Male Reproductive System

Question 1

what are the four functional components of the male reproductive system

Answer 1

testes, ductular system, exocrine glands, penis

Question 2

what is the function of the testes

Answer 2

produce male gametes, secrete testosterone

Question 3

what is the function of the ductular system

Answer 3

collect, store, conduct spermatozoa from testes

Question 4

what is the function of the exocrine glands

Answer 4

produce seminal fluid

Question 5

what is the function of the penis

Answer 5

the organ involved in copulation

Question 6

the testes have two major functions, what are these generalised into

Answer 6

reproductive and hormonal

Question 7

what are the testes surrounded by

Answer 7

by a thick capsule of connective tissue - tunica albuginea

Question 8

there is a thick capsule of connective tissue surrounding the testes, what is this connective tissue called

Answer 8

the tunica albuginea

Question 9

the testes have fibrous septae dividing them into lobules, what does each lobule consist of

Answer 9

lobules consist of seminiferous tubules, leydig cells, vessels and nerves

Question 10

what is the function of the rete testis

Answer 10

The rete testis a network of delicate tubules located in the hilum of the testicle that carries sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis

Question 11

roughly how many seminiferous are there and what is the aggregate length of them

Answer 11

800-1600 tubules with an aggregate length of around 600 metres

Question 12

seminiferous tubules are lined by what type of epithelium

Answer 12

stratified complex germinative epithelium

Question 13

what two cell types are present in the seminiferous tubules

Answer 13

sertoli cells and spermatogenic (germ cells)

Question 14

what do the germ cells reproduce several times to form

Answer 14

to form spermatazoa

Question 15

what is the process of germ cells producing spermatazoa called

Answer 15

spermatogenesis

Question 16

what is a characteristic feature of the sertoli cells

Answer 16

they have a characteristic dark nucleolus that is elongated

Question 17

why are sertoli cells sometimes referred to as nurse cells

Answer 17

because they preserve the correct environment for spermatogenesis

Question 18

where is there a permanent population of sertoli cells

Answer 18

permanent population in outer portion of tubule

Question 19

how does the nucleus of a sertoli cell stain

Answer 19

the nucleus stains pale, the nucelolus is prominent

Question 20

what is a major role of sertoli cells

Answer 20

a major role is to define two separate and physiologically different compartments in the seminiferous tubule

Question 21

how is the basal comparment near the periphery sealed off from the luminal compartment

Answer 21

the basal compartment is sealed off from the luminal compartment by processes of adjacent sertoli cells that reach out and make contact; where the processes are in contact they form occluding junctions

Question 22

what cell type is present below the sertoli cell junction (basal compartment)

Answer 22

diploid spermatagonia

Question 23

sertoli cells secrete factors which regulate the process of

Answer 23

spermatogenesis

Question 24

sertoli cells secrete factors which regulate the function of which cell type

Answer 24

leydig cells

Question 25

sertoli cells secrete inhibin which regulates the production of which hormone

Answer 25

fsh

Question 26

serotli cells are involved in the phagocytosis of what

Answer 26

phagocytosis of discarded spermatid cytoplasm during development

Question 27

who discovered sertoli cells and in which year

Answer 27

enrico sertoli in 1865

Question 28

what is spermatogenesis

Answer 28

the production of male gametes

Question 29

what is spermatogonia

Answer 29

primitive germ cells

Question 30

spermatogonia are present only in ____ numbers in the male gonads before sexual maturity

Answer 30

small

Question 31

what happens to the spermatogonia in males after puberty

Answer 31

after puberty, spermatagonia multiply continuously by mitosis to provide a supply of cells which then undergo meisosis to form male gametes

Question 32

how long does the process of spermiogensis take place

Answer 32

about 70 days

Question 33

where do both spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis (final stage) occur

Answer 33

in the testes

Question 34

where does the final maturation of spermatozoa occur

Answer 34

in the epididymis

Question 35

where re spermatagonia located

Answer 35

spermatogonia are basally located - at the periphery of the tubule

Question 36

what are primary spermatocytes

Answer 36

primary spermatocytes are the initial product of spermatogonial maturation

Question 37

what do the primary spermatocytes become after the first meiotic division

Answer 37

secondary spermatocytes

Question 38

how do secondary spermatocytes become spermatids

Answer 38

undergo meiosis

Question 39

where are the spermatids located

Answer 39

closer to the lumen of the tube, resting in the branches of the sertoli cell tree

Question 40

where are the spermatids cast off to

Answer 40

into the lumen

Question 41

what is spermiogenesis

Answer 41

process by which spermatids are transformed into motile mature spermatozoa

Question 42

the golgi apparatus elaborates a large vesicle called the

Answer 42

acrosomal vesicle

Question 43

what does the acrosomal vesicle accumulate inside

Answer 43

carbohydrates and hydrolytic enzymes

Question 44

where does the acrosomal vesicle end up

Answer 44

the acrosomal vesicle becomes applied to one pole of the progressively elongating nucleus

Question 45

what does the acrosomal vesicle end up forming

Answer 45

forms an acrosomal head cap

Question 46

where do both centrioles migrate to

Answer 46

to the end of the cell opposite to the acrosomal head cap

Question 47

how do the centrioles align themselves

Answer 47

centriole aligned parallel to the long axis of the nucleus

Question 48

what do the centrioles elongate to form

Answer 48

a flagellum -

Question 49

what is the basic structure of a flagellum similar to

Answer 49

cilium

Question 50

as the flagellum elongates, how many coarse fibrils form and what do they contain

Answer 50

nine coarse fibrils (contain contractile proteins)

Question 51

the cytoplasm migrates to surround the first part of the flagellum for what reason

Answer 51

to concentrate mitochondria in the flagellar region

Question 52

as the flagellum elongates, what happens to the excess cytoplasm

Answer 52

the excess cytoplasm is phagocytosed by the sertoli cell prior to release of the spermatid into the lumen

Question 53

what hormone do the leydig cells produce

Answer 53

testosterone

Question 54

what do leydig cells contain in humans and wild bush rate

Answer 54

leydig cells contain crystals of reinke

Question 55

what are crystals of reinke

Answer 55

Reinke crystals are rod-like cytoplasmic inclusions which can be found in Leydig cells of the testes

Question 56

what hormone is the trigger for the interstitial/leydig cells to start making testosterone at the onset of puberty

Answer 56

the pituitary hormone icsh

Question 57

what does icsh stand for

Answer 57

interstitial cell stimulating hormone

Question 58

what is a sign of testes cancer caused by the leydig cells

Answer 58

the presence of crystals of reinke

Question 59

the rete testis have low cuboidal epithelium with cilia, why is the cilia present

Answer 59

to move the spermatids along

Question 60

seminferous tubules discharge their spermatazoa into what channels

Answer 60

into the rete testis

Question 61

where do the efferent ducts lead to

Answer 61

into a long, extremely coiled single duct called the ductus epididymis

Question 62

how many ducts does the rete testis open into

Answer 62

seven or eight efferent ducts

Question 63

what type of epithelium do the efferent ducts have

Answer 63

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 64

what do many of the epithelium cells lining the efferent ducts contain

Answer 64

cilia

Question 65

what type of cilia are present on the efferent ducts

Answer 65

true cilia - capable of movement. the cilia help propel the spermatozoa

Question 66

what is the epididymis

Answer 66

the epididymis is an absorptive and secretory organ

Question 67

why do sperm have to spend some time in the epididymis

Answer 67

to be capacitated before capable of fertilising an oocyte

Question 68

what does the lining epithelium of the epididymis produce

Answer 68

lining epithelium produces glycoprotein material that coats the sperm

Question 69

what can be seen clearly in the epithelium of the epididymis and why is this

Answer 69

due to the secretory nature of the epithelium, large and easily seen golgi apparatus in lining cells

Question 70

what type of epithelium line the epididymis

Answer 70

epididymis is lined by a columnar epithelium adorned at its surface with large microvilli

Question 71

the epididymis resembles the cilia found in other parts of the body, the similar appearance led to them being called

Answer 71

stereocilia

Question 72

why are the stereocilia present in the epididymis not actually cilia

Answer 72

cilia have internal microtubuels and are capable of movement, stereocilia do not

Question 73

what are stereocilia filled with

Answer 73

cytoplasm, structures for absorption not movement of fluids

Question 74

once the spermatozoa are physically and phsyiologically mature, where do they move out of the epididymis into

Answer 74

the ductus deferens

Question 75

where does the ductus deferens lead to

Answer 75

the urethra

Question 76

what is the seminal vesicle

Answer 76

two highly tortuous tubes

Question 77

what is the length of the seminal vesicles

Answer 77

15m

Question 78

what type of epithelium is present in the seminal vesicle

Answer 78

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 79

what is the function of the seminal vesicle

Answer 79

to produce a nutrient rich fluid for survival and motility of spermatozoa

Question 80

what is the epithelium lining the seminal vesicles dependent upon

Answer 80

testosterone

Question 81

what fluid does the prostrate gland produce and when is it released

Answer 81

it produces prostatic fluid and stores it for expulsion during ejaculation

Question 82

what is the prostate gland surrounded by

Answer 82

fibro-elastic capsule rich in smooth muscle

Question 83

what are corpora amylacea

Answer 83

they are derived from degenerate cells or thickened secretions and occur more frequently with advancing age

Question 84

LOL describe the penis

Answer 84

3 cylindric masses of erectile tissue surrounded by skin plus urethra

Question 85

two of the cylinders forming the erectile tissue are dorsal what is it caled

Answer 85

corpora cavernosa

Question 86

there is one ventral cylinder, which surrounds the urethra, what is this called

Answer 86

corpus spongiosum