Physiology of the male reproductive system

Question 1

Where are Sertoli cells found?

Answer 1

Inside seminiferous tubule

Question 2

How are sperm produced?

Answer 2

Testosterone acts on Sertoli cells to produce androgen binding protein which binds to testosterone to make sperm

Question 3

FSH effect in men

Answer 3

Activates Sertoli cells to make sperm

Question 4

LH effect in men

Answer 4

Stimulates Leydig cells to make testosterone

Question 5

Which hormones are needed for sperm production?

Answer 5

FSH and LH

Question 6

What effect does testosterone have on hypothalamus and pituitary?

Answer 6

Decreases GnRh production from hypothalamus and LH from pituitary

Question 7

Where is GnRh produced?

Answer 7

Hypothalamus

Question 8

Where is LH produced?

Answer 8

Pituitary

Question 9

Spermatogenesis

Answer 9

Produces mature spermatozoa

Question 10

Where do perm mature?

Answer 10

Epididymis and spermatic cord

Question 11

Spermatocytogenesis

Answer 11

Germ cells undergoes meiosis to produce spermatids. Spermatogonia A goes back to beginning to undergo mitosis but spermatogonia B goes on to undergo meiosis to produce secondary spermatocytes

Question 12

Spermiogenesis

Answer 12

Maturation and differentiation into sperm

Question 13

4 phases of spermiogenesis

Answer 13

• Golgi phase: golgi body enzymes help form acrosome
• Acrosomal phase: acrosome condenses around nucleus
• Tail phase: centriole elongates to form tail
• Maturation phase: loss of excess cytoplasm

Question 14

Spermiation

Answer 14

Mature spermatozoa released into lumen, stored into epididymis, motile

Question 15

What are capacitated sperm?

Answer 15

Motile and fertile

Question 16

What does FPP do?

Answer 16

High levels prevent glycoprotein coat degenerating

When FPP drops in female it promotes capacitation

Question 17

Heparin function

Answer 17

Gets rid of glycoprotein coat

Question 18

What increases chances of fertility?

Answer 18

Motility (needs to get into cervical os and out of acidic environment) and infolding of cervical cells created reservoir

Question 19

Azoospermia

Answer 19

Absence of sperm

Question 20

Retrograde ejaculation

Answer 20

Back into prostate

Question 21

Hypogonadism

Answer 21

Diminished functional activity of gonads = less sex hormones

Question 22

Difference between hypergonadotrophic and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism

Answer 22

Hyper is testes/ovaries

Hypo is pituitary/hypothalamus

Question 23

Hypersecretion of prolactin

Answer 23

Inhibition of GnRH = low testosterone

Question 24

Why are FSH and LH elevated in hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism?

Answer 24

Negative feedback

Question 25

What happens to FSH and LH in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism?

Answer 25

Decreased