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Medicine year 3 > Repro- Male physiology > Flashcards

Repro- Male physiology Flashcards

1
Q

function of the epididymis

A

store sperm (3 months) and matures

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2
Q

why are testes located in the scrotum outside the abdominal cavity

A

testicular temperature has to be lower than that of the body to allow sperm production

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3
Q

Where is the site of sperm production

A

seminiferous tubules

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4
Q

What is the rete testes?

A

site where all of the seminiferous tubules merge

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5
Q

what is the tunica albuginea?

A

a fibrous capsule that divides testes into lobules

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6
Q

Name 3 types of cells within the seminiferous tubules.

A
  1. germ cells - produce sperm
  2. sertoli cells - support sperm producing cells and produce inhibin
  3. leydig cells - produce testosterone (surround tubules)/inbetween tubules
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7
Q

purpose of sertoli cells (sustentacular cells)

A
  1. support the sperm producing cell (support spermatogenesis) - facilitate production of sperm
  2. produce inhibin
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8
Q

purpose of interstitial (leydig cells)

A

release testosterone

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9
Q

sertoli cells support the sperm producing (germ cells) , but they also secrete inhibin - what is its function?

A

It inhibits the synthesis and release of the follicle-stimulating hormone in the anterior pituitary gland (negative feedback)

good indicator of infertility if
- inhibin b is low and FSH high (spermatic damage)

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10
Q

What is the function of the testes?

A
  1. sperm production (germ cells) - average cycle is 3 months
  2. testosterone production - for secondary sex characterisitcs and control of spermatogenesis (leydig cells)
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11
Q

Where is testosterone released from?

A

testes

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12
Q

Where is FSH and LH released from?

A

anterior pituitary

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13
Q

Which two hormones inhibit the secretion of GnRH and LH/FSH in men?

A

Testosterone (Leydig cells) and Inhibin (Sertoli cells)

via negative feedback

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14
Q

inhibin exerts negative feedback on what structure?

A

Anterior pituitary!! - reduced LH and FSH

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15
Q

Are sperm cells haploid or diploid ?

A

haploid (23n)

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16
Q

Spermatogonia undergo constant mietosis

a. True
b. False

A

a. True

Basal component of seminferous tubules -> move to Luminal component.

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17
Q

The process of maturation into mature sperm cells is called?

A

Spermatogenesis

(Spermatid -> Sperm “spermatozoa”)

gains strutural changes and functional capacity

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18
Q

The process of clonal expansion and maturation through mitotic and meiotic process is called?

A

Spermatocytogenesis

  1. Primoridial germ cells (Spermatogonium) (43y)
  2. Mitosis (16 days)
  3. Primary Spermatocyte 1 (2n)
  4. Meiosis 1 (24 days)
  5. Secondary Spermatocyte 2 (1n)
  6. Meiosis 2 (hours)
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19
Q

Spermatogonium become primary spermatocytes after one meiotic division

a. true
b. false

A

b. false

one mitotic duplication (2n) - 46Y (diploid chromosomes)

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20
Q

Primary spermatocytes become secondary spermatocytes after the first ______ division?

a. meiotic
b. mitotic

A

a. meiotic

become two cells with haploid chromosome (1n)

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21
Q

Secondary spermatocytes become spermatid after the second _____ division?

a. meiotic
b. mitotic

A

a. Meiotic

spermatid with two cells with halpoid chromosomes (23) (1n)

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22
Q

the maturation of spermatids into functional sperm cells is called?

A

spermatogenesis

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23
Q

oligospermia

A

low sperm count

normal - 15million/ml

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24
Q

What disease can cause the absence of ductus deferens ?

A

cystic fibrosis

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25
Q

High FSH and LH and Low Testoersone woud indicate there was a _____ cause of infertility?

a. hypothalamic or pituitary cause

b. testicular cause

A

b. testicular cause

(hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism)

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26
Q

LH effect in males

A

stimulates testes to produce testosterone

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27
Q

FSH role in males

A

stimulates sperm production (spermatogenesis)

28
Q

function of sertoli cell

A

support sperm producing germ cells

29
Q

which muscle contracts to propel sperm out

A

bulbospongiosus - somatic NS, pudendal nerve S2-S4

30
Q

where is sperm stored and matured?

A

epididymis

31
Q

what do the seminal vesicles produce

A

a fluid that makes up the majority of semen

contains nutrients (e.g. fructose for energy), proteins, amino acids and other substances which support sperm

the fluid is alkaline and helps neutralise acidic enviroment in male urethra and female reproductive tract

32
Q

What two structures combine to form the common ejaculatory duct?

A

duct of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles fuse

33
Q

function of the cremaster muscle

A

pulls testes superiorly (elevates) towards the superficial inguinal ring (brings closer to warm enviroment when exposed to cold/protect from physical harm).

34
Q

What is the rete testes

A

collection point for sperm from seminiferous ducts before entering epididymis

35
Q

Function of the bulbourethral gland ?

A

Secretes an alkaline mucous which lubricates the glands penis and neutralises acidic tract of the urethra

36
Q

What is the name of the erectile tissue that fills with blood during erectile response?

A

corpus cavernosum

37
Q

Where is FSH and LH released from?

A

Anterior pituitary gland

38
Q

How does GnRH reach the anterior pituitary gland?

A

via the hypophyseal portal system

39
Q

LH stimulates what cells?

A

Leydig cells (produce testosterone)

testosterone stimulates germ cells to produce sperm

40
Q

Sertoli cells allow spermatogonium to enter the lumen of seminiferous tubule

a. true
b. false

A

a. true

open up the tight junctions (release chemicals) after cells have been replicated (mitosis)

41
Q

outline how spermatozoa are developed after the 1st mitosis (replication)

A

primary spermatocyte -> meosis 1

secondary spermatocyte -> meosis 2

spermatids

———– spermogenesis (become more motile and functional)

spermatozoa

42
Q

what is used to make testoterone

A

cholesterol

(converted to testosterone by leydig cells under the influence of LH)

leydig cells are found in the interstitium surround semniferous tubules

43
Q

which cell creates anitgen binding protein (ABP)

A

sertoli cells

(ABP causes testosterone to be less lipophillic - so it can stay in the lumen of semniferous tubules and help sperm to develop)

** helps keep testosterone around/stable concentrations

44
Q

functions of sertoli cells

A
  • keep testosterone around (make less lipophillic) via ABP
  • opens up tight junctions (allow movement of spermatogonia to centre lumen)
  • nutrients - to sperm producing cells
  • helps with spermatids -> spermatozoa
45
Q

where is the DNA stored in sperm

A

head

46
Q

what is the acrosome of sperm

A

has hydrolytic enyzmes that eat through egg layers

47
Q

what stimulates sertoli cells

A

FSH and testosterone

48
Q

sertoli cells also can release inhibin - what does it do

A

has negative feedback on the anterior pitiutiary - decreases FSH production/LH

anterior pituitary

49
Q

which part of the nervous system is responsible for erection

A

PNS - points

pelvic splanchic nerve S2-S4

blood vessels in corpus cavernsum dilate (dilatory tissue starts expanding)

50
Q

which part of the nervous system is responsible for ejaculation?

A

SNS !! - shoots

smooth muscle squeezes epididymis - sperm sent to vas deferens -> seminal vesicles expell semen -> common ejaculatoru duct

51
Q
A
52
Q

how do sertoli cells support spermatogenesis

A
  • secrete antigen binding protein
  • secrete tubular fluid
  • form blood -testes barrier
  • nourish developing sperm
53
Q

what do the inferior and superior vesical arteries supply in men?

A

bladder

seminal glands

prostate

(branches of internal iliac)

54
Q

what do the seminal vesicles produce

A

70% of semen

contains

  • fructose (energy)
  • prostaglandins (acts on smooth muscle of uterus)
  • enzyme coagulase (coagulates fluids and allows sperm to latch onto walls of vagina)
55
Q

what does the prostate gland release?

A

30% of semen

  • citrate
  • PSA (prostate specific antigen)
  • fibrinolysin
56
Q

what is capacitation of sperm

A

increased motility of sperm!!

occurs as sperm is moving towards the egg

there is increased cleaning of the sperm head - only modified glycoproteins are kept

57
Q

What is the acromsomal reaction

A

the acromosome of sperm releases chemicals which borrow a hole through the zona pellucida of egg

allows sperm to bind with ZP3 receptors

58
Q

What is the fast block on sperm

A

Na+ (sodium ions) flow into the cell

this inhibits further sperm from binding

++++++ positive charge blocks++++++

caused when sperm touches oocyte membrane

oocyte cell membrane and sperm membrane then fuse

59
Q

What is the slow block on sperm

A

when the pronucleus is pushed into the ovvum

it triggers SER to release Ca2+ ions

lysosomes are activated which fuse with cell membrane and release enzymes which break down the zona pullucida and harden the cell membrane so other sperm cannot attach

60
Q

order of events of sperm binding to egg

A

1, capacitation (increased motility)
2. acromsome reaction
3. fast block
4. slow block
5. fertilisation

61
Q

when is fertilisation finished?

A

23Y fuses with 23X

zygote formed 46n

(meosis 2 - metaphase 2 finished)

62
Q

What is the acrosome reaction

A

Sperm binds to the zona pellucida of the secondary oocyte

Hydrolytic enzymes are released by the sperm

63
Q

What is the cortical reaction?

A

The sperm and secondary oocyte fuse

Cortical granules are released in the zona pellucida to cause it to harden and trigger removal of remaining sperm (no other sperm can bind)

64
Q

what is spermination

A

sperm is released from connection to sertoli cells and enter the lumen of the seminiferous tubules

65
Q

what is capacitation

A

physiological changes the sperm undergoes once in the female reproductive tract to increase motility - to prepare for acromsome reaction

66
Q
A

Medicine year 3 (6 decks)

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