Male Reproductive Flashcards
Semen
Fluid expelled during ejaculation
Contains sperm and secretions produced by accessory glands
Seminal fluid
60% of semen
Contains:
Fructose- energy
Citrate- neutralize acids
Prostaglandins- stimulate uterus
Prostate fluid
30% of semen
Contains:
Calcium, citrate, phosphates- elevate pH
Clotting enzymes- help sperm adhere to the female reproductive tract
Bulbourethral fluid
In semen
Lubrication
Spermatogenesis
Occurs in the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules
Starts in puberty and goes till death
Takes several months for sperm to mature
Starts with one cell and ends with four
Stages of a sperm cell life
Primordial germ cell
Spermatogonia
Primary spermatocytes
Secondary spermatocytes
Spermatids
Spermiogenesis
Maturation of sperm cells (spermatids) and addition of flagellum
Primordial germ cells
Diploid/two end condition
During fetal development these cells develop further to become spermatogonia
Spermatogonia
Remain dormant in the testes until puberty
Hormones cause Spermatogonia to divide by mitosis to make additional Spermatogonia
Some Spermatogonia from the germinal epithelium move btw stealer cells and cross the blood/testes barrier becoming primary spermatocytes
Primary spermatocytes
Still diploid/two end condition
Hormones cause mitosis 1 splitting the nucleus
Two daughter cells called secondary spermatocytes are formed
Secondary spermatocytes
Each has half of the original chromosomes to become haploid/end condition
Automatically undergo mitosis 2 and become two haploid cells called spermatids
Spermatids
Final form of sperm
Parts of a mature sperm cell
Head
Midpiece
Tail
Head of a sperm cell
Has a haploid nucleus and a cap of digestive enzymes known as acrosome (used during fertilization
Midpiece of a sperm cell
Contains numerous mitochondria that are required to provide energy for movement
Flagella
Propels the sperm
Male genitalia
Scrotum
Spermatic ducts
Penis
Penis
External organ that transfers semen to the female reproductive tract
Three layers of erectile tissue
Corpus spongiosum
Corpus cavernosum x2
Corpus cavernosum
Dorsal erectile bodies
Corpus spongiosum
Central column
Encloses the urethra
Spermatic ducts
Epididymis
Ductus deferens
Ejaculatory duct
Epididymis
Site of sperm maturation and storage
Sperm in the epididymis
Takes 20 days for sperm to travel from one end of the epididymis to the distal end for storage
Once stored, viable for 40-60 days
Ductus deferens
Carries sperm from the epididymis to the abdominal pelvic cavity where it will unite with the seminal vesicle in that side
Ejaculatory duct
Where the duct from the seminal vesicles and the ductus deferens merge
Carries semen through he prostate gland and into the urethra
Parts of the scrotum
Testes
Spermatic cord x2
Dartos muscle
Cremaster muscle
Epididymis
Cremaster muscle
Surrounds the spermatic cords
Pull testes closer to the body
Dartos muscle
Surrounds the spermatic cords
Pull testes closer to the body
Spermatic cords
Ductus deferens
Blood vessels
Nerves
Lymphatic vessels
Testes
- seminiferous tubules
Lined w/ germinal epithelium - gives rise to sperm cells
Sustentacular cells
Interstitial cells
Lumen
- hollow space running through each tubule
Sustentacular cells
- in the testes
Protect and support germinal epithelium
Interstitial cells in the testes
Primary source of testosterone
