Male Reproductive System I Flashcards
what is the function of the testes?
to produce spermatozoa (sperm) and to synthesize testosterone
what are the major accessory glands?
seminal vesicles + single prostate gland
what are the minor accesory glands?
two bulbourethral glands
what is the function of all the accessory glands?
produce fluid portion of semen - transports and nourishes spermatozoa as they pass through excretory ducts
what does the tunica albuginea do in the testes?
thickens posterior to form the mediastinum testis which CT septa arise and divide the organ into 250 compartments
how many seminiferous tubules does each lobule testis have? what type of cells can be found here?
1-4 + leydig cells
where are the interstitial cells of leydig located?
insterstitial space between seminiferous tubules
what do leydig cells produce?
testosterone = endocrine function
what stimulates testosterone production by leydig cells?
LH from anterior pituitary
where are spermatozoa produced?
seminiferous tubules
where are myloid cells that resemble smooth muscle located?
seminiferous tubules
what two cells are part of the seminiferous epithelium?
spermatogenic cells –> sertoli cells = nourish spermatogenic cells
what is spermatocytogenesis?
division of the spermatogonia to provide continuous supply of cells that will give rise to primary spermatocytes
what is meiosis?
2 divisions that reduce the diploid to haploid and produce spermatids
what is spermiogenesis?
cytodifferentiation and transformation of spermatids to = spermatozoa
what establishes the blood-testis-barrier?
zonulae occludentes of the sertoli cells
what types of receptors do the sertoli cells contain
FSH receptors –> when stimulated = androgen-binding protein that binds testosterone - concentrates it to permit sperm maturation
what do the sertoli cells secrete?
inhibin - inhibits release of FSH from anteior pituitary
what are spermatogenic cells?
spermatogonia primary spermatocytes secondary spermatocytes spermatids spermatozoa
what are the 3 phases of spermatogenesis?
spermatocytogenesis
meisos
spermiogenesis
how long does spermatogenesis take?
74 days!
what are spermatogonia?
diploid germ cells that sit on the basal lamina
pale A
dark A
Type B
what are the largest germ cells in teh seminiferous epithelium?
primary spermatocytes
when are acrosome and sperm tail formed?
spermiogenesis
what happens during spermiogenesis?
transformation of spermatids into spermatozoa
how does spermatogenesis occur
- occurs in wavelike sequences of maturation = cycles of seminiferous epithelium = 16 days long
intercellular bridges
syncytium
what are primary spermatocytes?
diploid - 1st mitotic division
what are secondary spermatocytes?
haploid - 2nd mitotic division
what happens during the golig phase?
formation of acrosomal granule within acrosomal vesicles - centrioles migrate away = flagellar axoneme
