Male Histology

Question 0

What are the testes covered in?

Answer 0

Thick connective tissue called tunica albuginea Then tunica vasculosa Then seminiferous tubules

Question 1

Which hormones do the testes produce?

Answer 1

Testosterone Inhibin Mullerian inhibiting hormone (MIH)

Question 2

What surrounds the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 2

Perilobar connective tissue - collagen Between the tubules are Leydig cells

Question 3

What do Leydig cells secrete?

Answer 3

Testosterone

Question 4

What lines the seminieferous tubules?

Answer 4

Developing spermatognia

Spermatogonia lie deepest in the tubular wall. Develop into spermatocytes (SC) which differentiate into spermatids

Question 5

What is also contained in the seminferous epithelium?

Answer 5

Sertoli cells - have a supporting role for the developing germ cells

Myofibroblasts with large elongated nuclei - contractile function

Question 6

As the germ cells mature, what are they surrounded by and why?

Answer 6

Enveloped by processes of Sertoli cells. The membranes of the Sertoli cells are connected by gap junctions which form a blood-testis barrier to protect the germ cells.

Question 7

Which hormones are involved in the development and maintenance of Sertoli cells?

Answer 7

FSH for development of pre-pubertal Sertoli cells

Testosterone maintains them

Question 8

What are the tubuli recti (straight tubules) lined with?

Answer 8

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Question 9

What is at the end of the seminferous tubules, where they drin into the straight tubules?

Answer 9

Sertoli cells which form a plug

Question 10

Route that sperm travel down?

Answer 10

Semineferous tubules -> straight tubules -> rete testis -> efferent ductules -> epididymis -> vas deferens -> ejaculatory duct -> prostatic urethra

Question 11

What are the rete testis tubules set in?

Answer 11

Loos connective tissue

Question 12

What are the rete testis lined with?

Answer 12

Cuboidal

Ciliated columnar

Question 13

What is the epididymis lined with?

Answer 13

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia on the apical membrane.

Outside layer has smooth muscle, the amount of which increases as the epididymis approaches the vas deferens.

Question 14

What are the layers of the wall of the vas deferens?

Answer 14

Epithelium - pseudostratified columnar

Lamina propria (loose CT)

Three layers of smooth muscle, the middle being circular

Question 15

What marks the beginning of the ejaculatory duct?

Answer 15

Where the duct of the seminal gland combines with the vas deferens

Question 16

What type of glands are the seminal vesicles?

Answer 16

Coiled tubosaccular glands

Question 17

Epithelium of the seminal vesicle ducts?

Answer 17

Psuedostratified columnar

There are basal cells which can mature into epithelial cells

Question 18

What does the epithelium of the seminal vesicles produce?

Answer 18

Secretion rich in fructose, prostaglandins and proteins - the fluid which forms the main bulk of the ejaculate

Question 19

What type of glands does the prostate have?

Answer 19

Tubuloalveolar

Question 20

What is the arrangement of the prostate?

Answer 20

Glands arranged in three groups around the urethra

Called the mucosal, submucosal and main glands

Question 21

What surrounds the prostate gland and what does it do?

Answer 21

Fibromuscular capsule from which septae divide the gland into lobules

Question 22

What do the glands in the prostate secrete?

Answer 22

Acid phosphatase

Prostate specific antigen

Question 23

What is the epithelium of the prostate?

Answer 23

Heterogenous

• cuboidal
• columnar
• pseudostratified
• simple squamous

Question 24

What are prostatic concretions (corpora amylacea)

Answer 24

Lamellated bodies containing proteins, nucleic acids, cholesterol and calcium phosphate.

Seen in older men