Reproductive System (Male) Flashcards
Once the reproductive system becomes active (at puberty) it has a high impact on _______
Once the reproductive system becomes active (at puberty) it has a high impact on endocrine system
- bone development
- brain development
What are five functions of the male reproductive system?
- produce male gametes (spermatozoa)
- Produce sex hormones
- testosterone
- Produce Seminal Fluid
- Temporary storage for spermatozoa
- Delivery of spermatozoa to the female repro tract
What organ produces the male gametes (sperm) and male sex hormone (testosterone)?
Testes
What are three functions of the ducts of the male reproductive system?
- Sperm
- storage
- maturation
- transportation
Why are accessory glands of the male reproductive system important?
- Produce majority of seminal fluid
- Secretions function in maintenance maturation of sperm
Which organ:
- is the male organ of copulation
- common pathway for urine and semen
Penis
What separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity?
Parietal peritoneum - lies overtop all of the pelvic organs (urinary bladder, rectum, uterus)
What makes the floor and roof of the pelvis?
Roof = Parietal peritoneum
Floor = Levator ani mm
The male gonads, the ______ are found in the ______
The male gonads, the testis are found in the scrotum
Why are the male gonads (testis) found in the scrotum (“outside” of the body)?
Maintained at a lower temperature in order to produce sperm.
=external gonads
What is the first duct from the testis?
Epididymis (palpable structure)
From the epididymis, we have the _______ (tube) which goes from the scrotum into the pelvic cavity
From the epididymis, we have the Ductus (vas) deferens (tube) which goes from the scrotum into the pelvic cavity
The vas deferens goes from the external part of the body, into the pelvic cavity and behind the _______
The vas deferens goes from the external part of the body, into the pelvic cavity and behind the Urinary bladder (always retroperitoneal)
=External part of body has NO access to abdominal cavity
The ductus (vas) deferens goes behind the urinary bladder where it joins with the ______ (gland)
The ductus (vas) deferens goes behind the urinary bladder where it joins the seminal vesicle
Seminal vesicles on either side form with the ductus deferens and forms the ______ in the _______ (2nd gland)
Seminal vesicles on either side form with the ductus deferens and forms the ejaculatory duct in the prostate
From the prostate, we see a common passageway of both urine and semen (_______urethra)
From the prostate, we see a common passageway of both urine and semen (prostatic urethra)
The prostatic urethra becomes the short _______ urethra. Here we find the third gland of the male reproductive system, the _______
The prostatic urethra becomes the short membraneous urethra. Here we find the third gland of the male reproductive system, the bulbourethral gland
What is the bulbourethral gland important for?
Clearing the urethra of “old” urine
The membranous urethra becomes the _______ urethra
The membranous urethra becomes the penile urethra
What are the palpable points making the
- anal triangle
- urogenital triangle
- Anal triangle:
- Ischial tuberosity
- coccyx
- Urogenital triangle:
- Ischial tuberosity
- Pubic symphysis
What two perineal muscles would you see in the anal triangle?
What nerve innervates these muscles?
- External anal sphincter (thickening of pelvic floor (levator ani)
- Levator ani
Innervated by pudendal nerve (S2,3,4)
Which perineal muscle supports pelvic organs?
Levator ani
What perineal muscle regulates anal opening>
External anal sphincter
Which muscles would you find in the urogenital triangle? What are they innervated by?
- External urethral sphincter - regulates urethral opening
- Muscles over erectile tissues of genitalia - increases blood flow
- innervated by pudendal nerve (S2,3,4)
Which sphincter is more developed in males vs females?
external urethral sphincter
What are the two types of erectile tissue in the penis?
- The “Bulb” of penis - beginning of the corpus spongiosum
- The Crus of penis: Corpora cavernosa
In which erectile tissue of the penis would you find the urethra?
Corpus spongiosum
Which type of erectile tissue gets the most bloodflow during erection? why?
Corpus cavernosa gets more than corpus spongiosum because we don’t want to “squeeze” the urethra within the corpus spongiosum
What is the attached part of the corpus cavernosa called?
Crus of penis (two)
make “legs”
What is the attached part of the corpus spongiosum?
Bulb of penis
What muscle surrounds the bulb of the penis?
Bulbospongiosus muscle
What muscle surrounds the Crus of penis?
Ischiocavernosus muscle
-ischium attachment (ischial tuberosity and ishial ramus)
Gonads develop from the ________ before descending.
posterior abdominal wall
What ligament separates the two scrotal cavities?
Scrotal septum
What muscle surrounds the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord
Surrounding the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord is the cremaster muscle
The cremaster muscle is formed from the continuation of which muscle?
What reflex does this have?
Internal oblique muscles
- continue into scrotum
- Cremaster reflex = brings scrotum closer to body wall during sexual arousal and in response to temperature
What are the three components of the spermatic cord?
- Vas deferens (ductus deferens)
- Pampiniform plexus
- Testicular artery
The testicular artery comes from which vessel?
Abdominal aorta
What is the papiniform plexus?
Lots of veins = important to ensure that everything is drained from the penis
- maintain proper temperature within the scrotus
What structure provides openings to the scrotum?
(weak points of the body wall)
Inguinal canal
The inguinal canal is covered by the ligament which extends from the ________\_to the ________\_
The inguinal canal is covered by the inguinal ligament which extends from the anterior superior iliac crest to the pubic symphisis
What does semen consist of?
- spermatozoa (gametes)
- Seminal fluid (secretions from accessory glands)
What is spermatogenesis?
Production of sperm
Where does spermatogenesis occur?
In the seminiferous tubules of the testes
Where do sperm mature?
In the epididymis
Which part of the male genital tract provides transport for sperm from the scrotum to ejaculatory ducts?
Vas deferens
The vas deferens emerges from the _____ to the _______
The vas deferens emerges from the tail of the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct
The enlargement of the vas deferens is called the _______ that mixes with the _______ (1st gland) to form the _________ (duct)
The enlargement of the vas deferens is called the ampulla which mixes with the seminal vesicle (1st gland) to form the ejaculatory duct (duct)
Which two vessels combine at the prostate to become the membranous urethra?
Prostatic urethra and ejaculatory duct
The ejaculatory duct and prostatic urethra combine at the prostate to become the ________
The ejaculatory duct and prostatic urethra combine at the prostate to become the membranous urethra
Which gland secretes into the membranous urethra?
Bulbourethral gland
The membranous urethra becomes the ________
The membranous urethra becomes the penile urethra
What is the primary sex organ of the male?
Testis
What two serous layers cover the testes?
- Tunica vaginalis (parietal) - surrounds scrotum
- Tunica vaginalis (visceral) - surrounds testis
What is the area between the parietal and visceral tunica vaginalis called?
Scrotal cavity
Filled with serous fluid = prevent friction
Why do the gonads (testis) appear white?
They’re surrounded by tough fibrous connective tissue: Tunica albuginea
What is the tunical albuginea?
What does it form?
White fibrous connective tissue envelope over the gonads
Forms CT septa
Within the CT septa (formed by the tunica albuginea) you would find the ________
Within the CT septa (formed by the tunica albuginea) you would find the seminiferous tubules
The seminiferous tubules all accumulate at the _______
The seminiferous tubules all meet at the Rete testis (aka mediastinum)
What is found in the tunica albuginea?
The blood, lymph and nerve vessels
Which enter posteriorly into rete testis (mediastinum)
The seminiferous tubules are embedded in ______ with ____, ____, _____ and _______
The seminiferous tubules are embedded in connective tissue with blood, lymph, nerves and interstitial cells
What type of cells line the seminiferous tubules? What do they produce?
Spermatogenic cells (Germ cells)
- produce sperm
Aside from spermatogenic cells, what other type of cell is found in the seminiferous tubules?
Sertoli (nurse) cells
Outside the seminiferous tubules (within the CT) are ______ cells
Outside the seminiferous tubules (within the CT) are interstitial cells
What is spermatocytogenesis?
Mitosis (differentiation) of spermatogonia into primary spermatocytes
What process follows spermatocytogenesis?
Meiosis
-reduce diploid chromosomal complement to form haploid spermatids
What process follows Meiosis?
Spermiogenesis - transformation of spermatids into spermatozoa
What are the three stages of spermatogenesis? (sperm formation)
- Spermatocytogenesis
- Meiosis
- Spermiogenesis
Sertoli cells are a type of ______ cell
Sertoli cells are a type of epithelial cell
What are five functions of sertoli cells?
- Support, nourish, protect spermatogenic cells
- Phagocytose excess cytoplasm
- Secrete fructose-rich fluid
- Helps maintain necessary testosterone levels for spermatogenesis
- Establish blood-testis barrier (tight junction)
Why is the blood-testis barrier (established by the ______ cells) important?
Why is the blood-testis barrier (established by the sertoli cells) important?
- Secondary Spermatocytes (and mature spermatozoa) would be recognized by the body as foreign = the immune system would destroy them
- The blood-testis barrier is a tight-junction that ensures that the body cannot detect these new cells
Which cell crosses the tight junction (blood-testis barrier) prior to meiosis?
Primary spermatocytes
What is spermioogenesis and what four events occur during spermiogenesis?
- Final stage of spermatogenesis - transformation of spermatid into spermatozoon
- condensation of nucleus
- formation of acrosome - chews through barrier of ovum
- development of flagellum
- shedding of cytoplasm (ingested by sertoli cells)
What is contained in the acrosome?
Enzymes that create a hole in the zona pellucida
How does the sperm get energy for motion?
Mitochondria in midpiece generates beating of flagellum
What are myoid cells?
Epithelial cells that are capable of contracting
-help propel the contents of seminiferous tubules toward the rete testes
What are leydig cells?
Cells in the interstitial tissue that produces and secretes testosterone
What are the two types of interstitial cells in the testis?
Leydig cells - produce testosterone
Myoid cells - contract
What does follicle stimulating hormone stimulate in males?
FSH stimulates sertoli cells to support spermatogenesis
What is the effect of luteinizing hormone in males?
Stimulates Leydig cells to produce testosterone
FSH and LH (collectively known as the _______) are produced by the ________
FSH and LH (collectively known as the gonadotropins) are produced by the anterior pituitary gland
Sertoli cells release _____ to depress the anterior pituitary from producing FSH
Sertoli cells release inhibin to depress the anterior pituitary from producing FSH
What type of epithelium makes up the epididymis?
What are two types of cells found there?
Pseudocolumnar epithelium
- Tall ciliated cells
- Short absorptive cells
The ductus (vas) deferens is a ________ that conducts sperm from the _____ to the ______ via _______ .
Enlarges as an _____ to join the ______ which together form the ______ ducts
The ductus (vas) deferens is a long, thick muscular tube that conducts sperm from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles via peristaltic contraction.
Enlarges as an ampulla to join the seminal vesicle which together form the ejaculatory ducts
What three glands contribute to the seminal fluid?
- Seminal vesicle
- Prostate gland
- Bulbourethral gland
Most of the seminal fluid is made in the _______
Most of the seminal fluid is made in the seminal vesicle
Which gland contributes to about 20% of semen?
Prostate gland
How does the bulbourethral gland contribute to semen?
Neutralizes and lubricates the urethra
Which reproductive gland has a highly amplified mucosa?
Seminal vesicles
The seminal vesicles secrete 60-70% of seminal fluid giving it a _____, _____ appearance.
Among it’s secretions are:
- _______
- _______
The seminal vesicles secrete 60-70% of seminal fluid giving it a yellow, viscous appearance.
Among it’s secretions are:
-
coagulating factors
- clotting of semen (defence against women’s reproductive system)
-
High fructose content
- __energy source for sperm
Which gland is being described:
- Dense, walnut-sized
- Below urinary bladder
- surrounds initial portion of the urethra
Prostate gland
Why is there a lot of smooth muscle associated with the prostate gland?
- Helps release urine
- Final contraction at ejaculation
What is secreted by the prostate gland
- thin, white secretion making up about 20-30% of semen
- hydrolytic enzymes (produced by epithelium)
- liquefy ejaculated clotted semen
- release spermatozoa
what are the bulbourethral glands?
two tiny glands in the urogenital diaphragm that secrete right before final ejaculation
What is secreted by the bulourethral glands?
Thick, sticky alkaline mucous that coats and lubricates the urethra (neutralizing any urine) before the passage of sperm
What is the difference between the shaft and root of penis?
Root is the separate erectile tissues (bulb and crus)
Shaft is where the two erectile tissues come together
What tissue in the penis has dense collagen bundles permitting extension of erectile tissue?
Tunica albuginea (fibrous CT)
Which type of erectile tissue has direct arteries?
Corpora cavernosa
What is erectile tissue composed of?
Large interconnecting vascular spaces lined with enothelial cells, separated by trabeculae (CT and smooth mm)
What is the mechanism of erection?
(point and shoot)
- Parasympathetic stimulation causes vasodilation of central arteries
- Erectile tissue become engorged with blood (trabeculae and smooth mm are relaxed)
- Peripheral veins become compressed against tunica albuginea - blocks venous outflow
- sympathetic stimulation causes ejaculation (constriction of arteries and muscle)
Most of the spongy(penile) urethra is lined with ________ epithelium; the glans of the penis has __________ epithelium
Most of the spongy(penile) urethra is lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium; the glans of the penis has stratified squamous epithelium
In the penile urethra are urethral glands (glands of ______) that secrete _______
In the penile urethra are urethral glands (glands of littre) that secrete mucous - help bulbourethral glands with lubrication of the penile urethra
