Male Reproductive Anatomy Flashcards
The manufacturing and assembly plant that must be air conditioned
testes
What is the manufacturing complex?
the process of producing fertile sperm and transporting it outside of the male reproductive tract
What are the five stages of the manufacturing complex?
sperm is produced in the testis, fluid is absorbed and the spermatazoa undergo changes that will allow them to become fertile in the head and body of the epididymis, spermatozoa is stored in the tail of the epididymis, spermatozoa travel to the accessory sex glands fluids in the seminal plasmsa, and then are emitted through ejaculation from an erection in the penis
What are the male gonads referred to as?
testes
What do the testes produce?
male gametes (spermatozoa) and hormones (testosterone, others), fluids
What are the different layers of the scrotum? Hint: There are 3 before you reach the testis.
skin, stratum subdarticum, tunica dartos muscle
How is the scrotum thermoregulated?
It has thinner skin (leading to low insulation and is outside the body), has sweat glands, and has thermosensitive nerves (sweat glands, respiratory rate)
Which component regulates the temperature of the testes?
tunica dartos
How does the tunica dartos regulate the testes?
smooth muscle contractions (varying with scrotal temperature) and sustained contractions (close to body, away from body, increases surface area)
What controls the contractions used to regulate the teste temperature in the tunica dartos?
Androgens
What are the four different parts of the testes?
testicular capsule, parenchyma, mediastinum, rete tubules
What are the two parts of the testicular capsule?
tunica vaginalis (parietal, visceral) and tunica albuginea
What is the function of the Leydig cells?
to produce testosterone
What are the two compartments of the testicular parenchyma?
tubular and interstitial
What are the two functions of the epididymis?
environment for maturation of sperm (motility and fertility) and stores sperm
What is the fertility and motility of sperm in the body of the epididymis?
some motility and some fertility (can bind to the ova)
What is the fertility and motility of sperm in the head of the epididymis?
not motile, not fertile
What is the motility and fertility of sperm in the tail of the epididymis?
motile, fertile, can bind to ova
What are the two functions of the spermatic cord?
suspends/supports testis and is a pathway for lymphatics, nerves, and vasculature to/from testis, houses ductus vas deferens, testis temperature control (pampiniform plexus and cremaster muscle)
What are the 4 functions of the cremaster muscle?
supports and aids in temperature control, continuous with abdominal oblique, contracts/relaxes, non-sustainable contractions
What are the 3 structures of the spermatic cord?
cremaster muscle, pampiniform plexus, vas deferens
The testes must be how many degrees Celcius cooler than body temperature?
4-6
What complications does the disruption of cooling mechanisms cause in the testis?
severely compromises spermatogenesis
__ extends from the inguinal ring to its attachment on the dorsal pole of the testis.
spermatic cord
What anatomical structure suspends the testis in the scrotum?
spermatic cord
What is the function of the spermatic cord?
provides pathway to/from body for testicular vasculature, lymphatics, and nerves
What 3 anatomical parts does the spermatic cord house?
ductus deferens (vas deferens), cremaster muscle, pampiniform plexus
The majority of the spermatic cord consists of what 2 things?
testicular artery and testicular veins
___ serves as a pulse pressure eliminator (pulse pressure is decreased going from inguinal ring into testis).
testicular artery
___ surround the testicular artery, forming the pampiniform plexus.
testicular veins
What are the three functions of the pampiniform plexus?
1) important for temperature control of the testis 2) complex network of spermatic artery and veins forms a countercurrent heat exchanger 3) this network of veins eventually forms a single vein which runs into caudal vena cava
What are the two functions of the cremaster muscle?
primary support for testes, control of testicular temperature by a contracting and relaxing pampiniform plexus to facilitate blood flow
T/F The cremaster muscle is not capable of sustained contractions.
True
Scrotum?
two lobed sac that protects and supports testes, necessary for proper temperature regulation, composed of four layers
What are the four layers of the scrotum?
skin, tunica dartos, scrotal fascia, parietal vaginal tunic
What 3 components of the skin of the scrotum assist with temperature control?
sweat glands - temp control through evaporative heat transfer; thermosensitive nerves - govern degree of scrotal sweating and respiratory rate of animal (high temp = high respiratory rate); contains little fat - if too much fat then could interfere with cooling mechanism of scrotum and pampiniform plexus
Tunica Dartos?
mesh-like smooth muscle layer, lies beneath scrotal skin
T/F The tunica dartos cannot maintain sustained contractions.
False
The development and maintenance of the tunica dartos are under __ control.
androgen
What is the function of the testes?
to produce male gametes, hormones, proteins, fluids
What hormones do the testes produce?
testosterone, inhibin, estrogens, and others
What proteins do the testes produce?
proteins for spermatozoa function
What fluids do the testes produce?
rete fluid which serves as a vehicle for suspension and removal of spermatozoa
What are the four parts of the testes?
testicular capsule, parenchyma, mediastinum, rete tubules
What are the two functions of the testicular capsule?
covering of the testis, capable of undergoing changes in response to hormones and neurotransmitters
What are the two layers of the testicular capsule?
vesceral vaginal tunic, tunica albuginea
Functions of the tunica albuginea?
sends many finger-like projections into the parenchyma of the testicle that join with the mediastinum; contains smooth muscle which controls rhythmic contractions that provide a pumping action to movement of spermatozoa into rete tubules and efferent ducts
Parenchyma?
specific cellular mass of a gland or organ supported by a connective tissue network
What do the two comparments of the parenchyma consist of?
tubular and interstitial compartments
What are the four tubular compartments of the parenchyma?
seminiferous tubules, sertoli cells, tight junctions, blood testis barrier
Where does spermatogenesis take place in the seminiferous tubules?
tubulus contortus (convoluted portion)
What 3 components comprise the seminiferous tubule?
contractile peritubular cells, basement membrane, seminiferous epithelium (germinal epithelium)
What are the two major regions of the seminiferous epithelium?
basal compartment, adluminal compartment
What is the purpose of the basal component of the seminiferous epithelium?
houses spermatogonia and early primary spermatocytes