Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
What is the function of the testes?
- produces hormones and sperm
- located inside scrotum
- approximately 2*C lower than the rest of the body
- cremaster muscles elevate position of the testes for temp regulation
Diagram of the testes?
page 335
When can sperm begin to swim?
-once they mature inside the epididymus
What does the vas deferens do?
-exit tube from the testes
What does the epididymus do?
- store sperm/ mature sperm
What do the seminiferous tubules do?
-create sperm
What are the components of the seminiferous tubule?
- Sertoli cells
- leydig cells
- spermatogonia/ spermatocytes
What do sertoli cells do?
- support and regulate spermatogenesis
- make up walls of tubule
What do Leydig cells do?
- produce testosterone
- outside of the tubule
What are spermatogonia/ spermatocytes?
-sperm cells
What is spermatogenesis?
-initiated at puberty because testosterone levels start to rise
diagram page 337
What type of signalling occurs by testosterone on Sertoli cells?
paracrine signalling
What are the properties of testosterone?
- steroid
- lipophillic
- transported in blood bound to blood proteins
- testosterone receptors inside the cell
- testosterone affects transcription
Sperm facts?
- man makes 100 million spermatozoa a day, 1500/sec
- takes 70-80 days to make a mature sperm
What are testosterone levels in the body regulated by?
hypothalamic- anterior pituitary feedback
What does the hypothalamic- anterior pituitary control?
- gonadotrophin- releasing hormone (GnRH)-> releases LH which acts on leydig cells and control testosterone production
- follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-> acts on sertoli cells
How are testosterone levels regulated in the body?
diagram page 338
What are the functions of testosterone?
- negative feedback on anterior pituitary and hypothalamus
- spermatogenesis
- secondary sex characteristics
- anabolic reactions (muscle mass increase and RBC production)
What is a vasectomy?
when the Vas Deferens is cut, still able to ejaculate, just not sperm
Structure of the male reproductive system?
diagram page 339
What happens when you take anabolic steroids?
- testes atrophy
- long term effects such as becoming sterile
What does the prostate do?
secretes fluids
What does the seminal vesicle do?
secretes fluids
What do the bulbourethral glands do?
- produce fluid
- secrete hormones
What happens during prostate cancer?
- can’t urinate
- as prostate enlarges it blocks off the urethra
- digital rectal exam to feel the size of the prostate
What are all the secretions found in semen?
- Seminal vesicles: 60%, fructose, clotting proteins (alkaline, basic)
- prostate gland: 30%, citric acid, enzymes (slightly acidic)
- bulbourethral glands: minor contribution, mainly mucus (alkaline)
- sperm 10%
- fluids: 90%
How many oogonia are produced in each ovary?
5-10 million, any up to 1 million oogonia progress into the primary oocyte
Where is the ovary located?
- in the upper pelvis
- internal structure
- oogonia exist prior to birth