Male Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the function fo the male reproductive system?

Answer 1

1. Produce Sperm

2. produce Hormones

Question 2

Does having the reproductive system function in maintaining homeostasis?

Answer 2

No, people have their tubes tied (male and female) and females can undergo histerectomy

Question 3

Where is the sperm and hormones produced?

Answer 3

In the testis, inside the scrotum on the outer part of the body

Question 4

What is the optimal temperature to produce sperm?

Answer 4

2 degrees below body temperature

Question 5

How doe the testis regulate body temp?

Answer 5

Cremaster muscles can elevate the position of the testes for temperature regulation

Question 6

What are the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 6

Where sperm production begins

-sperm and fluid start to be produced here

Question 7

What is the Epididymus?

Answer 7

Used for sperm storage and maturation

-gains its ability to swim here

Question 8

What is the Vas deferens?

Answer 8

Muscular tube to allow for sperm and fluid to release

Question 9

What is a myth in regards to sperm storage and is it true or not?

Answer 9

Sperm doesn’t need to be released every couple days, body will degrade and absorb the cells of sperm that are not released

Question 10

What is spermatocytes?

Answer 10

Developing sperm cells

• develop between 2 sertoli cells
• makes sure nutrients, fluid are provided and degrades poorly formed cells

Question 11

What are Sertoli cells?

Answer 11

Support and regulate spermatogenesis

-allow for the sperm to move up towards the lumen after each cell division to become more mature

Question 12

What are Lydig cells?

Answer 12

Are outside (basolateral side) and produce testosterone

Question 13

When is spermatogenesis initiated?

Answer 13

At puberty

Question 14

What is the process of spermatogenesis?

Answer 14

1. Spermatogonia- starting point at the basolateral membrane
2. Primary spermatocytes- first division
3. Secondary spermatocyte- second division into 2 cells
4. Spermatids- 4 genetically different cells
5. Spermatazoa- closes to the luminal memebrane and fully developed/most mature (looks like sperm)

Question 15

What options do cells at the spermatogonia level can go through?

Answer 15

the Stem cell can either go through mitosis and create another cell in which it could go on and be the starting point for other sperm cells

Can move up and divide to create an identical cell and create a primary spermatocyte

Question 16

Where does mitosis and meiosis happen in creating sperm?

Answer 16

mitosis from spermatogonia to primary spermatocyte

meiosis 1 from primary spermatocyte 1 to secondary spermatocyte

Meiosis 2 from secondary spermatocyte to spermatids

Question 17

What are the 2 path in which testosterone can travel?

Answer 17

Either be released into the blood (endocrine)

Diffuse through the basolateral membrane to signal Sertoli cells (paracrine) to make sure sperm formation is done

Question 18

Do sperm cells have receptors for testosterone?

Answer 18

No, only sertoli cells

Question 19

What are the properties of testosterone?

Answer 19

Class: Steroid
Water status: Hydrophobic
Receptors: Inside cells
Transported: In blood with protein

Question 20

What are androgens?

Answer 20

Male sex hormones

• testosterone and
• DHT

Question 21

What separates testosterone from estrogen?

Answer 21

1 enzyme (aromatase) conversion from testosterone to estradiol

Question 22

How are testosterone levels regulate?

Answer 22

Hypothalamic-ant4erior pituitary feedback pathway

Negative feedback with GnRH, gonadotropes (LH FSH), testosterone

Question 23

What happens when testosterone levels are too high?

Answer 23

It shuts off GnRH and therefore LH and FSH

Question 24

What are the roles of FSH and LS in the negative feedback?

Answer 24

LH: Stimulates leading cells to produce testosterone
FSH: Stimulates Sertoli cells to start+ regulate spermatogenesis

Question 25

What are other functions of testosterone in males?

Answer 25

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Anabalic reactions - binding of androgen receptors inside target cells

Question 26

What are examples of secondary sec characteristics?

Answer 26

-Are characteristics apart from the reproductive characteristics
Hair Growth
Deeper voice
Adams apple
-endocrine so circulates through the body to stimulate these areas

Question 27

What happens when you take extra testosterone?

Answer 27

Body thinks it made too much and responds by shutting down the GnRH, LH, FSH.

Question 28

Why is taking extra testosterone a bad thing?

Answer 28

Because testosterone stimulates the testies. Too much LH and FSH causes the growth of the testies and too little causes smaller testies which has longterm impacts on fertility
-Can also cause increase in red blood cells which makes your heart work harder and can cause heart attacks and stroke

Question 29

What are the seminal vesicles?

Answer 29

2 glands behind the bladder are responsible for fluid production and adds the fluid to sperm being released

Question 30

What us the Prostate?

Answer 30

Golf ball sized gland that is below the seminal vesicles and bladder. Adds fluid
-urethra and seminal vesicle joins here

Question 31

What is the Bulbourethral gland?

Answer 31

Just Below the prostate and developed some fluid

Question 32

What are/ is the amount of secretion breakdown of each gland?

Answer 32

Seminal vesicles: 60% volume of semen
-fructose, clotting protein (alkaline)

Prostate: 30% volume of semen
-cirtric acid and enzymes

Bulbouretheal: minor contribution to semen
-mucus

Question 33

What is BPH?

Answer 33

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

• when you have an enlarged prostate
• very common as we age, 3/4 males over the age of 65 will develop this
• Since urethra runs through the prostate it is squished and you are unable to pee

Question 34

What is Prostate cancer?

Answer 34

Cancer within the prostate affecting 1/7 men

-If found early, treatment goes very well and is quite successful