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PHYSL 400/500 Repro > Modules 2.1 - 2.3 Male Reproductive Physiology > Flashcards

Modules 2.1 - 2.3 Male Reproductive Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the major accessory reproductive organs, gonads and ducts in the Male reproductive system?

A

External:

  • Penis
  • Scrotum

Internal:

  • Ducts for sperm storage and transport:
    • Epididymis
    • Vas deferens
  • Associated Glands
    • Prostate
    • bublbourethral
    • seminal vesicles
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2
Q

Where is the anatomical location of the urethra? What surrounds it?

A

Ventral aspect of the penile shaft

Surrounded by corpus spongiosum (erectile tissue)

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3
Q

What is the glans?

A

Enlarged tip of penis

Covered in foreskin (prepuce)

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4
Q

What makes up the penile erectile tissue?

A

Corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernosa

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5
Q

What surrounds the corpus cavernosa and corpus spongiosum?

A

Tunica albuginea - dense tissue (effected in penile fracture)

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6
Q

What is notable about a ventral rupture in the tunical albuginea?

A

Because the urethra is at the ventral side of the penis, a rupture may effect the urethra

  • requires surgical intervention
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7
Q

What are 5 physiological benefits of circumcision?

A
  1. Reduced rate of UTI’s
  2. Reduced rate of foreskin-related complications
    • inflammation, odor, infection
  3. Reduced rate of sexually transmitted infections
    • Hiv because foreskin can tear easily (blood to blood transmission)
    • Foreskin has lots of langerhans cells to which HIV readily attaches
    • syphilis
    • genital herpes
  4. Lower rates of penile and cervical cancer (95-99%
  5. Lower rates of prostate cancer
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8
Q

What are risks of circumcision?

A
  • Infection (0.4%)
  • Bleeding
  • Higher risk with adult circumcision compared to newborn
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9
Q

When do the testes descend from the abdomen into the scrotum?

A

~7th month of pregnancy

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10
Q

What is important about the countercurrent organization of the spermatic cord?

A

Allows blood temp to decrease/increase when going to testes/body respectively.

Spermatogenesis requires cooler temperature

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11
Q

What is cryptorchidism?

A

undescended testes

  • must be corrected before puberty or pt may become sterile
  • prone to cancer
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12
Q

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

A

In the seminiferous tubules

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13
Q

What is featured in the interstitial tissue of the testes?

A

Blood vessels and leydig cells

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14
Q

What is the path sperm take through the testes?

A

Seminiferous tubules

Rete testis

Efferent ductules

Epididymis

Vas deferens

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15
Q

The spermatic cord includes:

A

The vasculature and the vas deferens

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16
Q

The spermatic cord passes to the testis through the ____________

A

The spermatic cord passes to the testis through the inguinal canal

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17
Q

Each vas deferens extends behind the _______ and join the _______

A

Each vas deferens extends behind the bladder and join the seminal vesicles

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18
Q

The vas deferens and seminal vesicals join to form the _______

A

The vas deferens and seminal vesicals join to form the ejaculatory ducts

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19
Q

The ejaculatory ducts enter the ______ and join the ______

A

The ejaculatory ducts enter the prostate and join the urethra

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20
Q

Where do the glands secrete their fluids?

Prostate

Bulbourethral

Seminal vesicals

A

Prostate:

  • Urethra

Bulbourethral (Cowper’s) Glands:

  • Cowper’s glands secrete a thick, alkaline fluid into urethra at its junction with the prostate

Seminal Vesicals:

  • When the vasa deferentia travel through the center of the prostate gland, each widens to form the ampulla of the ductus. It is here that the seminal glands empty their contents.
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21
Q

For each component of sperm give the function and source:

Sperm

A

Function:

Gametes

Source:

Seminiferous tubules

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22
Q

For each component of sperm give the function and source:

Mucus

A
  • Function:
    • lubricant
  • Source:
    • Bulbourethral glands (cowpers)
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23
Q

For each component of sperm give the function and source:

Water

A
  • Function:
    • Provides liquid medium
  • Source
    • All accessory glands
24
Q

For each component of sperm give the function and source:

Buffers

A
  • Function
    • Neutralize acidic environment of the vagina
  • Source
    • Prostate, bulbourethral glands
25
For each component of sperm give the function and source: Nutrients * Fructose * Citric acid * Vitamin C * Carnitine
* Function: * Nourish Sperm * Source * Fructose - seminal vesicles * Citric acid - prostate * Vitamine C - seminal vesicles * Carnitine - epididymis
26
For each component of sperm give the function and source: enzymes
* Function: * Clot semen in vagina then liquefy clot * Source * Seminal vesicles and prostate
27
For each component of sperm give the function and source: Zinc
Function: * Unknown, possible association with infertility * Low zinc = low fertility Source * Unknown
28
For each component of sperm give the function and source: Prostaglandins
* Function: * Smooth muscle contaction; * May aid sperm transport * Source: * Seminal vesicles
29
Each seminiferous tubule is surrounded by a basement membrane containing which two types of cells?
1. Developing sperm 2. Sertoli cells
30
In the center of each seminiferous tubule is a fluid-filled ______ containing _______ cells
In the center of each seminiferous tubule is a fluid-filled _lumen_ containing _mature sperm_ cells
31
The tubular wall (of the seminiferous tubules) is composed of _______ and _______ cells
The tubular wall (of the seminiferous tubules) is composed of _developing germ cells (sperm)_ and _Sertoli (supporting)_ cells
32
Which cell type synthesizes and releases testosterone?
Leydig cells
33
How long does spermatogenesis take?
64-74 days 30-300 million sperm formed/day \>300 million released in a single ejaculation
34
Which hormone freely enters sertoli cells?
Testosterone
35
Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules extend from the ______ to the \_\_\_\_\_\_
Sertoli cells extend from the _basment membrane_ to the _lumen_
36
Sertoli cells are joined together by ________ which forms an unbroken ring around the outer circumference of the seminiferous tubule = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Sertoli cells are joined together by _tight junctions_ which forms an unbroken ring around the outer circumference of the seminiferous tubule = _blood-testis barrier/ sertoli-cell barrier_
37
Where are leydig cells located?
in connective tissue (interstitial) spaces between tubules
38
Function of leydig cells? Activity throughout life?
* Synthesize and release testosterone * Convert testosterone into estradiol via enzyme aromatase (one source of estrogen) Active in fetus Quiescent following birth Reactivated at puberty
39
Describe the hormonal control of spermatogenesis:
* Hypothalamus releases GnRH which acts on the anterior pituitary to release LH and FSH * FSH acts on Sertoli cell * Increases activity of sertoli cells * Inhibin - inhibits FSH release * Androgen-binding protein (ABP) binds testosterone (from leydig cells) * LH acts on leydig cells (aka interstitial cells) * stimulate testosterone production * some T goes into circulation (via venous drainage of testes) for secondary effects * some T goes to seminiferous tubules for spermatogenesis * Testosterone acts as an inhibitor of LH (ant pit) and GnRH (hypothalamus)
40
Where does mitosis (of spermatogenesis) occur?
in the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules - continuously creating additional germ cells
41
Sperm cells remain bound to _________ until transformation is complete; final maturation occurs in the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Sperm cells remain bound to _apical membrane of Sertoli cells_ until transformation is complete; final maturation occurs in the _epididymis_ (lose cytoplasm and develop flagellum)
42
Describe the three regions of sperm: Head; midpiece; tail
* Head * almost entirely nucleus * contains genetic information * Acrosome covers tip of nucleus * protein filled vesicle * contains enzymes necessary for fertilization * Midpiece * formed by mitochondria * provides energy (ATP) for movement * Tail * Mostly flagellum * propels sperm: 1-4mm/min
43
What happens if sperm has a defect that alters structure/function, energy generation and/or motility?
Fertility is impaired
44
What can cause mutation/abnormal forms of sperm?
Causes range from genetic to stress and health status
45
Where is sperm stored prior to ejaculation?
Vas deferens and epididymis
46
Fluid is absorbed from ________ to concentrate sperm
epididymis lumen
47
Summarize the process that leads to penile erection
Begin: 3 cylindrical vascular compartments - flaccid (corpus spongiosum and 2 corpus cavernosum) * Central stimulation -\> hypothalamus -\> sexual excitation * Leads to **dilation** of **small arteries** + passive compression of adjacent veins (reduce blood drainage) * Increased blood flow and engorgement of vascular compartments * Erection
48
Which muscles contract to contribute to penile tumescence (erection)
Ischiocavernosus muscles - conract to increase pressure
49
At rest, the dominant input to small penile arteries is \_\_\_\_\_
At rest, the dominant input to small penile arteries is sympathetic (norepinephrine)
50
During erection, what happens to the sympathetic input to associated arteries
Sympathetic input is inhibited during erection =\> net vasoconstriction
51
Which autonomic neurons to arteries are activated during erection
Non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic autonomic neurons (No NE of Ach)
52
Nitric oxide (NO) is released during erection, what is it's role?
Vasorelaxation
53
Central neural input that initiates vascular dilation: Begin -\> - \> _________ pathways triggered by thoughts, emotions and sensory inputs such as sight and smell - \> neurons to penis: * increase activity of neurons that release \_\_\_\_\_\_ * decrease activity of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ -\> Penis: * _________ (vasculature) * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_(vasculature)
Central neural input that initiates vascular dilation: Begin -\> - \> _descending CNS_ pathways triggered by thoughts, emotions and sensory inputs such as sight and smell - \> neurons to penis: * increase activity of neurons that release _nitric oxide_ * decrease activity of _sympathetic neurons_ -\> Penis: * _dilation of arteries_ (vasculature) * _erection_ * _compression of veins_ (vasculature) * reinforces erection
54
Ejaculation is a _______ reflex mediated by _______ pathways from \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Ejaculation is a _spinal_ reflex mediated by _afferent_ pathways from _penile mechanoreceptors_
55
What are the two phases of ejaculation?
1. Emission: * Sympathetically mediated contraction of epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, prostate and seminal vesicles * Empties sperm and secretions into urethra 2. Ejaculation * ~3ml semen (300million sperm) expelled from urethra by rapid contractions of urethral smooth muscle and skeletal muscle at base of penis (bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus) * Sphincter at the base of bladder is closed to prevent semen from entering bladder
56
1. Emission: * _________ mediated contraction of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, _______ and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * Empties sperm and secretions into \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2. Ejaculation * ~3ml semen (300million sperm) expelled from ______ by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * What prevents sperm from entering into the bladder
1. Emission: * Sympathetically mediated contraction of _epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, prostate and seminal vesicles_ * Empties sperm and secretions into _urethra_ 2. Ejaculation * ~3ml semen (300million sperm) expelled from _urethra_ by _rapid contractions of urethral smooth muscle and skeletal muscle at base of penis (**bulbospongiosus** and **ischiocavernosus**_) * Sphincter at the base of bladder is closed to prevent semen from entering bladder
57
What is orgasm?
Muscular contractions, pleasure and systemic physiological changes (eg increased HR and BP) Followed by latent period - erection is not possible

PHYSL 400/500 Repro (10 decks)

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