Semen Transport and Elimination

Question 1

Finishing the cycle

Answer 1

final alterations and packaging occurs in accessory sex glands and delivery system (penis)

Question 2

semen

Answer 2

bodily fluid released during ejaculation

secreted by the testes (spermatozoa+fluid) and other sexual organs (seminal plasma)

Question 3

Organs participating in formation of semen

Answer 3

testicle- sperm cell formation and small amounts of fluid
epididymis= sperm maturation and epididymal fluids
accessory sex glands= nutrients and fluids
semen- gametes and seminal plasma

Question 4

epididymal vs. ejaculated sperm

Answer 4

ejaculated sperm has surface molecules- proteins and carbs and along with epididymal sperm and seminal plasma is ejaculated within female tract

Question 5

Anatomy

Answer 5

Ampulla, vesicular gland, prostate and bulbourethral glands

if cut open have the colliculus seminal surrounded by urethral wall and the ejaculatory and vesicular ducts along the outside

Question 6

Penis drop

Answer 6

parasympathetic

erection of the shaft and glans penis, release of nitric oxide and pre-ejaculatory secretions

Question 7

flacid vs. erect penis

Answer 7

cavernosal artery full in erect

tunica albuginea thicker in flacid

Question 8

emission

Answer 8

release of sperm and accessory sex gland fluid into pelvic urethra

Question 9

ejaculation

Answer 9

forceful expulsion of the combined fluids from the urethra

Question 10

Emission

Answer 10

sympathetic, thoracic-lumbar reflex

caudal mesenteric ganglion*

contractions of smooth muscle

Question 11

Ejaculation

Answer 11

sympathetic: a-adrenergic

sacral reflex

contractions of the ischiocavernosus, bulbospongiosus, urethras, and other striated muscles

Question 12

Detumescence

Answer 12

sacral symp.

increased smooth muscle tone in corpus cavernosum and spongiosum

contraction of the retractor penis muscle

Question 13

sperm in the female report tract

Answer 13

semen deposition- glans penis and urethral process

Question 14

ruminants

Answer 14

1 jet (sperm rich fraction)

Question 15

equid

Answer 15

5-7 jets (~ 3 jets of sperm rich fraction and gell fraction)

Question 16

swine

Answer 16

gell fraction, sperm rich fraction and gel fraction

Question 17

canine

Answer 17

sperm poor fraction, sperm rich fraction and prostatic fraction

Question 18

semen deposition

Answer 18

vagina- bull, ram, man, tom cat, stud dog
cervix- boar
uterus- camelids, stallion, stud dog, and boar

Question 19

sperm survival

Answer 19

billions of sperm

sperm motility= progressively motile, non-progressively motile and immotile sperm

Question 20

immediate transfer (out of female tract)

Answer 20

retrograde loss, phagocytosis, and entrance into cervix/uterus

Question 21

immediate loss

Answer 21

species dependent

retrograde loss= 60% in cattle

cervical or vaginal plug

Question 22

Cervix

Answer 22

privileged pathways (selective barrier)- sialomucin-thin 
sulfomucin- thick 

removal of non-motile sperm

removal of some abnormalities

reservoir in some species, sperm motility

Question 23

Sperm in the uterus

Answer 23

uterine contractility- propel semen cranially and caudally- transport and elimination

oxytocin- mating and social interaction

PGF2a- seminal plasma

estrogen-seminal plasma

Question 24

capacitation

Answer 24

sperm membrane changes begin, occurs once in female tract

outside protein coat is lost

Question 25

sperm elimination

Answer 25

breeding induced endometritis- PGF*

sperm induce inflammation and an influx of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) into the uterine lumen

Question 26

mechanisms of sperm elimination

Answer 26

phagocytosis

activated PMNs release PGF2a

PGF2a causes myometrial contractions

Question 27

role of seminal plasma

Answer 27

decreased duration of inflammatory response, protects live sperm from PMN binding

promotes PMN binding with dead sperm

Question 28

sperm in the oviduct

Answer 28

uterotubal junction- sperm barrier
isthmus- reservoir
ampulla-fertilization
infundibulum- guides oocytes (fimbriae)

Question 29

storage

Answer 29

oviductal isthmus= storage, sperm selection (high fertile sperm), prolongs viability and prevents completion of capacitation because needs to occur in female

Question 30

assisted breeding techniques

Answer 30

conditions may be altered- no social interaction between male and female

Question 31

conditions may be altered- sperm elimination

Answer 31

cryopreservation- may interfere with binding to oviduct

removal of seminal plasma= loss of protective effect and increased duration of breeding induced endometritis

Question 32

assisted breeding techniques- alter semen deposition

Answer 32

deposit semen in uterus

reduce breeding dose

reduce number of inseminations