male reproductive system Flashcards
What are the male and female gametes and where are they formed? Which one is motile?
gamete= sex cells
male= sperm, producued by testis
female= eggs, produced by ovaries
What are primary and secondary sex organs?
primary organs= produce gametes, gonads (ovaries and testis)
secondary sex organs= organs other than the
gonads that are necessary for reproduction
male secondary= ducts, glands penis
female secondary= ulterine tubes, uterus, vagina
What is the karyotype of a male and a female?
female= XX
male= XY
What is the cause for the androgen insensitivity syndrome?
androgen insensitivity syndrome= when a child with female appearnces but she cant menstruate and has testes in the abdomen and a XY karyotope, testes produce male testosterone levels but since there are no receptors for it the testosterone has no effect
What is puberty and adolescence? What are some secondary characteristics associated with
puberty or high blood testosterone levels
puberty= in boys period from the onset of pituitary gonadotropin secretion (ages 10 to 12) until the first ejaculation (around age 14)
in girls it starts at age 8 to 10
adolescence= the broader period, including puberty and until someone gets their full height
secondary characteristics in male= facial hair, visible hair on torso and limbs, muscular physique
secondary characterisitcs in female= distrubiton of body fat, elargement of breasts, hairless appearance of skin
The male reproductive organs develop from which structure of the developing embryo? How are
SRY and testosterone responsible for sex determination?
SRY (sex-determining region of the Y) codes for a protein called testis-determining factor (TDF) TDF interacts with genes that initiate the development of male anatomy
testosterone is secreted at 8 to 9 weeks
What structures are involvedd in the descent of the teses
descent of the testes begins as early as week 6,
– In seventh month, testes abruptly pass through the inguinal canal into
the scrotum
What is cryptorchidism? What is its treatment? What are the complications if left untreated?
cryptorchidism= boys born with undescended
testes
treatment= testosterone injection or simple surgery can draw
testes into the scrotum
complications= Uncorrected cases lead to sterility or testicular cancer
Where are testes located? Why must the testes be outside the abdominal cavity and which
muscles and plexus help in providing cooler environment for spermatogenesis?
The testes develop in the abdominal cavity and migrate into the pelvic cavity because they cant produce sperm at the body temp of 37 C. Spermatogenesis temp should be 35 C for sperm to be produced.
Cremaster muscle= when its cold the cremaer contracs and bring the testes closer to the body to keep them warm, when it is warm the testes are suspended farther from the body
Dartos muscle= also contracts when cold, scrotum becomes tight, the taughtness helps the testes snugly against the warm body and reducing the surface area of the scrotum which reduces heat loss
Pampiniform plexus= acts as a countercurrent heat exchanger so blood coming into the testes is 1.5 to 2.5 C cooler than the body temp
What are the functions of testes?
produce sex hormones and sperm by endocrine and exocrine glands
What is the function of the Interstitial cells (Leydig cells)
secrete andorgens, mainly testosterone
What is the function of Sertoli Cells (sustentacular cells)?
also called nurse cell
=enfold and protect developing germ cells and promote the production of sperm
What protects the sperms from the immune attack?
blood-testis barrier= prevents antibodies and other large molecules from getting to the germ cells
Where are sperms formed and where do they mature?
sperm is formed in the testis
they mature in the epididymis
What is the path of sperms from seminiferous tubules to the urethra?
spermatic ducts go from the testis to the urethra, this includes the efferent ductules, duct of the epidiymis (site of sperm maturation and storage), ductus deferens (vasectomy occurs here) and the ejaculatory duct
