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Endo/Repro Final > Male Reproductive Histology > Flashcards

Male Reproductive Histology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functions of the male reproductive system?

A

Production, nourishment, and temporary storage of sperm

Synthesis and secretion of male sex hormone and androgens

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2
Q

What is the fx of the testes?

Epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, urethra

Accessory glands (seminal vesicle, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands)

Penis

A

Produce sperm, synthesize and secrete androgens

Form duct system that transports sperm

Contribute fluid secretions to semen, provide nutrients to ejaculated sperm

Copulatory organ, formed of erectile tissue

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3
Q

What are the testis?

What suspends the testis?

What encloses the testis?

What does the thickened portion of the tunica albuginea contain?

A

Paired organs located in the scrotum

Posteriorly associated with the epididymus; both suspended by spermatic cord

Tunica albuginea

Mediastinum where rete testis are located

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4
Q

What lines the central lumen of seminiferous tubules?

Epithelium is surrounded by ____.

What is found between the seminiferous tubules?

A

Seminiferous epithelium: stratified epithelium; somatic columnar Sertoli cells with tight junctions interacting with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids

Lamina propria: multilayered CT, collagen, 3-5 layers of peritubular myoid

Interstitial Leydig cells

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5
Q

What do the stages of spermatogenesis contain?

A

Nuclei of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells -> closely associated with tubular wall

Spermatogonia cells (primary spermatocytes) -> larger nuclei and clumps of chromatin

Early spermatids -> round, light nuclei; close to lumen

Late spermatids -> cylindrical-shaped, condensed nuclei; close to lumen

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6
Q

Where are Sertoli cells?

Where is their nucleus?

What do the apical and lateral membranes provide?

A

Extend full thickness of the seminiferous epithelium

Nucleus is basally located with large nucleolus

Provide niches and crypts to house developing spermatogenic cells

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7
Q

What are the fx of Sertoli cells?

A

Support, protect, and nourish developing spermatogenic cells

Eliminate residual bodies via phagocytosis (discarded by spermatids during spermiogenesis)

Release of mature spermatids into lumen of tubule (spermiation)

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8
Q

At the basolateral domain of the seminiferous epithelium, Sertoli cells have _____ creating basal and adluminal compartments.

What are the fx of these two compartments?

A

Tight junctions

Basal: spermatogonial cells housed in niches; allows greater access to nutrients and signaling molecules

Adluminal: tight junctions establish the blood-testes barrier; protects developing spermatocytes and spermatids from autoimmune reactions; selects nutrients needed for spermatogenic cells

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9
Q

Where are the interstitial cells?

What do they produce?

A

Present in the intertubular space; close to blood vessels and lymphatic channels

Steroid producing cells: containing lipid droplets, mitochondria with tubular cristae; produce testosterone

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10
Q

Where are spermatogonial cells located?

Where do spermatogonial cells arise from?

After division, spermatogenic cells remain interconnected by ____.

Spermatogonia -> spermatocytes -> spermatids grow and differentiate ____.

A

Basolateral wall of Sertoli cell

Primordial germinal cell; initiates spermatogenic cell sequence or will retain stem cell capacities via mitosis; ensures continuous sperm production

Intercellular bridges (cytokinesis is incomplete)

Synchronously

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11
Q

What are spermatogenic cells?

Where are spermatogonia?

A

Diploid spermatogenic cells

Reside in a niche of basal compartment of Sertoli cells; located outside the blood testes barrier

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12
Q

What is the difference between type A and B spermatogonia?

A

Type A: clonally divides (mitosis); generate copies of itself and differentiates into Type B spermatogonia

Type B: divide by mitosis and immediately enters meiotic prophase as primary spermatocytes; ensures twice as much DNA when starting meiotic prophase I

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13
Q

How do spermatocytes divide?

Where are they located?

Where does meiosis occur?

A

Divide by two meiotic divisions

Adluminal compartment above Sertoli cell tight junctions

Inside the blood-testes barrier

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14
Q

Describe the meiotic divisions of spermatocyes

What happens at the end of meiosis I?

What happens at the end of meiosis II?

What initiates spermiogenesis?

A

Primary spermatocytes -> 1st meiotic division -> two secondary spermatocytes

Secondary spermatocytes -> 2nd meiotic division -> two spermatids (mature)

DNA content of primary spermatocytes is reduced in a secondary spermatocyte

DNA content of secondary spermatocyte is reduced again in a spermatid;

Spermatids are haploid and initiate spermiogenesis

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15
Q

What and where is spermiation?

Intercellular bridges that linked spermatids form ____ they are lost during maturation and _____ are separated.

What are spermatids?

Spermatids are propelled into the ____ where they undergo a ____ process; resulting in ____ for fertilization capability.

A

Mature spermatids are released from apical edge of Sertoli cells into lumen of seminiferous tubule

Residual bodies; mature spermatids

Nonmotile sperm released into lumen

Epididymis duct; maturation; forward motility

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16
Q

Where are haploid spermatids located?

Where are round (early) spermatids?

Where are elongated (late) spermatids?

A

Adluminal compartment, close to lumen of seminiferous tubules

Housed in niches in cytoplasm of Sertoli cells

Housed in crypts, deep invaginations in Sertoli apical cytoplasm

17
Q

What cells are engaged in spermiogenesis?

Describe the process of spermiogenesis

What are released into the seminiferous tubular lumen? How?

A

Spermatids

Development of acrosome
Development of manchette (anchors tail)
Development of tail
Shaping and condensation of nucleus

Mature spermatids via spermiation; contractile forces generated by Sertoli cells

18
Q

Describe the structure of the sperm

Head?

Tail?

A

Contains head and tail surrounded by plasma membrane

Head: flattened condensed elongated nucleus; anterior half of nucleus is capped by acrosome; contains hydrolytic enzymes

Tail: divided into middle, principal, and end piece (produce force needed to propel)

19
Q

What is contained in the the three divisions of the sperm tail? And what is their fx?

Principal?

Middle?

End?

A

Principal piece: longest; has central axoneme surrounded by a fibrous sheath -> provides scaffold during sliding/bending of tail during forward motility

Middle piece: helically arranged mitochondrial sheath (ATP); axoneme; nine longitudinal columns of outer dense fibers that surround the axoneme and project down the tail

End piece: short; contains axoneme

20
Q

Describe the pathway of the sperm maturation

Which part of the pathway contributes to the mesonephric duct?

A

Mature spermatids (immature sperm) are transported to straight tubules -> rete testis -> efferent ductules (contributes to the mesonephric duct) -> epididymal duct

21
Q

Where are the straight tubules?

Describe their tissue structure

What are rete testis?

What is their histology?

A

Mediastinum of testis

Simple cuboidal, Sertoli cells have tight junctions at apical domain, no spermatogenic cells present

Irregularly anastomosing channels withing the mediastinum of testis

Irregularly anastomosing channels within the mediastinum of the testis

Lined by simple cuboidal, wall formed by fibroblasts and smooth m, surrounded by lymphatic channels and blood vessels and leydig cells

22
Q

Seminiferous tubules drain into short, narrow ____.

Straight tubules connect to _____ network of channels embedded with blood vessels in CT of mediastinum testis

Wall of straight tubule has tall _____ that become simple cuboidal in _____.

A

Straight tubules

Rete testis

Straight tubule; rete testis

23
Q

What is the fx of efferent ductules?

Describe the histology of efferent ductules and the fx of each cell?

A

Link rete testis to epididymis

Columnar cells with microvilli/ sterocilia: reabsorbs fluid from the lumen

Ciliated cells: assist in transport of nonmotile sperm

Basal cells: precursor of ciliated and nonciliated cells

Inner circular layer of smooth m underlies epithelium and basal lamina

24
Q

What are the parts of the epididymis?

What epithelium lines the epididymis?

What are the specific cells and their fx?

Where are mature sperm stored?

A

Head, body, tail

Lined with pseudostratified columnar with long and branched stereocilia

Principal cells: columnar cells; apical domain has branches sterocilia

Basal cells: basal lamina; undifferentiated precursors of principal cells

Stored in terminal portion of the epididymal duct; sperm maturation consists in acquiring forward motility

25
Q

What covers the epididymus?

What surrounds the epididymal duct?

What is contained in the lumen of the epididymal duct?

A

Capsule and tunica vaginalis

Thin layer of smooth m that aids in the peristalsis of sperm

Contains sperm

26
Q

Where does sperm maturation take place?

Where does the sperm go while maturing?

How long is maturation?

What is included in maturation of the sperm?

A

Epididymis

Transported from head to body to tail of epididymis by peristalsis; stored until ejaculation

2-12 days

Stabilization of condensed chromatin
Changes in plasma membrane surface charge
New sperm surface proteins
Sperm forward motility

27
Q

What is the histology of the vas deferens?

Epithelium? Muscular wall?
External layer?

A

Lined with pseudostratified columnar with sterocilia

Supported by a CT lamina propria with elastic fibers

Muscular wall: inner and outer longitudinal layers and middle circular layer (peristaltic movement of sperm at ejaculation)

External layer has loose CT and adipocytes

28
Q

What is the ampulla of the vas deferens?

What does the distal end form?

A

Dilated portion that leads directly into the prostate gland;

Distal end receives ducts of the seminal vesicle forming ejaculatory ducts

29
Q

What is included in the accessory genital glands?

What is their fx?

What are they regulated by?

A

Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands, urethral glands of Littre

Seminal vesicles and prostate produce majority of seminal fluid

Regulated by androgens (testosterone and DHT)

30
Q

What are the seminal vesicles?

What do seminal vesicles secrete?

What is their fx?

A

Androgen dependent organ that is an outpocketing of each vas deferens

Alkaline viscous fluid rich in fructose and prostaglandins

Don’t store sperm
Contract during ejaculation and secretion contributes to semen
Excretory duct penetrates the prostate after joining vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

31
Q

What is the histology of the seminal vesicles?

Muscle layer and epithelium?

A

External CT capsule

Middle smooth m layer (inner circular and outer longitudinal layers)

Highly folded mucosa lined by simple cuboidal to pseudostratified columnar epithelium

32
Q

What are the three zones of the prostate and what glands are housed in each zone?

In which zone do most prostate cancers originate?

A

Central zone: periurethral mucosal glands

Transition zone: periurethral submucosal glands

Peripheral zone: branched/compound glands ->therefore most prostate cancers originate in this zone

33
Q

What kind of organ is the prostate?

What does the prostate produce?

What do the glands empty into?

What is the prostatic urethra?

A

Muscular and glandular organ

Zinc-rich alkaline fluid the neutralizes the acidic vagina content; provides nutrients and transports sperm and liquifies semen

Empty into prostate urethra via long excretory ducts

End site of prostatic ducts (prostate secretions) and ejaculatory ducts (semen and secretions from seminal vesicles)

34
Q

What is the histology of the prostate?

What are the glands lined with?

What does the lumen contain?

A

Surrounded by a capsule; consists of branched tubuloalveolar glands

Simple or pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Corpora amylacea: secretions rich in glycoproteins and Ca deposits

35
Q

What is contained in the penis?

What is the distal tip of the corpus spongiosum called?

What surrounds the penis?

What is the tunica albuginea?

A

Corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum contains penile urethra

Glans penis

Surrounded by elastic CT fascia

Dense CT capsule surrounding each erectile tissue cylinder

36
Q

What is contained in the erectile tissue?

What is the blood supply of the vascular sinuses? And how does blood drain?

What happens during erection?

A

Large, irregular interconnected vascular sinuses with fibrocollagenous stroma

Helicine arteries; veins

Dilation of helicine arteries by parasympathetics -> engorgement of vascular sinuses -> compress and restrict venous outflow

Endo/Repro Final (20 decks)

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