Spermatogenesis Flashcards
When do male germ cells (spermatogonia) commence mitotic division?
at puberty
this event marks the beginning of spermatogenesis
results in a population of spermatogonia
one cell continues to be a spermatogonia (germ cell) and the other differentiates to form a primary spermatocyte
Where are spermatogonia found?
in the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules
sperm develop in the spaces between the Sertoli cells
What is spermiogenesis?
the conversion of round spermatids to mature motile spermatozoa
What happens during the first meiotic division?
primary spermatocyte ==> secondary spermatocyte
pairing of homologous chromosones
homologous pairs of duplicated chromosones line up on the equator and separate
What happens during meosis II?
secondary spermatocytes ==> spermatids (haploid)
What is formed after mitosis?
primary spermatocytes from the spermatogonia
After mitosis in the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules, where do primary spermatocytes move to?
adluminal tubular compartment of the seminiferous tubules
Where do sperm mature?
in the epidymus
How do primary spermatocytes enter the adluminal compartment?
disrupt tight junctions between neighbouring Sertoli cells
How many chromosones do primary spermatocytes have?
46 pairs
How many chromosones do secondary spermatocytes have?
23 pairs
How many chromosones do spermatids have?
23 - haploid
What cells comprise the main structural component of the seminiferous epithelium?
Sertoli cells
What cells populate the interstitial space of the testis?
Leydig cells
The epididymis is a ___ and functions to ___
tightly coiled tube on the outside of the testis
store immature sperm as they mature
What does the acrosome of a sperm cell contain?
hyaluronidase for egg penetration
hyaluronidase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down the zona pellucida allowing the sperm to meet the egg
