Pelvis and Male Reproductive System I Flashcards
What is the reproductive system?
Not necessary for individual survival however necessary for continuation of human species
Dimorphism between male and female reproductive organs
Both have gonads (where gametes are produced), in males testes and in females ovaries
What is the structure of the pelvis?
Pelvis is a bony structure that sits between the trunk of the body and lower limbs
Bony basin is made up of the hip bones (ilium, pubis and ischium), sacrum and coccyx
What is the pelvic inlet and pelvic outlet?
There are two regions in the pelvis
True and false pelvis are bounded by the pelvis inlet which is always open
The pelvic outlet is always closed by pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic inlet is always bigger than outlet
What is the false / greater pelvis?
False: Superior region, above pelvic inlet, contains parts of GI tract
True: inferior region, between inlet and outlet, contains internal reproductive organs
Female vs male pelvis
Female: broader subpubic angle, oval inlet, straighter coccyx
Male: narrower subpubic angle, heart shaped inlet, curved coccyx
Allows for females to give birth and carry/support developing foetus
What is the pelvic floor?
Pelvic floor - Provides extra support to visceral tissues within pelvic cavity, consists of two muscles, lavatory ani and coccygenous
Gaps in muscle allowing for structures to pass - openings in the floor which include uretha, anal canal and vagina
What is the male perineum?
Region inferior to the pelvic floor and between upper region of the thighs, includes external genitalia and anus
Two triangular divisions: anterior - urogenital triangle (urethral opening; external genitalia) and posterior - anal triangle (anal canal and fat)
What is the function of the male reproductive system?
Producing gametes/spermatozoa/sperm and transporting them into female reproductive tract
Separated into three key components - testes, reproductive tract/duct and accessory structures and glands
What is the path that sperm travel along?
Testes -> epididymis -> ductus deferens -> ejaculatory duct -> urethra
What is the scrotum?
Skin that surrounds the two testes
There are two testes, two epididymides and two spermatic cords
What are the testes?
Testes are surrounded by dense fibrous capsule- tunica albuginea and produce testosterone and inhibin which are important as involved in maintaining homeostatis of spermatogenesis and regulating what is happening in reproductive tract, development and regulation of secondary characteristics
What are the seminiferous tubules?
Found within tunica albuginea (dense fibrous capsule) - bits of it go into the testes and form segments called lobules, within each there are tightly coiled up seminiferous tubules where spermatogenesis takes place and where hormones are produced. Once spermatozoa are released they’re transported through canals known as the rete testis and then go into efferent ductules which leads to epididymis
Histology of seminiferous tubules
Surrounded by connective tissue, basement membrane
Within tubule spermatogenesis takes place, around basement membrane we find spermatogonia (stem cells of testes) and as it progresses cells are moved towards lumen, in lumen we find spermatozoa which is ready for release into tubules
What are the three types of cells found within seminiferous tubules?
Nurse cells: support developing spermatozoa as developing takes place and produce inhibin
Interstitial endocrine cells: produce testosterone, surround tubule - important for regulation of reproductive tract, spermatogenesis
Spermatogenic cells: spermatogonia and spermatozoa at various stages of development
What is the epididymis?
Epididymis is a long coiled tube, loosely seperated into a head, body and tail, it is continuous with ductus deferens. Sperm enter from seminiferous tubules and exit via ductus deferens. When spermatozoa released into tubules they are not capable of motility, during process of going through epididymis they become capable of motility/able to swim
