4.1 the duct system & spermatic cord (workbook) Flashcards
(35 cards)
where do sperms leave the testis via?
the interconnected passageways (rete testis) in the mediastinum
where do sperms enter after leaving the testis?
a series of coiled efferent ductules (ductuli efferentes)
where do efferent ducts emerge?
on the posterior surface of the testis
what do the efferent ducts join to form?
a long, single convoluted tubule (ductus epididymis)
what is ductus epididymis continuous with?
a straight, thick-walled ductus deferens (vas deferens) that forms part of the spermatic cord
anatomically, what does the epididymis consist of?
head (caput)
body (corpus)
tail (caudal)
where is the epididymis located?
on the superior and posterolateral surface of the testis
what is the main function of the epididymis?
to transport sperm, maturation and storage
during the passage through epididymis, what do the sperms undergo?
structural maturation and become motile - the capabilities that are essential for successful fertilisation
where is sperm stored after epididymis?
in the tail segment until ejaculation
what is the ductus deferens (vas deferens)?
a straight muscular tube that emerges from the cauda epididymis
what is the ductus deferens (vas deferens) contained within?
the spermatic cord
what is the main function of ductus deferens?
transport the sperms rapidly to the prostatic urethra
what is the terminal portion of the ductus deferens called?
ampulla
what forms the ejaculatory duct?
the terminal portion (ampulla) of ductus deferens and duct of the seminal vesicle
where does the ejaculatory duct open into?
prostatic urethra
what allows rapid contraction of ductus deferens?
rich autonomic innervation of SM fibres of the ductus deferens
what does rapid contraction of ductus deferens lead to?
propel tube’s contents towards ejaculatory ducts
what happens during ejaculation?
the ejaculatory duct and the duct of the seminal vesicle dilate to facilitate the entry of the sperms and seminal gland secretions into the prostatic urethra
what is the ductus epididymis lined by?
tall, pseudostratified columnar epithelium
on the inner surface of the basement membrane, what forms?
small basal cells form a discontinuous layer
what do the tall columnar cells of the ductus epididymis have?
tufts of non-motile cytoplasmic processes called stereocilia projecting into the lumen
where is the ductus epididymis?
distal end of epididymis, but before ductus deferens (vas deferens)
what is contained near the lumen of the ductus epididymis (where the stereocilia project)?
cytoplasm of tall cells contains occasionally dark-staining granules
