Q 6: Male Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
What is the acrosome?
The tip of the head that contains genetic material and enzymes that allows the sperm to fuse to the ovum membrane
How does sperm find its way to the ovum/egg?
Chemotactic sensors
What component allows for movement of sperm>
Axoneme
Where does spermatogenesis occur?
Seminiferous tubules
What are the seminiferous tubules lined with?
Spermatogonia
What is spermatogonia
Lines seminiferous tubules
Germinal epithelial cells
2-3 cells deep
What do spermatogonia become?
Haploid sperm
The spermatogonia proliferate and replace themselves
What surrounds the spermatogonia?
Sertoli cells
What are Sertoli cells
Help the sperm develop
Supply sperm with nutrients
Translocating the differentiating sperm cells and form blood-testis barrier
What would happen if sperm were exposed to blood
An auto-immune response would occur
Blood-testis barrier is vital
What does LH (Lutinizing hormone) do?
Stimulate leydig cells (primary source of testosterone)
What does inhibin do?
Produced by Sertoli cells
Negative feedback in excess FSH secretion
what does growth hormone do?
Basic total regulation of testes metabolism
What does FSH do?
Stimulates Sertoli cells
What does testosterone do?
Secreted by leydig cells
Drives division of spermatogonia
What do estrogens do?
Formed from testosterone by Sertoli cells
Regulators of spermatogenesis
What do the seminiferous tubules funnel into before reaching the rete testis?
Tubulus rictus
What is the tubule between the tubulus rectus and the epididymis?
Rete testis
How many sperm do two testes produce per day????
120 million :O
How long can sperm be parked in the vas deferens awaiting deployment
One month, obviously shorter if sexually active
What does fibrinogen do in semen?
It is cleaved to form fibrin which will form a clot (allowing semen and its contents to continue moving along together)
What components of the semen are added by the seminal vesicles?
Fructose (fuel for sperm)
Prostaglandins (causing uterine contractions pulling sperm along)
Fibrinogen (forms clot to move semen along together)
What does the prostate gland contribute to the semen?
Clotting enzymes (keep things together)
Pro-fibrinolysin (plasminogen) - eventually helps breakdown clot
Various alkaloids (neutralize pH)
What secretes the “pre-ejaculate” that has lubricating fx?
Bulbourethral glands
