WEEK 4: HISTOLOGY OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards
State the cell types found in the seminiferous tubules of the testes?
*spermatogonia
*primary spermatocytes
* Secondary spermatocytes
*spermatids
*sertoli cells
Describe the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules.
Consist of germinal epithelium and basement membrane
*Epithelium contains various stages of spermatogenic cells and supporting cells = Sertoli Cells
Describe the function of the interstitial tissue.
*Separates seminiferous tubules
Where are the Leydig cells in the testes?
What are functions of Leydig cells?
How can they be recognized?
What are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions that they contain called?
In the interstitial tissue surrounding the seminiferous tubules and occur in clusters.
Secrete testosterone.
*Recognized by round nuclei and extensive acidophilic cytoplasm.
*May contain small eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions called Reinke’s crystalloids.
Where are sperms produced in the testes?
seminiferous tubules
State the 3 coverings for the testis
*Tunica viginalis
*Tunica albuginea
Tunica vasculosa
What is the rete testis?
the network of channels
What are the functions of the rete testis?
transports gametes from the testes to the efferent ducts
The rete testis is lined with cuboidal epithelium which has occasional microvilli.
State the function of this microvilli
function as chemoreceptors allowing the lining cells to monitor and modify the luminal contents)
What is the only portion of the male tract that display true, motile cilia?
The efferent duct
Describe the epithelium of the efferent duct
simple columnar, and consists of two cell types, taller cells have with cilia and shorter cells without cilia
Describe the epithelium of the epididymis
*The epithelium of the duct is pseudostratified columnar.
*The tall epithelial cells havelong microvilli
on their apical surface, sometimes called “stereocilia”, although they arenotcilia at all)
Describe the epithelium of ductus deferens/ Sperm duct.
It is characterized by
*a narrow lumen.
*Mucosa with longitudinal folds, lined mostly by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia.
*Lamina propria: is rich in elastic fiber.
Muscular wall: is thick and consist of 3 layers.
-inner longitudinal and
-outer layers of mostly longitudinal smooth muscle fibers a
-middle layer of mostly circular fibers.
Has moderately-abundant smooth muscle in the wall.
The epithelium of this gland lies on the surface of interconnecting mucosal folds that extend into the lumen from the muscular wall.
The sparse connective tissue within the folds constitutes the lamina propria of this mucosa.
The epithelium, which may be either simple columnar or pseudostratified columnar, produces a secretion (including fructose, ascorbic acid and other components) which is expelled from the gland by contraction of the muscular wall during ejaculation, constituting about 50-80% of the semen.
What structure is this?
Seminal vesicle.
Describe the prostate.
*All appear rather irregularly tubular with a convoluted epithelium lined by columnar, secretory cells.
*The secretory tissue is embedded in an extensive fibromuscular stroma that contains both collagen and smooth muscle, thoroughly interwoven.
*Glandular lumens may normally contain small acidophilic concretions called corpora amylacea.
*The prostate consists of irregular glands embedded in an extensive fibromuscular stroma.
