Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Components of male reproductive system (4)
(1) testis (2) genital ducts (3) accessory sex glands (4) penis
main functions of testes (2)
(1) production of spermatozoa (2) production of androgenic hormones
structure of testes
~250 lobules separated by incomplete septa, all surrounded by tunica albugenia
tunica albuginea
dense connective tissue capsule around testes
Veins draining testes are called…
pampiniform plexus
lobules contain…
1-4 seminiferous tubules
flow of material in semiferous tubules out of the body
seminiferous tubules –> straight tubules –> rete testes –> efferent ductules –> epididymus –> ductus deferens
rete testis
loose connective tissue containing nerves, vessels, and interstitial cells
spermatogenesis - where does it occur?
in complex epithelium of seminiferous tubules
production of spermatids
spermatogonium -> progenitor spermatocytes -> primary spermatocytes -> secondary spermatocytes -> spermatids!
where are spermatogonium located?
on periphery near basement membrane
primary spermatocytes
diploid; go through meiosis I to become secondary spermatocytes; must migrate through sertoli cell tight junctions from basal to luminal domain to undergo the rest of spermatogenesis
secondary spermatocytes
haploid w/ 2 chromatids; go through meiosis II to become spermatids; barely ever see these b/c they go through this phase rapidly
speratids
round nuclei; haploid; do not divide further, just mature through spermiogenesis
spermiogenesis
spermatids -> spermatozoa
sertoli cells
non-replicating, located in epithelium of seminiferous tubule attached to basal lamina; nurture development of spermatozoa
spermatogonia - how do they mature
undergo cell division through mitosis ->
Sertoli cell appearance
euchromatic nuclei, distinct nucleus
blood-testes barrier
formed by tight junctions b/t basolateral margins of adjacent Sertoli cells; large molecules can’t cross barrier
cytoplasmic bridges
exist between daughter cells of one progenitor spermatocyte b/f spermiogenesis maturation into mature spermatozoa
why do primary spermatocytes need to migrate through Sertoli cell tight junctions?
Primary spermatocytes must leave basal domain –> luminal domain to be protected from immunological attack; spermatids are haploid and would be recognized as foreign
peritubular/myoid cells
SM-like cells in basal compartment of seminiferous tubules that can weakly contract the seminiferous tubules
spermiogenesis- basics
spermatid –> mature spermatozoa
process of spermiogenesis (4 parts)
(1) formation of acrosome (2) nuclear condensation and elongation (3) development of flagellum (4) loss of cytoplasm