Repro Flashcards
Through which tube does sperm cells leave the testes?
Ductus deferens
What are the 3 areas of the epididymis?
Head
Body
Tail
What is the structure that connects the epididymis to the seminiferous tubule?
Rete testis in mediastinum testis
What is the structure that produces the sperm cells?
Seminiferous tubule
What is the function of the seminiferous tubule?
Germination, maturation and transportation of sperm cells
What is the serous membrane called that covers the testes?
Tunica vaginalis
What is the structure that covers the seminiferous tubules called?
Tunica albuginea
What is the basic function of the epididymis?
Absorption of fluid and concentration of the sperm cells
What is the structure that connects the tunica vaginalis to the peritoneum?
Ligamentous remnant of processus vaginalis
In what structure of the testis does a hydrocele develop?
Within the tunica vaginalis serous membrane - between the parietal layer and the visceral layer
What is the reason a hydrocele forms in the testis?
Excess fluid secreted from the tunica vaginalis that doesn’t drain correctly
What are the two main cells of the testis?
Sertoli and leydig cells
What is the function of the sertoli cells and what hormone activates it?
“Nurse” cell that is part of a seminiferous tubule and helps in the process of spermatogenesis
It is activated by follicle-stimulating hormone
What is the stem cell for producing sperm?
Spermatogonia
What is the function of the leydig cells?
Synthesis of sex steroid hormones e.g. testosterone,
in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH)
What is the blood supply to and from the testis?
Right testis - testicular artery and vein direct to and from the abdominal aorta and IVC.
Left testis - testicular vein -> left renal vein -> IVC
Cremasteric artery also supplies the testes.
What is the pampiniform plexus?
The testicular vein wrapping around the testicular artery on its ascent to the IVC
It acts as a heat exchanger for the cooled venous blood to cool the arterial blood
What nodes do the R+L testes drain into?
Right testis -> lumbar nodes -> para-aortic nodes
Left testis -> lumbar nodes -> para-aortic nodes
What is the term used to describe a twisted testicle?
Torsion
What is the potential problem of testicular torsion and why?
Compression of the spermatic cord
Venous drainage gets occluded therefore increase capillary pressure and then the arteries get occluded too
Immune privilege can be compromised and then the other non-torted testicle can be attacked too
What nodes do the lymphatic drain into from the scrotum?
Right testis -> superficial inguinal lymph nodes -> deep inguinal lymph nodes -> external iliac lymph nodes -> common iliac lymph nodes
Left testis -> Internal iliac lymph nodes -> sacral lymph nodes ->
What is the structure that pulls the testes from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum?
Gubernaculum
What are the peritoneal layers that make the spermatic cord?
In -> out
Transversalis fascia -> internal oblique muscle -> External oblique aponeurosis
What are the spermatic cord layers?
External spermatic fascia
Cremasteric fascia
Internal spermatic fascia