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Histology > Male Reproductive System > Flashcards

Male Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

what does the male reproductive system consist of?

A

the testes, genital ducts,
accessory genital glands (seminal vesicles, prostate gland and bulbourethral glands)
and the penis

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2
Q

what are the main functions of the male reproductive system?

A

the reproductive system produces spermatozoa, testosterone and seminal fluid.

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3
Q

what does seminal fluid do?

A

seminal fluid transports and nourishes the sperm as they pass through the excretory ducts. it accounts for 70% of the volume of human ejaculate.

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4
Q

what are the testes?

A

the testes develop in the abdominal cavity and later descind into the scrotum, where they are suspended a the ends of the spermatic cords.

ther are the sites of spermtogenesis and production of male sex hormones, primarily testosterone.

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5
Q

what is the testicular tunicae?

A

the testicular tunicae are the covering of the testes.

it consists of the tunica vaginalis and the tunica albuginea.

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6
Q

what is the tunica vaginalis of the testes?

A

the tunica vaginalis is a serous sac derived from the peritoneum that partially covers the anterior and lateral surfaces of each testis.

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7
Q

what is the tunica albuginea of the testes?

A

the tunica albuginea is the thick, fibrous connective tissue capsule of the testis.
it is lined by a highly vascular layer of loose connective tissue, the tunica vasculosa.
it is thickened posteriorly to form the mediastinum, from which incomplete connective tissue septa arise to divide the organ into ~250 compartments (lobuli testis)

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8
Q

what are the lobuli testis?

A

the lobuli testis are pyramidal intercommunicating compartments that are separated by incomplete septa.

each lobuli testis contain 1-4 seminiferous tubules.
the seminiferous tubules are embedded in a meshwork of loose connective tissue containing blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves and interstitual cells of Leydig.

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9
Q

what are interstitial cells of Leydig?

- location
- description
A

interstitial cells of Letdig are round cells in the interstitial regions between seminiferous tubules.

they possess a large central nucleus, numerous mitochondria, a well-developed Golgi complex and many lipid droplets. the lipid droplets contain cholesterol esters, precurors to testosterone.

they are richly supplied with capillaries and lymphatic vessels.

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10
Q

what is the function of interstitial cells of Leydig?

A

interstitial cells of Leydig are endocrine cells that produce and secrete testosterone. secretion is stimulated by LH and begins at puberty.

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11
Q

what is the dimensions of seminiferous tubules?

A

seminiferous tubules are 30-70cm long and have a diameter of 150-250um.

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12
Q

what is the structure of seminiferous tubules?

A

each seminiferous tubules is enveloped by a fibrous connective tissue tunic composed of several layers of fibroblasts and extensive capillary beds.

they are lines by a thick complex epithelium, consisting of 4-8 layers of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells.

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13
Q

what is the pathway of a sperm from a seminiferous tubule to penile urethra?

A
  1. seminiferous tubule
  2. tubuli recti
  3. rete testis
  4. ductus efferents
  5. ductus epididymis
  6. dustus deferens
  7. ejaculatory duct (joined by seminal vesicle)
  8. prostate urethra
  9. membranous urethra
  10. penile (spongy) urethra
  11. (hopefully a vagina)
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14
Q

what are Sertoli cells?

- location
- features
A

sertoli cells are found in the epithelium of seminiferous tubules.
they have a pale, oval nucleus that display frequent indentations; highly folded and contain a large nucleolus.

they have a well-developed SER, some RER, an abundance of mitochondria and lysosomes and extensive golgi complex.

they have receptors for FSH on the surface plasma membrane

sertoli cells forms tight junctions with adjacent sertoli cells near their bases, dividing the lumen of the seminiferous tubules into a basal and an adluminal compartment; blood-testis barrier

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15
Q

what is the blood-testis barrier?

A

the blood-testis barrier is formed by sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubule.
the cells form tight junctions near their base, dividing the seminiferous lumen into a basal and an adluminal compartment.
the blood-testis barrier protects developing sperm cells from autoimmune reactions.

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16
Q

what are the functions of Sertoli cells? (7)

A
  1. support, protect and nourish spermatogenic cells
  2. phagocytose excess cytoplasm disgarded by maturing spermatids
  3. secrete a fructose rich fluid
  4. synthesise ABP under the influence of FSH.
  5. secrete inhibin
  6. establishes the blood-testis barrier
  7. synthesise and release antimullerian hormone (determines maleness)
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17
Q

what does the process of spermatogenesis involve?

A

entire process of spermatozoon formation. it is divided into 3 phases:

  1. spermatocytogenesis: spermatogonia to primary spermatocytes
  2. meiosis - diploid spermatocytes to haploid spermatids
  3. spermiogenesis - formation of spermatozoa from spermatids.
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18
Q

what are the types of spermatogenic cells?

A
  1. spermatogonia
  2. spermatocytes
  3. spermatids
19
Q

what are spermatogonia?

A

spermatogonia are diploid germ cells adjacent to the basal lamina of the seminiferous epithelium. as puberty, testosterone influences them to enter the cell cycle.

there are three types of spermatogonia:

  • pale type A: mitotically active and give rise to more cells of the same type or type B.
  • dark type A: mitotically inactive, reserve cells
  • type B: undergo meiosis and give rise to primary spermatocytes
20
Q

what are spermatocytes?

A

two types:
1. primary spermatocytes are large diploid cells. they undergo the first meiotic division to form secondary spermatocytes

  1. secondary spermatocytes are haploid cells that quickly undergo the second meiotic division, without an ontervening S phase, to form spermatids
21
Q

what are spermatids?

A
  • spermatids are small haploid cells
  • located ner the lumen of the seminiferous tubule
  • nuclei often display regions of condensed chromatin
  • possess a pair of centrioles, mitochondria, free ribosome, SER and well-developed Golgi complex
22
Q

what does spermiogenesis involve?

A

spermiogenesis is the third phase of spermatogenesis. it is a unique process of cytodifferentiation whereby spermatids shed much of their cytoplasm and tranform into spermatozoa, which are release into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule.

spermiogenesis is divided into 4 phases:

  1. golgi phase
  2. cap phase
  3. acrosomal phase
  4. maturation phase
23
Q

what does the golgi phase involve in spermiogenesis?

A

golgi phase the first of 4 phases of spermiogenesis.
it involves the formation of an acrosomal granule, enclosed within an acrosomal vesicle, which becomes attached to the anterior end of the nuclear envelope of a spermatid.

centrioles migrates away from the nucleus to form the flagellar axoneme. they then migrate back to assist in forming the connecting piece associated with the tail.

24
Q

what does the cap phase of spermiogenesis involve?

A

the cap phase is the second phase of spermiogenesis, characterised by expansion of the acrosomal vesicle over much of the nucleus, forming the acrosomal cap.

25
Q

what does the acrosomal phase of spermiogenesis involve?

A

the acrosomal phase the the third phase of spermiogenesis, characterised by:

  1. nucleus becoming condensed, flattened, and located in the head region
  2. mitochondria aggregate around the proximal portion of the flagellum, which develops into the middle piece of the tail.
  3. the spermatid elongates; this process if aided by a temporary cylinder of microtubules called the manchette
  4. the acrosomal phase, ends as the spermatids is orientated with its acrosome pointing toward the base of the seminiferous tubule
26
Q

what does the maturation phase of spermiogenesis involve?

A

the maturation phase is the third phase of spermiogenesis and characterised by:

  1. loss of excess cytoplasm and intercellular bridges connecting spermatids into a syncytium. the discarded cytoplasm is phagocytised by Sertoli cells.
  2. maturation pahse ends when the nonmotile spermatozoa are release tail first into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. they remail immotile until they leave the epididymis. they become capacitated in the female reproductive system.
27
Q

how is a speratozoon split? (pieces)

A

consists of two pieces:

  1. head
  2. tail: neck, middle piece, principle piece and end piece
28
Q

what is the characteristics of the head of a spermatozoon?

A

the head of the spermatozoon is flattened and contains dense homogenous nucleus with 23 chromosomes.

it possesses an acrosome, which contains hydrolytic enzymes that assist the sperm in penetrating the corona radita and zona pellucida of the oocyte

the release of these enzymes if called the acrosomal reaction

29
Q

what is the acrosomal reaction?

A

the release of hydrolytic enzymes from the acrosome of the head of the spermatozoon. the enzymes assist in the penetration of the corona radiata and zona pellucida of the oocyte within the oviduct of a female.

30
Q

what are the characteristics of the tail of a spermatozoon?

A

the tail piece of a spermatozoon includes the neck, middle piece, principle piece and end piece.

  1. the neck includes the centrioles and connecting piece, which is attached to the nine outer dense fibres of the remainder of the tail
  2. the middle peice extends from the neck to the annulus and contains the axoneme, nine outer dense fibres and a spirally arranged sheath of mitochondria.
  3. the principle pieceextends from the annulus to the end piece and contains the axoneme with its surrounding dense fibres, which in turn are encircled by a fibrous sheath that had circumferential ribs.
  4. the end piece consists of the axoneme and the surrounding plasma membrane
31
Q

what is the critical testicular temperature?

how is the temperature regulated?

A

the critical testicular temperature is 35oC for spermaogenesis.

testicular arteries that arise from the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta accompany the testes into the scrotum providing each testis with a vascular supply.
asc these convoluted arteries approach the testes, they are surrounded by a pampiniform plexu of veins that dissapates the heat of the arterial bloods, lowering the temperature to 95oF

32
Q

what stimulates the release of LH and FSH?

what do they effect?

A

certain neurons in the hypothalamus produce LHRH (GnRH). LHRH initiates the release of LH and FSH from the adenohypophysis.

LH stimulates the interstitial cells of Leydig to secrete testosterone

FSH promotes the synthesis of ABP by sertoli cells

33
Q

what is testosterone?

A

testosterone is produced by the interstitial cells of Leydig when stimulated by LH, an hormone produced by the androhypophysis.

testosterone is necessary for the normal development of male germ cells and secodary sex characteristics.

34
Q

what is ABP?

A

androgen binding protein is secereted by sertoli cells. it binds to testosterone and maintains it at a high concentration in the seminiferous tubules.

it can also bind to estrogens, thus inhibiting spermatogenesis.

35
Q

how can FSH and LH be inhibited?

A

LH release can be inhibited by excessive levels of testosterone

FSH release is inhibited by inhibin, a hormone secreted by Sertoli cells.

36
Q

what are Tubuli recti?

A

Tubuli recti are short, straight tubules lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium with microvilli and a single flagellum.

conduct spermatozoa from seminiferous tubules to rete testis

37
Q

what are rete testis?

A

rete testis is a labyrinthe plexus of anastomosing channels lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium. many of the cells possess a single luminal flagellum.

conduct spermatozoa from the tubuli recti to ductus efferentes.

38
Q

what are the ductus efferentes?

A

the ductus efferentes are a collection of 10-20 tubules leading form the rete testis to the ductus epididymis.

they possess a thin circular layer of smooth muscle beneath the basal lamina of the epithelium.

they are lined by simple epithelium of alternating clusters of nonciliated cuboidal cells and ciliated columnar cells.

the ductus efferentes resorb fluid from the sperm.

they conduct spermatozoa from the rete testis to the epididymis

39
Q

what is the ductus epididymis?

A

the ductus epididymis is surrounded by circular layers of smooth muscle that undergo peristaltic contractions, which assist in conveying sperm toward the ductus deferens.

it is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which is supported by a basal lamina and contains basal cells and principle cells.

basal cells are round and serve as precursors of principle cells.

40
Q

what are principle cells of the ductus epididymis?

A

the principle cells are columnar and possess nonmotile stereocilia on their luminal surfaces.

they function to resorb fluid. and also secrete glycerophosphocholine, which inhibits capacitation until sperm enters the female genital tract.

41
Q

how is capacitation inhibited before spermatozoa enters the female genital tract?

A

capacitation is inhibited by glycerophosphocholine secreted by principle cells of the ductus epididymis.

42
Q

what are the ductus deferens?

A

the ductus deferens has a thick wall of inner and outer lngitudinal layers and a middle circular layer of smooth muscle.

it possesses a narrow, irregular lumen lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium similar to that of the ductus epididymis.

43
Q

what is the ejaculatory duct?

A

the ejaculatory duct is the straight continuation of the ductus deferens beyond where it recieves the duct of the smeinal vesicle

it lacks a muscular wall

it enters the prostate and terminates in a slit on the colliculus seminalis of the prostatic urethra.

44
Q

what are the seminal vesicles?

A

the seminal vesicles secrete a yellow, viscous fluid containing substances that activate sperm; this fluid constitutes about 70% of the human ejaculate.

the epithelium of the seminal vesicles is psuedostratified columnar. its height varies with testosterone level.. it lines the stensively folded mucosa.

the lamina propria and adventitia is made of fibroelastic connective tissue. the lamina propria is surrounded by an circular and outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle.

Histology (16 decks)

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