Male Reproductive System Histology Flashcards
Main function of the reproductive system
To perpetuate the species
Role for males reproductive system
Production of sperm and their delivery to the female.
Role for females reproductive system
Production of eggs, providing a location for fertilization, & providing a location to house and support embryonic development.
produce germ cells or gametes; gametes have only half the normal chromosome number as other body cells; 23 chromosomes (n number or haploid) vs. 46 chromosomes (2n or diploid)
Gonads
Gonads of males
Testes
Gonads of females
Ovaries
What do testes produce?
Germ cells
Straight tubules, rete testis, efferent ductules, ductus epididymis, ductus deferens or vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, urethra)
Passageways of Male reproductive system
Seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral gland
Accessory glands of Male productive system
Male copulatory organ
Penis
What function do testes have?
Endocrine and exocrine
Production of spermatozoa
Spermatogenesis
Testes produce androgens, primarily testosterone; steroidogenesis
Endocrine
Testes produce sperm
Exocrine
Spermatogonia undergoing mitosis; spermatogonia to spermatocytes
Spermatogonial phase
spermatocytes undergoing meiosis (I & II); spermatocytes to spermatids
Spermatocyte phase
Maturation process; spermatids to spermatozoa
Spermatid phase
Spermatogonial phase + Spermatocyte Phase =
Spermatocytogenesis
Where are testes located?
Scrotum
Where is the scrotum?
Outside abdominopelvic cavity
Temperature of the scrotum
34 deg C
Normal body temp
37 deg C
Why is temp lower in scrotum necessary?
For sperm production
Where do testis begin their development?
Retroperitoneal position in the abdominal wall
What lines Seminiferous tubules?
Complex stratified Epithelium
What cells are found in seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli cells and Spermatogenic cells
Types of Spermatogonia cells
Type A dark
Type A pale
Type B
Types of spermatogenic cells
- Spermatogenic
- Primary spermatocytes
- Secondary Spermatocytes
- Spermatids
lined only with Sertoli cells; at very end switch to cuboidal epithelium with underlying dense connective tissue.
Straight tubules (aka tubuli recti)
Interconnected network of channels lined with cuboidal epithelium or low columnar epithelium (or even simple squamous) with underlying dense connective tissue; epithelial cells have a single apical cilium and a few short apical microvilli.
Rete testis
Leave the testes and enter head of epididymis; lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium with groups of nonciliated cuboidal cells with microvilli alternating with groups of taller ciliated cells; some circularly oriented smooth muscle cells can be found around these ducts; carry sperm to duct of the epididymis.
Efferent ductules
Trace the path of spermatozoa
Seminiferous tubules -> Straight tubules ->Rete testis -> Efferent ductules
Highly coiled; lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium composed of rounded basal cells and columnar cells with stereocilia (known as principal cells); surrounded by smooth muscle cells; 4-5 meters in length; storage and completion of maturation process occurs here.
Ductus epididymis
Lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium with sparse stereocilia; muscularis has three layers of smooth muscle; mucosa lies in longitudinal folds; narrow lumen and with thick, muscular wall; long, straight tube, which is part of spermatic cord.
Ductus deferenes or Vas deferens
Dilated area where epithelium is thicker and more folded
Ampulla
Portion of the ductus deferens in prostate gland, after the seminal vesicles join, no muscular layer
Ejaculatory duct
What lines the prostatic urethra?
Transitional epithelium
What lines the membranous urethra?
-Stratified columnar or Pseudostratified columnar
What lines the spongy or penile urethra?
Pseudostratified columnar
What produces seminal fluid
-Seminal vesicles
-Prostate fland
Bulbourethral glands
Two; highly tortuous tubular glands lined with simple columnar epithelium or pseudostratified columnar epithelium rich in secretory granules; smooth muscle in inner circular and outer longitudinal arrangement; thin folds seen in lumen to increase secretory surface area; joins with ampulla of ductus deferens to form ejaculatory duct.
Seminal vesicles
Collection of 30-50 tubuloalveolar glands embedded in a dense fibromuscular stroma; covered by a fibroelastic capsule; contains corpora amylaceaor prostatic concretions;empties into prostatic urethra.
Prostate gland
Compound tubuloalveolar glands; lined with mucous-secreting simple columnar epithelium; located in urogenital diaphragm and empty into the proximal part of the penile urethra
Bulbourethral glands (aka Cowpers glands)
When does an errection occur?
When erectile tissue fills with blood
What are the dorsal paired cylinders?
Corpora cavernosa
Single ventral cylinder
Corpus spongiosum
What surrounds the spongy urethra?
Corpus spongiosum
What lines the spongy urethra?
Pseudostratified columnar and the end is stratified squamous
