Male Reproductive System II Flashcards
What two things do the ductuli efferentes connect? Does it have cilia?
The rete testis to the head of the epididymis. Yes cilia!! Gahhhh!
What is unique about the lumen of the duculi efferentes?
Highly irregular - STAR SHAPED LUMEN is diagnostic! Also has ciliated cels.
What two structures are responsible for resorbing 90% of the testicular fluid?
Ductuli efferentes and the head of the epididymis.
What are the three divisions of the epididymis?
Head (caput), body (corpus), tail (cauda)
What type of epithelium is found in the epididymidis?
Pseudostratified columnar with stereocilia.
How long does it take sperm to get through the epididymis?
12 days
Which androgen is important for proper function of the epididymis?
Testosterone.
What is the difference between the smooth muscle in the ductus deferens vs. the epididymis?
Ductus deferens has thicker smooth muscle with an inner longitudinal, middle circular layer, and outer longitudinal layer.
What two structures are connected by the ductus deferens?
Epididymis and prostate ejaculatory duct.
Where is the ampulla of the ductus deferens found?
Just before the ductus deferens enters the prostate.
Where is the ejaculatory duct found?
Is is the terminal end of the ductus deferens within the prostate.
What is the spermatic cord?
A bundle that contains many things! It contains the testicular artery, the surrounding pampiniform plexus of veins, the ductus deferens and its vessels, and fibers of cremaster muscle.
Which structure is responsible for cooling blood coming to the testicles?
The venous plexus
What are the secondary sex organs under the control of?
Androgens, mostly DHT
What is the main source of coagulating substances in the semen?
The seminal vesicles.
What type of epithelium is found in the seminal vesicles?
Pseudostratified with secretory and basal cells.
What is unique about the secretory cells in the seminal vesicles?
They contain endogenous yellow pigment.
Can smooth muscle be found in a cross section of the seminal vesicles?
Yes, inner circular and outer longitudinal
Secretions from ______________ make up 60% of the seminal fluid volume.
Seminal vesicles
Name four substances that are added to the seminal fluid by the seminal vesicles.
- Fructose
- Prostaglandins
- Flavins
- Coagulating substances
What two proteins are found in the coagulating substances from the seminal vesicles?
Seminogelins (Sg) I and II
What do Seminogelins (Sg) I and II do?
Form coagulations, and also inhibit sperm motility. They bind zinc to induce polymerization and coagulation.
What is the gland morphology of the prostate gland?
Compound tubuloalveolar
What type of epithelium is found in the prostate gland?
Pseudostratified columnar with secretory and basal cells.
Name eight things found in prostatic fluid.
- Citric acid
- Acid phosphatase
- Tissue plasminogen activator
- Lactoferrin
- Amylase
- Fibrinolysin
- Lipids
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
What is found in the prostate stroma?
Smooth muscle and CT
What is a prostatic concretion? Where are they found?
Spherical bodies of protein and carbs found in the lumen of prostate gland acini. They increase with age.
Secretions from the _____________ make up 25% of the seminal fluid.
Prostate gland
What does prostate-specific antigen (PSA) do?
It is a glycoprotein serine protease that acts on seminogelin I (SgI) to liquify semen coagulations after ejaculation
The prostate is dependent on _________ for proper function.
DHT
What are the four parenchymal zones of the prostate?
Peripheral, central, transitional, periurethral.
Where are the bulbourethral glands found?
Between the ejaculatory duct (in the prostate) and the membranous urethra.
What do the bulbourethral glands secrete? What does it do? What type of epithelium is found here?
Sialoprotein-rich mucus lubricates the urethra. Lined by cuboidal epithelium.
What is the composition of penile erectile tissue?
An irregular network of fibrous CT trabeculae containing smooth muscle.
What are the three prominent divisions of the penis when seen in a cross-sectional slide?
Two large corpora cavernosa on the lateral sides (anatomically) and a corpus spongiosum inferiorly (anatomically).
What prominent structure can be found in each corpora cavernosa?
A deep artery.
What runs through the center of the corpus spongiosum?
The urethra.
Describe the process of becoming erect.
Flaccid state: The arteriovenous shunts between the deep arteries and the superficial veins (located superiorly) are open so blood can escape.
Erect: The shunts close so that blood cannot easily escape out the superficial veins and blood rushes in the deep arteries, filling up the lacunae of the corpora cavernosa.
True or false: Contraction of smooth muscle in the penis facilitates becoming erect.
False. Smooth muscle relaxation allows the lacunae to fill with blood.
How does nitric oxide facilitate erection? Where does it come from?
It causes smooth muscle relaxation. It is released by nerves in the erectile tissues.
What does PDE5 do?
It stops cGMP, which in turn makes smooth muscle in the trabeculae to become rigid –> flaccid penis. Viagra, cialis, etc. are PDE5 blockers.
What is the prostatic urethra? What structure is immediately distal to the prostatic urethra?
The portion of the urethra that runs through the prostate. The membranous urethra is distal to it.
Where is the sphincter muscle of the urethra located?
In the membranous urethra.
What type of epithelium is found in the penile urethra?
Stratified columnar (urothelium) –> stratified squamous distally
What are Littre glands? Where are they found?
Littre glands contain mucus secretory cells that lubricate the urethra. They are located in periurethral tissue (around the urethra).
What are Tyson glands?
Secabeous glands present in the foreskin that are NOT associated with hairs.
The inner surface of the prepuce (foreskin) resembles a __________.
Mucous membrane.
What part of the prostate is most affected by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
Transitional zone
What is the role of zinc in reproduction?
Inhibit WBCs in the female tract. They also are the likely source of prostate inflammation in men.
What is corpora amylacea?
Prostatic concretions
In which structure is the forward mobility protein added?
Epididymis
Where are sperm stored?
Tail of the epididymis, some in the proximal ductus deferens.
True or false: seminal vesicles have simple columnar epithelium.
FALSE, they have pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
