Physiology π« Flashcards
what is the male reproductive system composed of?
what does the testicular parenchyma consist mainly of?
- Seminiferous tubules (80%)
- Leydig Cells (20%)
each testis has 700-900 seminefrous tubules
what is the function of Gametogenic (spermatogenic) epithelium?
responsible for spermatogenesis.
what is the location of Leydig Cells = Interstitial cells?
between seminiferous tubules.
what is the number of Leydig Cells = Interstitial cells?
20% of testicular mass
when do Leydig Cells appear?
- APPEAR at 7-9 th (8th ) week of pregnancy. (temporarily, to form secondary sex organs by HCG)
- At birth They are extensive
- Within first 6 months of postnatal life they disappear.
- At Puberty, they re-appear by differentiation of fibroblast-like cells of testis. (Permenantly, to form testosterone by LH)
what do Leydig Cells secrete?
- Androgens (testosterone) in fetal life
β₯ Under influence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) of placenta.
β₯ lead to differentiation of male secondary sex organs (internal & external genitalia).
They also secrete some estrogen
what is the structure of Sertoli cells?
The first cell to develop
- Large pyramidal.
- non motile.
- non-proliferating tubular cells.
- Lie on basal lamina.
- Extend through entire thickness of germinal epithelium.
what is the function of Sertoli cells?
Spermiation: Spermiation is the process by which mature spermatids are released from the supporting somatic Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. It is a critical determinant of the number of sperm entering the epididymis, and thus the sperm content of the ejaculate.
HY antigen
Notes about spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia (Germinal epithelium) βββ> Spermatozoa (mature sperm)
- Occurs in all seminiferous tubules during active sexual life.
- Begins at an average age of 13 years.
- Continue throughout most of remainder of life but decrease markedly in old age. (Unlike females)
what are the steps of spermatogenesis?
There are 4 phases of spermatogenesis:
1. The type A spermatogonia become enlarged, with large nucleus, granular cytopalsm & thick cell membrane to form 1ry spermatocytes (diploid)
2. 1ry spermatocytes undergoes reduction division (meiosis) to form 2 2ry spermatocytes, each of which contains 23 chromosomes (haploid cells).
3. Each 2ry spermatocytes undergoes mitotic division to form spermatids, which are haploid cells.
4. Transformation of spermatids into spermatozoaby spermiogenesisi.
5. Removal of excess cytoplasm from spermatids by Sertoli cells.
- Production of sperms takes 64 days
- Maturation of sperms takes 10 days
- Storage of sperms takes 12-21 days
maturation of sperms
- Sperms present in lumen of seminiferous tubules are immature, Non-motile and Non-fertile.
- Maturation occurs in epididymis
production of sperms
2 testes of human adult form up to 120 million sperm/day.
Storage of sperms
in vas deferens.
what are the factors affecting spermatogenesis?
- Hormonal control
- Temperature
- Diet
- Extrinsic factors inhibit spermatogenesis
how does Hypothalamic-hypophysial-testicular axis affect spermatogenesis?
At puberty, reactivation of hypothalamic LHRH (GnRH) pulse generator occurs resulting in pulsatile secretion of pituitary gonadotropins FSH & LH.
what is the effect of FSH related to spermatogenesis?
helps in sperms production directly
β₯ Maintains gametogenic functions of testes.
β₯ ++ growth & secretory functions of Sertoli cells.
β₯ Maintains spermatogenic epithelium
what is the effect of LH related to spermatogenesis?
gives tst which helps in sperms production
+++ Leydig cells to secrete testosterone which is essential for spermatogenesis.
how does testosterone affect spermatogenesis?
β₯ Essential for growth & division of testicular germinal cells.
β₯ Essential for spermatogenesis.
other hormones and their effect on spermatogenesis
GH: ++ early division of spermatogonia.
Thyroid hormone: Essential for spermatogenesis due to their metabolic function. (Provide energy)
what is the optimum temperature for spermatogenesis?
33-35C (lower than body temp.)
what are the factors that keep optimum temperature of testes?
How does pampiniform plexus cool down the testis?
- As the veins of the pampiniform plexus climb up the spermatic cord, they surround the testicular artery. In this way, the relatively cool venous blood helps to lower the temperature of the warmer arterial blood in the testicular artery.
how does diet affect spermatogenesis?
Germinal epithelial atrophy is an end-stage lesion and is generally preceded, or accompanied by, seminiferous tubule degeneration. Depending on severity, the affected testes may be macroscopically flaccid and reduced in size and weight. Severe, diffuse germinal epithelial atrophy is often irreversible.
what are extrinsic factors that inhibit spermatogenesis?
what is the main hormone secreted from leydig cells?
β₯ Testosterone is the major hormone produced by Leydig cells of testis.
what is the amount of testosterone in a normal adult male?
A normal adult male secretes 4-9 mg of testosterone daily.
what are the physiologic effects of testosterone during fetal life?
1- Differentiation & development of 2ry male sex organs. (Of everything but testis)
- Leydig cells of developing testes begin to secrete testosterone at about 7- 9 th week of gestation.
2- Promotes descent of testes
- from abdominal cavity into scrotum during last 2 to 3 months of gestation.
what are the physiologic effects of testosterone after puberty?
what are the metabolic effects of testosterone?
Protein-anabolic effect leads to:
i- increased muscle bulk (50 % greater in male than female).
ii- increased bone growth as result of protein-anabolic effect of testosterone plus deposition of calcium salts.
iii- increased thickness of skin & vocal cords.
(Testosterone also causes epiphyses of long bones to unite, therefore preventing overgrowth of long bones.)
βAbscence of Tst may cause increase in length of bonesβ
ββββ
increased basal metabolic rate:
- usual amounts of testosterone secreted by testes during adolescence & early adult life increase BMR by 5-10%
ββββ-
Increased RBCs count:
(average man has about 700,000 more RBCs per cubic mm than average woman)
- This difference may be due to increased metabolic rate rather than direct effect on RBCs production.
βThis is the main cause of increase in RBCs in males, not due to menstruation as commonly knownβ
βββββ
Effect on water and electrolytes:
- Secondary to its anabolic effect, testosterone causes moderate Na+, K+ Ca+ phosphate, sulphate & water retention.
- It also increases size of kidneys.
what is semen?
- Semen is the fluid ejaculated at time of orgasm.
- It contains sperms and secretions of seminal vesicles, prostate, Cowperβs glands, and probably, urethral glands.
what is male hypogonadism and what are its types?
Impaired testicular functions, primary and secondary
what causes primary hypogonadism?
due to testicular disease or certain chromosomal disorders associated with congenital absence of the testes
Castration : removal of testis
what causes Secondary hypogonadism?
due to failure of pituitary gonadotropins secretion as in pituitary or hypothalamic diseases.
..
The definition of puberty
- Physiological transition from childhood to reproductive maturity.
- Puberty is physical and sexual maturation.
when does puberty take place?
β₯ In Girls: between 8 - 14 years old
β₯ In Boys: between 9 - 14 years old.
what is puberty associated with?
β₯ Growth spurt
β₯ Appearance of both 1ry & 2ry sexual characteristics in children.
what does Marshall & Tanner staging Reflect?
Reflects progression in changes of external genitalia sexual hair.
physical changes in girls during puberty
- Adrenarche: activation of adrenal glands.
- Thelarche (breast budding) usually 1st sign.
- Pubarche: appearance of Pubic & axillary hair (due to adrenal androgens).
- Growth spurt
- Menarche: after thelarche by 2-3 years.
physical changes in boys during puberty
- Puberty in boys begins with testicular enlargement to greater than 2.5 cm in length (9.5 - 14 years of age).
- Pubic hair development in males controlled by both adrenal androgens DHEA as well as testicular androgens, also, axillary and facial hair, and voice changes.
- Male growth spurts typically occur () 11 & 12 years old.
Tanner stages in Female
what are the factors that influence puberty?
- Psychological factors (stress).
- Excessive exercise.
- Environmental (nutritional status).
- Genetics (50-80% of variation in pubertal timing).
what is considered one of the important hormones that control onset of puberty?
an increase in frequency of GnRH pulse stimulation of pituitary.
(LH) or (FSH) response to GnRH in prepubertal children
In prepubertal children, no significant (LH) or (FSH) response to GnRH is observed.
what happens to (LH) or (FSH) response to GnRH during adolescence?
During adolescence, LH response to GnRH increases progressively in both sexes.
which hormone increases more in response to GnRH during puberty, LH or FSH?
LH
Describe the way LH and FSH increase in response to GnRH during puberty
- not abrupt but develops over several years
what is increase in LH and FSH during puberty evidenced by?
slowly rising plasma concentrations of gonadotropins & testosterone or estrogens.
Increase in gonadotropins in girls during puberty
β₯ Circulating FSH levels increase progressively from 10 to 11 years of age, approximately 1 year prior to those of LH.
β₯ Gonadotropins continue to increase throughout puberty, but important fluctuations are observed in relation to menstrual cycle.
Increase in gonadotropins in Boys during puberty
- Significant increase in both plasma FSH & LH is also found from onset of puberty, closely linked to rapid increase in testicular size characteristic of this pubertal stage.
- Further significant increase in circulating gonadotropins is also observed at late pubert
what does rise in gonadotropins stimulte the ovary to?
secrete estradiol
what are the effects of estradiol?
Estradiol ++ 2ry sex characters:
1- Breast development.
2- Reproductive organ growth.
3- Fat redistribution.
4- Bone maturation.
when do adrenal androgens start to increase?
Adrenal androgens start to be increased between 8-11 years old. This phenomenonβs called adrenarche.
when does Adrenarche begin?
Adrenarche begins before the rise in gonadotropin secretion.
what are the actions of adrenal androgens in females?
a- Appearance & maintenance of pubic & axillary hair.
b- Growth of clitoris.
c- Protein anabolism which promotes physical growth in pubertal phase.
d- increased secretion of sebaceous glands of skin leads to acne.
Who are the actions of adrenal androgens in males?
have little effects as compared with testicular androgens (testosterone).
what happens to GRF levels & GH during puberty?
GRF levels & GH secretion increase considerably during puberty, mainly at night.
when does amplitude of GH peak?
Amplitude of GH peaks increase early in puberty.
IGF-1
is an important modulator of growth during childhood and adolescence.
Effect of insulin in growth and puberty
- is also important for normal growth.
- its rise is particularly during puberty.
what results in characteristic pubertal growth spurt?
characteristic pubertal growth spurt results mainly from synergetic effect of gonadal sex steroids, growth hormone, & IGF-I production.
Bone growth during puberty
- Both genders experience an increase in bone width followed by mineralization with Ca+2.
what causes increased bone fracture during adolescence?
- disparity between increase in size of bone & strength of bone may explain an increase in bone fractures during adolescence.
how to avoid bone fractures during adolescence?
Ca+2 intake via dairy products & other sources to maximize bone calcification must be underscored to teenagers.
Weight gain during puberty
what happens to plasma estradiol levels during puberty?
- Plasma estradiol levels fluctuate widely, probably reflecting successive waves of follicular development that fail to reach ovulatory stage.
how is uterine endometrium affected by changes in estradiol levels?
- Uterine endometrium is affected by these changes & undergoes cycles of proliferation & regression, until a point is reached when substantial growth occurs so that withdrawal of estrogen results in 1st menstruation (menarche).
what is the level of progesterone in cases of no ovulation with menstruation?
remains at low levels even if 2ry sexual characteristics have appeared.
what is the level of progesterone in cases of successful oculation?
Rise in progesterone after menarche is, in general, indicative that ovulation has occurred.
when does first ovulation take place? and why?
- 1st ovulation does not take place until 6-9 months after menarche because +ve feedback mechanism of estrogen is not developed.
what causes increase in testicular size during pre-puberty & puberty?
development of seminiferous tubules under stimulating effect of FSH
what induces differentiation of interstitial cells into testosterone-secreting Leydig cells?
which, in turn, exert a -ve feedback control on LH secretion.
Long-standing pulsatile LH secretion
what sustains spermatogenesis?
FSH and testosterone.
what are Normal reproductive years of female, from puberty to menopause, are characterized by?
Characterized by monthly regular changes in rates of secretion of female hormones and corresponding physical changes in ovaries and other sexual organs
when do ovarian and menstrual cycles stop?
only during pregnancy or disease
what is the average duration of the cycles?
28 days (from 20 to 45 days)
what is each ovarian cycle composed of?
Each ovarian cycle is composed of 3 phases:
1) Follicular (pre-ovulatory) phase
2) Ovulatory phase
3) Luteal (post-ovulatory) phase
Number of primordial follicles at puberty
At puberty, the two ovaries contain about 400.000 primordial follicles