Male Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
What is included in the male reproductive organs?
Testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, prostate gland, bulbourethral gland and penis
Describe the normal process of ejaculation
Sperm are created in testes
Sperm travels through vas deferens to urethra
Seminal vesicles and prostate crate semen - carried along with sperm in urethra
Describe the structure of the testes
Tunica albuginea - fibrous capsule
Seminiferous tubules - lobules
Head, body and tail of epididymis
Vas deferens
What are the three types of cells within the seminiferous tubules?
Germ cells
Sertoli/ sustentacular cells
Interstitial (Leydig) cells
What do germ cells produce in males?
Sperm
What do sertoli/ sustentacular cells produce?
Support sperm producing cells
Produce inhibin
What do interstitial (Leydig) cells produce?
Testosterone
What are the function of testes?
Sperm production
Testosterone production
What is the average time from production of sperm to ejaculation?
64 days - average cycle is 3 months
Millions of viable sperm are produced per day
What does testosterone production control?
Spermatogenesis
What are the reproductive hormones involved in the endocrine control of testicular function?
GnRH produced from hypothalamus
Gonadotrophins - FSH and LH from anterior pituitary
Testosterone from testes
What is the role of FSH on the testes?
Sperm cells facilitate spermatogenesis
What is the role of LH on the testes?
Leydig cells to produce testosterone
Describe the negative feedback effects in endocrine control of testes
Testosterone and inhibin inhibit secretion of GnRH by the hypothalamus
LH and FSH inhibits by the pituitary
What are the 2 stages of spermatogenesis?
Spermatocytogenesis
Spermiogenesis