Bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands)

Location, function

A
  1. Paired glands inferior to prostate on either side of the membranous urethra (ducts open into the penile urethra)
  2. Secrete, clear, mucus-like fluid into the urethra
40
Q

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

Symptoms

A
  1. Weak urination
  2. Difficulty starting & stopping
  3. Urgency or feeling to urinate
  4. Frequency

Due to numerous nodules compressing the prostatic urethra

41
Q

What is BPH?

A

A noncancerous enlarged prostate gland-relatively common in 80 yr old men

42
Q

Prostate Cancer Clinical presentation

A
  1. Asmpytomatic in early stages
  2. Poor urinary stream
  3. Straing with micturition
  4. Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
  5. Terminal dribbling
  6. Symptoms of distant spread-bone pain
43
Q

Risk factors for prostate cancer

A
  1. Rare in men < 40 years
  2. Family history
  3. African/Caribbean>White>Japanese