Male Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

Male reproductive functions

A
  1. production of male gametes
  2. Production of male sex hormone testosterone
  3. Introduction of male gametes into the female reproductive organs
  4. Production of other hormones such as AMH in male embryo and ABP and inhibin in adult
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2
Q

Male reproductive system

A
Testis
Epididymis
Ductus deferens
Accessory sex glands: vesicular glands, prostate, butbourethral glands
External genitalia/penis
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3
Q

Testis

A

Site of spermatogenesis
Site of production of sex hormone
Surrounded by a tunic (tunics)
Parenchyma is composed of seminiferous tubules lined with spermatogenic epithelium
Interstitiel contains Leydig cells –> testosterone

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4
Q

Testicular tunics

A

Surrounded by parietal and visceral vaginal tunics and tunica albuginea
Vaginal tunic is composed of mesothelium and a connective tissue layer (outpouching of peritoneum)

Vaginal tunic has a parietal and visceral component. Upon removal of testis the parietal component blends and is attached to the CT of the scrotum (remains in animal) and the visceral layer surrounds the testis and the epididymis (is removed)

Tunica albuginea is a capsule of dense CT which lies under the visceral vaginal tunic-continuous with CT septa that separate seminiferous tubules and the mediastinum

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5
Q

Seminiferous tubules

A

Highly convoluted, tortuous loops
Lined by spermatogenic epithelium
Interstitial cells known as Leydig cells are located between tubules

Spermatogenic epithelium is surrounded by lamina propria of collagen and elastic fibers

Spermatogenic cells
Spermatozoa
Sertoli cells
Myoid cells

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6
Q

Spermatogenic cells

A

Progressive maturation through spermatogonia A and B, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa

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7
Q

Spermatozoa

A

in lumen of seminiferous tubules; are immotile

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8
Q

Sertoli cells

A

Line the tubules; support the spermatogenic cells
Tall cells that extend from basement membrane to the lumen of the tubule
Have pale oval to triangular nuclei and indistinct cell borders

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9
Q

Myoid cells

A

Located outside basement membrane of each tubule. Function is to move spermatozoa out of tubules

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10
Q

Spermatocyte-sertoli interaction

A
  1. Mitotic divisions of spermatogonia produce new germ cell and a committed cell (primary spermatocyte)
  2. First meiotic division produces secondary spermatocytes (haploid)
  3. second meiotic division originates with secondary spermatocytes and produces spermatids
  4. spermatogenesis begins with spermatids and results in morphological changes needed to form motile sperm
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11
Q

Sertoli cells -functions

A

Support, protect, nourish spermatogenic cells
Secrete supporting seminiferous tubular fluid
Protect (via tight junctions) spermatids from immune system
Hormone production

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12
Q

Sertoli cells More info

A

Are in contact with each other
Tight junctions divide seminiferous epithelium into basal and adluminal compartments
Spermatogonia reside in basal compartment
Early spermatocytes pass through sertoli cell barrier into adluminal compartment (isolated from blood)
Immune system recognized spermatids as foreign

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13
Q

Sertoli cells hormone production

A

Release of androgen binding protein (ABP) in response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) -> increases testosterone concentration in seminiferous tubules
Synthesize anti-eulerian hormone (AMH-anti-peramesonephric duct) in embryo –> prevents formation of female genitalia
Release inhibin –> suppresses secretion of FSH (pituitary negative feedback on FSH)

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14
Q

Interstitial leydig cells

A

Occur in clusters between seminiferous tubule
Nucleus is small, round, dark, eccentric
Cytoplasm is very eosinophilic (due to SER and MT, few ribosomes) and often foamy due to presence of lipids
Secrete testosterone (also estrogens in board)
Controlled by ICSH= interstitial cell stimulating hormone (aka luteinizing hormone)

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15
Q

Testosterone

A

Produced by leydig cells
High concentrations are necessary to maintain spermatogenesis
Responsible for secondary male sex characteristics and for libido=sexual drive
Other androgenic effects: stimulates development and secretory activity of male accessory glands
It has anabolic effect: stimulates growth of skeletal muscles and bones

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16
Q

Spermatic pathway

A
Seminiferous tubules
Straight tubules
Rete testis
Efferent ductules
Epididymus (head, body, tail)
Vas deferens
Urethra
17
Q

Intratesticular ducts

A

Intratesticular ducts consist of the straight tubules, rate testis and efferent ductules
Lined by epithelium that varies from squamous to cuboidal to columnar
Rete testis is like a sponge that all sperm empties into
Efferent ductules have a distinction undulating profile

18
Q

Which of the following hormones is not secreted by sertoli cells

A

testosterone

19
Q

Epididymus

A

One very long coiled tubule surrounded by connective tissue
Lined by pseudo stratified columnar epithelium with stereo cilia- function to increase absorption of fluid, not moving maturing sperm
Presence of smooth muscle cells in its wall which are abundant in the tail region
Main functions are fluid resorption and secretion of glycoproteins, proteins, glycolipids and lipids
Site of sperm maturation (head, body) and storage (in the tail of epididymis)

20
Q

Which is not an accessory sex gland

A

epididymus

21
Q

Ductus deferens

A

Lined by pseudo stratified columnar epithelium lined with sterocilia
Characterized by prominent muscular –> peristaltic contractions that propel spermatozoa
In ruminants and stallions, near the junction with the urethra, the ductus deferent forms a male accessory gland known as the ampulla

22
Q

During fetal life the migration of the testes towards its final position starts from

A

near the kidney

23
Q

Accessory sex glands

A
Vesicular glands (seminal vesicles)
Ampullary glands
Prostate glands
Bulbourethral glands
Nb. Ampulla of the vas deferent 
Function: add substances to semen to promote fertilization
Lined by simple (cuboidal or columnar) or pseudo stratified epithelium
Are tubuloaveolar
24
Q

Seminal vessicles

A

Vesicular glands are not present in carnivores

Produce fructose- source of energy for the sperm cells

25
Q

Prostate

A

Multilobulated gland surround urethra
Surrounded by fibroelastic capsule
Branched tubuloalveolar gland
Produces buffers to neutralize acidity of seminal plasma

Glandular tissue surrounded by fibromuscular storma forming multiple lobules
Smooth muscle surrounds these lobules

26
Q

Bulbourethral glands

A

Bulbourethral glands empty into urethra in pelvis

Mucous secretion acts as a lubricant in urethra

27
Q

Penis

A

Consists primarily of erectile tissue and the urethra (os penis in dog and tomcat) covered by unaired skin
Corpora cavernosa: paired masses of erectile tissue
-irregular vascular spaces lined with endothelium between CT trabecular
-trabeculae vary in thickness by species
Corpus spongiosum: single mass of erectile tissue surrounds the urethra; more delicate than corpus cavernosa

28
Q

Penis types

A

Vascular penis: stallion, primates
Fibroelastic penis: bull, ram, boar
Intermediate penis: dog, cat

29
Q

Male urethra

A

Has 3 portions: prostatic, pelvic and penile
Mostly lined by transitional epithelium
Function: removal of urine from body and passage of semen

30
Q

Prepuce

A

External and internal layers
External is normal haired skin
Internal is covered with fine hairs, sweat glands and sebaceous glands for a variable distance
Boars have a preputial diverticulum: keratinized stratifies squamous epithelium –> sloughed epithelial cells + ruin =smegma

31
Q

Which is the function of the epidiymus

A

Connect the efferent ductules to the vas deferens
Major site of maturation of sperm
Sit of storage of sperm
Major site of absorption of fluid