Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the functions of the male reproductive system?
To produce sperm cells and can transfer them to female
What is the scrotum
A pouch containing testes
What is the scrotum divided into L and R compartments by?
An internal median septum
What is he externally marked seam of the scrotum called?
The perineal raphe
What is the temperature required for speed production?
Less than 37 degrees
What are the 3 mechanisms for regulating testes temperature?
Cremaster muscle, the dartos muscle and the pampiniform complex
What is the cremaster muscle and what does it do?
It is strips of internal abdominal oblique muscle around testes. It contracts when cold to draw testes nearer to body
What is the dartos muscle and what does it do?
It is a subcutaneous layer of smooth muscle around testes and it contracts when cold so it becomes taut
What is the pampiniform complex and what does it do?
It is an extensive vein network that cools blood and testis by 2 degrees by acting as a countercurrent heat exchanger
What is the outer cover of the testes called?
Tunica vaginalis
What is the white fibrous capsule of the testes called?
Tunica albuginea
Connective tissue septa divides the testes into how many wedge shaped lobules?
Around 300
How many seminiferous tubules does each lobule contain?
1-3
What are the slender ducts called where sperm are produced?
Seminiferous tubules
What are the clusters of interstitial cells found between seminiferous tubules?
Cells of leydig
What do cells of leydig do?
Produce testosterone
What is each sem.tub. Lines by?
Several layers of germ cells in the process of becoming sperm and a few tall sustentacular (sertoli) cells
Do to the Sertoli cells of the sem.tub. Do?
Provide nutrients, removes waste, provides growth factors to sem.tub. They also secrete inhibin to regulate rate of sperm production
What are the stages of spermatogenic cells?
Spermatogonium- primary spermatocyte- secondary spermatocyte- spermatid- sperm cell or spermatozoon
What are the stages of sperm production?
Mitosis- differentiation- meiosis- spermiogenesis
What is the blood-testis barrier?
Tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells
What does the blood-testis barrier do?
Prevents proteins and other large molecules from getting to germ cells. Ie. Because germ cells are genetically different from other cells in the body the BTB prevents immune system attacking germ cells
What can happen if the BTB fails to form adequately in adolescence?
The immune system can produce autoantibodies against germ cells and this can cause sterility
Where are the Sertoli cells in sem.tub.?
In middle of developing cells
What is the basement membrane of sem.tub. Called?
Nasal lamina
What happens in the rete testis?
The sperm partially mature
Do sperm swim while in the male reproductive tract?
No