Male Reproductive System Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the 3 exocrine glands of the internal genitalia

A

Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral (cowpers) gland

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2
Q

Function of testes

A

Produce testosterone

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3
Q

Function of the seminiferous tubules

A

Produces sperm

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4
Q

What type of epithelium are the seminiferous tubules

What kind of cells are seminiferous tubules made of

A

Simple columnar

Sertoli cells

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5
Q

Where does sperm development (spermatogenesis) occur?

A

Between sertoli cells from the basal surface (inside the body) of seminiferous tubule to the lumen (outside the body)

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6
Q

Leydig (interstitial) cells:

  1. Location
  2. Function
A
  1. Between adjacent seminiferous tubules

2. Synthesize testosterone

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7
Q

Sertoli cells:

  1. How are their nuclei/nucleoli?
  2. Why do they utilize tight junctions?
  3. 2 functions
A
  1. Irregular, euchromatic nuclei with prominent nucleoli
  2. To maintain a blood-testis barrier
  3. Transport nutrients to germ cells and secrete inhibin
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8
Q

What is inhibin?

A

A TGF-b like molecule that inhibits pituitary FSH secretion

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9
Q

Do the following use mitosis or meiosis?

  1. Spermatogonia
  2. Spermatocytes
A
  1. Mitosis

2. Meiosis

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10
Q

Which cells are inside the seminiferous tubule?

Outside?

A

Spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids

Leydig (interstitial cells)

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11
Q

2 functions of the blood testes barrier

A

Prevents entry of harmful substances from blood that could affect developing sperm; prevent sperm and related proteins from entering circulation

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12
Q

Seminiferous tubules

  1. What kind of epithelium
  2. Rete testis connects to?
  3. Seminiferous epithelium has 2 categories of cells
A
  1. Stratified epithelium (germinal or seminiferous epithelium)
  2. The head of the epididymis
  3. Supporting (sertoli) cells and cells of spermatogenic lineage
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13
Q
  1. Outer wall of tubules consists of ?

2. Where are myoid cells located? What are they like?

A
  1. Basal lamina and connective tissue containing fibroblasts

2. Adhering to the outside of the basal lamina - smooth muscle

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14
Q

What gets converted into mature spermatozoa?

A

Haploid spermatids

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15
Q

Function of the mitochondria in the midpiece of the spermatozoa

A

Produces ATP for sperm motility

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16
Q

Function of the acrosome in the head of the spermatozoa?

A

Has enzymes used to dissolve a path to penetrate the egg

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17
Q

Mature sperm nucleus contains?

A

Highly condensed DNA

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18
Q

Sertoli cells:

  1. What type of cells (shape)
  2. Extend from where to where typically
  3. Do they divide?
  4. Resistant to?
A
  1. Pyramidal
  2. Basal lamina to lumen
  3. No
  4. Infection, malnutrition and x-ray
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19
Q

Explain the following functions of sertoli cells

  1. Support/protection of developing sperm
  2. Phagocytosis
  3. Secretion of?
  4. Inhibin
  5. Blood testis barrier
A
  1. Mediates exchange of nutrients (since sperm are isolated from rest of body), protect against immunological attack
  2. Digest spermatid cytoplasm that has been shed
  3. Fluid that transports sperm
  4. Suppresses release of FSH
  5. Isolates spermatogenesis from the blood
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20
Q

Sertoli cells also secrete androgen binding protein (ABP); ABP is:

  1. Under control of
  2. Function?
  3. Sertoli cells can convert __ to __
A
  1. FSH and testosterone
  2. Concentrates testosterone in the seminiferous tubule
  3. Testosterone to estradiol
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21
Q

Why does ABP concentrate testosterone in the seminiferous tubule?

A

That is where testosterone is needed for spermatogenesis

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22
Q

Sertoli cells also produce anti-Mullerian hormone:

  1. Function
  2. Which hormone does opposite (for males)
A
  1. Promotes regression of Mullerian (paramesonephric) ducts in male fetus
  2. Testosterone (develops wolffian (meonephric) ducts)
23
Q

Leydig cells:

  1. Important site of
  2. When do they become apparent?
  3. Structure?
A
  1. Androgen production
  2. Puberty
  3. Round, central nucleus, eosinophilic cytoplasm rich in lipid droplets (characteristics of steroid secreting cells*)
24
Q

Other types of cells also located between seminiferous tubules (hint: these are not specific cell types)(3)

A

Fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells

25
Q

Leydig cells continued:

  1. Enzymes that produce testosterone are located where in these cells?
  2. Testosterone synthesis by Leydig cells is stimulated by?
  3. What is dihydrotestosterone?
A
  1. Mitochondria and sER
  2. LH
  3. Metabolite of test that does hair growth/muscle development (secondary sex characteristics)
26
Q

3 things testosterone is important for

A
  1. Spermatogenesis
  2. Sexual differentiation (wollfian)
  3. Control of gonadotropin secretion
27
Q

Tubuli recti:

  1. Connects what to what?
  2. Initial segment of ?
  3. Main segment of?
A
  1. Ends of seminiferous tubule loop to rete testis
  2. Only sertoli cells
  3. Cuboidal epithelium
28
Q

Rete testis:

  1. Connects what to what
  2. Epithelium?
A
  1. Tubuli recti to ductuli efferentes

2. Cuboidal

29
Q

Ductuli efferentes:

  1. Connects what to what
  2. Epithelium?
  3. Appearance?
  4. Function of its non ciliated cells?
  5. Function of its ciliated cells?
A
  1. Rete testes to ductus epididymis
  2. Non ciliated cuboidal cells and ciliated cells
  3. Scalloped
  4. Absorb fluid secreted by seminiferous tubules
  5. Sweeps sperm towards epididymis
30
Q

So flow starting with seminiferous tubules ending with epididymis?

~intratesticular genital ducts

A

Seminiferous tubules -> tubuli recti -> rete testis -> ductuli efferentes -> epididymis

31
Q

Epididymis:

  1. What happens to sperm as it travels through epididymis?
  2. What happens during ejaculation?
  3. Where does sperm go next?
A
  1. It matures
  2. Smooth muscle layer of distal epididymis contracts
  3. Vas deferens
32
Q

Epididymis continued:

  1. Epithelium?
  2. Composed of what 2 cells
  3. Surface covered by?
  4. What causes the peristaltic contraction that moves the sperm?
A
  1. Pseudostratified columnar
  2. Round basal cells and columnar cells
  3. Stereocilia - branched, irregular microvilli
  4. Smooth muscle surrounding the basal lamina
33
Q

Epididymis:

  1. Absorbs __ and secretes __
  2. How does cystic fibrosis affect epididymis?
  3. Epididymis is site of ?
A
  1. Water from seminal fluid and secretes chloride
  2. Abnormal chloride transporter causes epididymis to be blocked/fail to develop causing sterility
  3. Capacitation (enhances motility)
34
Q

__ + __ = ejaculatory duct

A

Seminal vesicle + ampulla of vas deferens

35
Q

Vas deferens:

  1. Connects __ to __
  2. Mucosa contains?
  3. Lamina propria contains?
A
  1. Epididymis to prostatic urethra
  2. Longitudinal folds
  3. Elastic fibers
36
Q

Why does vas deferens have 3 layers of muscle?

Where does the muscular layer stop?

Where does the mucosal layer stop?

A

To produce strong peristaltic contraction

At the prostate

Continues through prostate and opens into the prostatic urethra

37
Q

Seminal vesicles:

  1. Location
  2. Function
A
  1. 2 glands on the posterior wall of bladder

2. Secrete seminal fluid into ejaculatory duct

38
Q

Two features of seminal fluid

A

Its alkaline and contains fructose

39
Q

Prostate:

  1. Epithelium
  2. Gland type?
  3. What surrounds the glands?
  4. Function of glands?
  5. Prostate structure and function is dependent on?
  6. Ducts empty into?
A
  1. Cuboidal or columnar pseudostratified
  2. Tubuloalveolar glands
  3. Fibromuscular stroma
  4. Produce and store prostatic fluid (part of seminal fluid)
  5. Testosterone
  6. Prostatic urethra
40
Q

3 zones of the prostate (from inner to outer)

A
  1. Central zone (surrounds prostatic urethra)
  2. Transition zone
  3. Peripheral zone
41
Q

Function of prostate gland

A

Secrete proteins that help maintain fluidity of semen

42
Q

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)

  1. What is it
  2. Elevated production of PSA causes what? What could this indicate?
  3. Test to detect prostate cancer?
A
  1. Protein (serine protease) secreted by prostate gland
  2. Causes PSA to be detectable in the blood indicating prostate carcinoma
  3. EPCA (prostate cancer antigen test)
43
Q

3 external part of the penis

A

Shaft, glans, and prepuce (covers glans)

44
Q

Urethra:

  1. Epithelium?
  2. What is found throughout the length of the penile urethra?
A
  1. Pseudostratified columnar becomes stratified squamous in distal part
  2. Mucus secreting glands (glands of Littre)
45
Q

Corpora cavernosa

  1. Location
  2. Responsible for?
  3. What type of arteries empty into here?
  4. What regulates blood flow through here?
A
  1. Dorsal to urethra (paired)
  2. Erection
  3. Helicine arteries
  4. Arteriovenous shunts between helicine arteries and deep dorsal vein
46
Q

Function and location of corpus spongiosum

A

Surrounds urethra and prevents collapse of urethra during erection

47
Q

Ejaculation is which type of nervous system reflex?

A

Sympathetic

48
Q

Semen consists of sperm and __ secretions from which 3 glands

A

Exocrine; seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands

49
Q

Control of penile erection:

  1. Testosterone stimulates nerves to release __
  2. What does this cause?
A
  1. Nitric oxide (neurotransmitter)

2. NO causes cGMP formation in smooth muscle - cGMP causes relaxation and dilation of venous channels

50
Q

What does viagra do?

A

Blocks cGMP degradation by PDE5

51
Q

Bulbourethral (Cowpers) glands:

  1. Location
  2. What type of glands?
  3. Epithelium?
  4. What divides the glands into lobes?
A
  1. Proximal to membranous urethra (empties into here)
  2. Tubuloalveolar (mucus secreting)
  3. Simple cuboidal
  4. Skeletal/smooth muscle cells present in septa
52
Q

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):

  1. What is it?
  2. What are its causes?
  3. Treatment (if not benign)
A
  1. Enlargement of prostate gland
  2. Inflammation (benign), tumor, hormonal changes, can also be a cancerous condition
  3. Prostatectomy, TUR (transurethral resection), radiation
53
Q

Testicular cancer

  1. Frequent in which age group
  2. Treatment
A
  1. 20-35

2. Orchiectomy (testicle removal), radiation

54
Q

Sperm formation happens where

A

Seminiferous tubules