Reproductive 1 - Male Reproductive System Flashcards
These are organs where gametes are produced. What are these specific organs for male and female?
Gonads
Male: testes
Female: ovary
This is a bony basin between the trunk and the lower limbs.
What 3 structures make up this bony basin?
Pelvis
hip bones, sacrum and coccyx
What is the difference between the pelvic inlet and outlet?
Inlet => always open (opIN)
Outlet => always enclosed by muscles
True or false. The pelvic outlet is bigger than the inlet.
False. Inlet is bigger than outlet
This is a superior region that is above the pelvic inlet that contains parts of the GI tract.
False/greater pelvis
What are the 2 pelvic subdivisions and what are the differences between these subdivisions?
True pelvis; contains internal reproductive organs + located in inferior region (because your reproductive organs are located inferiorally)
False pelvis; contains parts of GI tract + located in superior region (because GI contents are located superiorally)
What’s the main difference between female and male pelvis?
Females have a broader sub public angle, oval inlet and straighter coccyx. => all to support childbirth and development of foetus
Males have a narrower subpubic angle, heart shaped inlet and curved coccyx
This closes over the pelvic outlet and contains openings of the urethra, anal canal and vagina (in females)
Pelvic floor
This is a region inferior to the pelvic floor between upper region of the thighs. This includes external genitalia and anus.
Male perineum
What are the 2 triangular divisions of the male perineum?
Urogenital triangle (anterior): contains external genitalia and urethral opening
Anal triangle (posterior): contains anal canal and fat capsules surrounding it
Internal reproductive organs are found in the cavity enclosed by what pelvis?
Lesser/true pelvis
The external genitalia is found in what triangular division of the male perineum?
Urogenital triangle
Openings in the female pelvic floor include what?
Openings of the urethra, vagina and anal canal
What are the 3 glands/structures in the male reproductive system that produces seminal fluid?
Prostate gland, seminal vesicle and bulbourethral gland
What are the main structures in the male reproductive tract? (5)
Testes, epididymis, ductus deferents, ejaculatory duct, urethra
This is the site of spermatogenesis and the production of hormones like testosterone and inhibin.
Testes
This is the dense fibrous capsule that surrounds the testes.
Tunica albuginea
The testes have lobules which contains these structures. This is where spermatogenesis specifically occurs.
Seminiferous tubes
These cells are responsible for producing testosterone in the seminiferous tubules.
Interstitial endocrine cells/Leydig cells
These cells are responsible for producing inhibin.
Nurse cells
These are cells which contain the spermatogonia and spermatozoa at different stages of development.
Spermatogenic cells
What are the 3 regions of the epididymis?
Head, body and tail
This is the site of sperm maturation.
Epididymis
This dilates to form the ampulla and is where sperm can be stored.
Ductus deferens
True or false. The ductus deferens runs from the posterior to the urinary bladder.
True
These are formed by the union of the duct from the seminal vesicle and ampulla. It opens in the prostatic urethra.
Ejaculatory duct
The main functions of this structure are urination and ejaculation.
Urethra
This closes the bladder to ensure sperm is ejaculated through the urethra.
Internal urinary sphincter
What kind of muscle is the internal urinary sphincter made of?
Detrusor muscle
This occurs when the internal urinary sphincter doesn’t close, therefore the sperm ends up in the bladder as a result.
Retrograde ejaculation
The male urethra is divided into three regions:
Prostatic urethra, membranous urethra, and penile/spongy urethra
The scrotum contains what 3 main structures?
2 testes, 2 epididymis, and 2 spermatic cords
What are the 3 main ways the testes carry out thermal regulation? How do they do this function?
Dartos muscle, cremaster muscle and venous plexus
Dartos muscle => wrinkles the skin
Cremaster muscle => contracts for heat conservation - brings testes closer to the body
Venous plexus => thermal exchange between arteries and veins
The scrotum houses testes away from the body to maintain temperature at how many degrees celsius?
34
Why are the testes external to the body?
To prevent overheating of the testes
These run between the abdomen and testes. These contain ductus deferens, blood vessels (testicular arteries and veins), nerves and lymphatics.
Spermatic cords
The penis has two main functions:
Urination and copulation
What are the 3 main regions of the penis?
Root (bulb => top initial segment of penis)
Body of penis (rest of the penis)
Glans penis => contains external urethral orifice and is covered by foreskin (last segment of the penis - like the tip)
This is the main erectile tissue of the dorsal aspect of the penis. (dorsal => superior)
Corpora cavernosa
This is the tissue that contains the urethra and forms the bulb and glans. It is located on the ventral aspect of the penis. (ventral => superior)
Corpus spongiosum
(kinda remember spongiosum => it’s the penile/spongy bit of the urethra - but it’s not the main erectile tissue)
These are responsible for producing the majority of seminal fluid. It is located posterior to the bladder and lateral to the ampulla.
Seminal vesicles
What is the main function of the secretions from the seminal vesicle?
To produce seminal fluid with alkaline pH => acts to protect sperm against acidic environment in urethra + vagina
This produces about 30% of the semen. It is located inferior to the bladder and wraps around prostatic urethra (which is the first region of the urethra)
Prostate gland
What is the function of the prostate gland (in terms of secretion function)?
It contributes to sperm activation and viability and motility.
What do secretions from the prostate gland specifically have that helps it to survive in the female reproductive system and other functions?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
These are two glands located in the urogenital diaphragm. These glands open into the spongy/penile urethra.
Its secretions lubricate and neutralise acidity in the urethra prior to ejaculation.
Bulbourethral glands
This is known as the surgical method of sterilisation in males; it is characterised by cutting of the ductus deferens.
Vasectomy
This is the process by which spermatogonia are transformed into mature spermatozoa.
Where does this process occur?
Spermatogenesis; in the seminiferous tubules (testes)
This is the spermatogonia which stays in the basement membrane to ensure that the cells (spermatogonia) can divide continuously.
Type A spermatogonia
This is the spermatogonia which goes on to differentiate not a spermatocyte.
Type B spermatogonia
How many spermatids are produced as a result of meiosis? How many chromosomes do they have?
4 spermatids each with a haploid number of chromosomes.
This is the specific process of when spermatids differentiate into spermatozoa with a head, body and tail.
Spermiogenesis
What are the 3 main reproductive hormones? (1 is released by the hypothalamus and 2 are released by the anterior pituitary)
GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone)
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinizing hormone)
This is a hormone responsible for male characteristics such as the maturation of sex organs, spermatogenesis, secondary sex characteristics and libido.
Testosterone
What hormone stimulates the production of testosterone in Leydig cells?
Luteinizing hormone (from anterior pituitary)
What hormone stimulates release of inhibin from nurse cells?
FSH (remember: FISH - FSH for Inhibin)
