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2. Microanatomy > Male reproductive system > Flashcards

Male reproductive system Flashcards

1
Q

What are the male reproductive organs?

A

Paired testes
Paired epididymides
Paired ductus deferens
Penis
Accessory sex glands

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2
Q

What does the testes produce?

A

Sperm and testosterone

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3
Q

Epididymus function

A

Sperm maturation and storage

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4
Q

Ductus deferens function

A

Sperm transport @ time of ejaculation

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5
Q

What are the accessory sex organs?

A

Prostate
Seminal vesicles
Bulbourethral glands
Ampulla

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6
Q

When and where do the tests develop and migrate?

A

Develop in the abdominal cavity, then migrate to the scrotum:
Before birth- ruminants and pigs
After birth- dogs and horses

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7
Q

Cryptorchidism

A

Retention of the testes in the abdominal cavity
Infertile because they lack sperm but have libido because they produce testosterone

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8
Q

Counter-current exchange

A

Between testicular artery and vein (pampiniform plexuses)
Main reason for testicular temp being 3-4 degrees lower than body temp

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9
Q

What factors help in lowering testicular temp?

A

Sweat glands in the scrotum
Smooth muscle cells of the tunica dartos
Cremaster muscle

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10
Q

What is each testis covered by?

A

A capsule of tunica vaginalis (peritoneum) and tunica albuginea (dense CT)

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11
Q

What does each testicular lobe have?

A

2-4 seminiferous tubules
Interstitial tissue that contains BVs and Leydig cells

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12
Q

Seminiferous tubules

A

30-70 cm long
Long convoluted part
Short straight part @ both ends that open into the rete testis

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13
Q

What is each ST surrounded by?

A

Peritubular myoid cells, sertoli (somatic), and germ cells

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14
Q

Most numerous to least numerous # of Leydig cells

A

Pig –> horse –> dog –> bull –> sheep and goat

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15
Q

Stratified seminiferous epithelium cells

A

Somatic and germ cells containing spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids

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16
Q

When germ cells are released into the lumen, they’re referred to as _________

A

Spermatozoa

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17
Q

Rete testis

A

Network of tubules that empty into efferent ductules

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18
Q

Efferent ductules

A

15-20 in #
Located @ proximal end of tests and empties to the epididymus

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19
Q

Epididymus

A

Highly convoluted, long tube (80 m in horse)
Caput (head), corpus (body), cauda (tail)
Cauda is continuous with the ductus deferens

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20
Q

Ducutus deferens

A

Long muscular tube that dilates to form ampulla
Narrows to form ejaculatory duct that empties into the urethra at the colliculus seminalis

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21
Q

What are the 3 stages of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Proliferation
  2. Maturation
  3. Metamorphosis
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22
Q

Proliferation

A

Increase in # of stem cells
Spermatogonia (2n) proliferate and divide mitotically

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23
Q

Maturation

A

Reduction in # of chromos from diploid (2n) to haploid (n)

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24
Q

What happens to the spermatocytes during the maturation stage?

A

Primary spermatocytes undergo meiosis 1
Secondary spermatocytes undergoes meiosis 2

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25
Q

Metamorphosis

A

Change in shape from round cell to elongated cell
Spermatids don’t divide but undergo metamorphosis (acrosome and tail formation)

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26
Q

When does spermatogenesis start?

A

With puberty and continues until death

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27
Q

Spermatogenesis cycle in the bull?

A

52 days
Proliferation= 13 day
Maturation= 19 days
Metamorphosis= 20 days

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28
Q

Spermatogenesis for the boar and ram?

A

Boar: 34 days
Ram 48 days

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29
Q

What are the morphological changes during metamorphosis called?

A

Spermiogenesis

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30
Q

What happens during spermiogenesis

A

Nucleus: becomes elongated, chromatin condensed and metabolically inactive
Golgi: form acrosome
Centriole: attaches to distal end of the nucleus and forms tail
Mitochondria: surround mid peice of spermatozoa

31
Q

What happens to the cytoplasm during spermiogenesis?

A

Most removed as residual body and phagocytosed by sertoli cell
Remaining remains attached to the neck of sperm as protoplasmic droplet

32
Q

What is the function of the Sertoli cell?

A

Support, protection and the nutrition of germ cells
Regulate sperm produced
Release sperm
Phagocytosis

33
Q

What are the endocrine and exocrine secretions of Sertoli cells?

A

Exocrine: androgen and testicular fluid
Endocrine: estrogen, anti-mullerian hormone and inhibin

34
Q

Blood-testis barrier

A

TJs of the lateral borders of 2 adjacent cells near basal area of epithelium
Divides the seminiferous epithelium into basal and adluminal

35
Q

What is the function of blood-testis barrier?

A

Allows the basal compartment to get their nutrients by diffusion from BVs

36
Q

Basal compartment of seminiferous epithelium

A

Contain spermatogonia and basal part of Seritoli cells (nucleus and cytoplasm)

37
Q

Adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium

A

Contains germ cells, except spermatogonia, and apical pt of Sertoli cells

38
Q

Where is the aromatase enzyme?

A

Sertoli cells in males, granulosa cell in females, and fat cells in males and females

39
Q

What is the role of aromatase enzyme in the sertoli cell?

A

Converts testosterone into estrogen

40
Q

Aromatase inhibitors

A

Used to increase height because estrogen accelerates growth plate fusion
Treats breast cancer in postmenopausal women

41
Q

Inhibin- FSH loop

A

FSH stimulates inhibin secretion that downregulates FSH secretion (negative-feedback)

42
Q

Sertoli cell tumor

A

More common in cyrptorchid testis
Higher estrogen and inhibin levels and lower FSH level than in controls

43
Q

5 alpha redutase

A

Present in the epididymus, accessory glands and external genitalia
Converts testosterone into DHT

44
Q

DHT

A

5-10 times more potent than testosterone
Required for the development of accessory sex glands and the external genitalia

45
Q

5 alpha reductase inhibitors

A

Reduces DHT level and are used to treat prostate hypertrophy in humans

46
Q

Leydig cells

A

Eosinophilic cytoplasm (large amount of SER, lipid, mitochondria)
Secretes testosterone

47
Q

Ejaculate volume

A

Pig: 200-250 ml
Horse: 100-150 ml
Dog: 10-15 ml
Bull: 5-7 ml
Sheep and goat: 1 ml or less

48
Q

What is the function of the leydig cell?

A

Testosterone –> for spermatogenesis

49
Q

How is T level within the surrounding ST?

A

50-100 times higher than the circulation
High level essential for spermatogenesis

50
Q

Testosterone

A

Has a negative-feedback on LH
exogenous T implant/ steroids –> low LH –> shrinkage of Leydig cells –> low T level within ST –> loss of germ cells –> atrophy testis

51
Q

Leydig cell tumor

A

High T, leading to prostate hypertrophy

52
Q

Seminal Plug

A

Formed by sertoli cells
Prevents retrograde transfer of sperm from the rete testis into the ST

53
Q

Efferent Ductules epithelium

A

Simple columnar that contains ciliated and non-ciliated cells

54
Q

What does the non-ciliated cells of the efferent ductules do?

A

Have apical microvilli and absorb almost 90% of testicular fluid leaving the rete testis or testis

55
Q

Epididymus epithelium

A

Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia
Surrounded by 1-3 layers and CT

56
Q

What do columnar cells of the epididymus cells do?

A

Absorb testicular fluid and secrete glycoproteins

57
Q

Epididymus tail

A

Stores sperm until they are ejaculated (continuous sperm discharge in the urine)
Only time the sperm moves

58
Q

Ductus deferens structure

A

Pseudostratified columnar with stereocilia
Thick smooth muscle wall arranged in circular, longitudinal and oblique

59
Q

What are the 2 erectile bodies of the penis

A

Corpora cavernosa penis (CCP)
Corpus spongiosum (CS)
Have cavernous spaces (venous sinus)

60
Q

Vascular penis

A

Numerous cavernous spaces surrounded SM
Increase penis length during erection from engorgement of cavernous spaces with blood

61
Q

What species have a vascular penis?

A

Horse and man

62
Q

Fibrous penis

A

Few cavernous spaces, dense fibrous CT
Increase penis length during erection mainly results from straightening of the sigmoid flexure

63
Q

Which species have a fibrous penis?

A

Ruminants, pig

64
Q

Which animals have an intermediate penis?

A

Carnivores (os penis gives additional rigidity)

65
Q

How is the penis supplied?

A

Helical (coiled) artery
Smooth muscle cushion under endothelium

66
Q

Flaccid penis

A

Smooth muscle cushion has sympathetic tone
Receive little blood (blood directed from arterioles to venules)

67
Q

Erect Penis

A

Smooth muscle cushion is relaxed (parasympathetic)
Helical a. dilated, engorged with blood

68
Q

Molecular mechanism of erection

A

Parasympathetic system stimulation –> release of NO –> binds with Guanylate Cyclase –> increased levels of cGMP –> relaxation of cavernous smooth muscle cells –> engorgement of venous sinuses with blood –> penis enlargement

69
Q

Morphology of sperm

A

Oval: ruminant and man
Sickle: rodents
Hunter: avian

70
Q

Transport of sperm in excurrent ducts

A

ST –> rete testis (testicular fluid pressure) –> efferent ductules (testicular fluid) –> head of the epididymus (ciliary movement, smooth muscle cell contraction) –> body of EP –> tail of EP (SM contraction)

71
Q

Functional changes of sperm

A

Testicular sperm are immotile and infertile
Acquire abilities by the time they reach the tail of EP

72
Q

Biochemical changed in the sperm

A

Sperm during their transit in EP (10-12 days) acquire on their surface epididymal glycoproteins which enable them to acquire motility and fertilizing abilities

73
Q

Capacitation

A

Sperm loose proteins in the female tract

2. Microanatomy (16 decks)

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