Male Reproductive System Flashcards
Male reproductive system consists of…
Testes
Excretory genital ducts
Accessory glands
Penis
What is spermatogenesis?
Production of spermatozoa (sperm) in the testes
Spermatozoa + secretions of accessory glands (seminal fluid) make up ____
Semen
Cell division occurring during production of male gametes involve both ____ & ____
Mitosis & meiosis
Testes are surrounded by a dense CT capsule called the ____
Tunica albuginea
Inner part of tunica albuginea is the ____
Tunica vasculosa
(Loose CT, highly vascular)
Tunica albuginea thickens on the posterior side to form the ____
Mediastinum testis
From mediastinum region, CT septa enter parenchyma, diving the testes into ____
Testicular lobules (~250)
Each testicular lobule contains 1-4 highly coiled ____ and CT stroma with ____
Seminiferous tubules
Leydig cells
Function of seminiferous tubules
Production of sperm
Function of Leydig cells
Produce & Secrete testosterone
Each seminiferous tubules is linked by a short ____ to the ____
Straight tubule
Rete testis
Rete testis
Labyrinth of channels embedded in mediastinum testis
~10-20 ____ connect the Rete testis to the ____
Efferent ductules
Epididymis
Seminiferous tubules are lined with specialized stratified epithelium called ____
Germinal (spermatogenic) epithelium
Innermost layer of fibrous CT covering Basement membrane of seminiferous tubules contains flattened smooth muscle-like ___
Myoid cells
part of CT, not basement membrane
Function of myoid cells
Allow for weak contractions of tubule
seminiferous tubules
Cell types of germinal epithelium
Sertoli cells
Spermatogenic cells
Tight occluding junctions between Sertoli cells form the ____
Blood-testis-barrier
Function of blood-testis-barrier
Limit self-antigen exposure, prevents autoimmune attack
Sertoli cells produce ___
Androgen-binding protein
Function of Androgen-binding protein
Concentrates testosterone
Spermatogenic cells regularly replicate and differentiate into mature ____, which involves….
Sperm
Spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis
What is spermiogenesis?
- Final physical differentiation process
- no cell division
- spermatids remain associated with Sertoli cells
spermatogenesis
Dark staining stem cells called ____ at base of seminiferous tubule undergo ____, giving rise to ____
Spermatogonia
Mitosis
Primary spermatocytes
Primary spermatocytes undergo first meiotic division to form haploid ____
Secondary spermatocytes