Male Anatomy Flashcards
(43 cards)
Be able to list the pathway of sperm through the male reproductive tract beginning in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and ending with the glans penis. (General)
-Pelvic Urethra
-Urethralis
-Penile Urethra
Be able to list the pathway of sperm through the male reproductive tract beginning in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and ending with the glans penis. (Specific)
-Seminiferous Tubules
-Rete tubules
-Efferent Ducts
-Epididymis: Caput, Corpus, Cauda
-Vas Deferens (Ductus Deferens)
-Penis: Base, Shaft, Glans
Know the 4 parts of the scrotum.
-Epidermis
-Tunica Dartos
-Scrotal Fascia
-Parietal
Know the function and location of the Epidermis.
-Skin
-Innervated by sympathetic fibers
-Sweat glands: Evaporative cooling
Know the function and location of the Tunica Dartos.
-Smooth muscle
-Thermoregulation: Contract towards body for heating, Relax away from body for cooling
Know the function and location of the Scrotal Fascia.
-Connective tissue
-Support and maintain shape
Know the function and location of the Parietal Tunica Vaginalis.
Facilitates movement of testes
Know the layers of the testicular capsule.
-Visceral Tunica Vaginalis
-Tunica Albuginea
Be able to describe and label the mediastinum of the testicle.
-The central connective tissue core of the testes.
-Helps prevent compression of the rete tubules so sperm and fluid from seminiferous tubules move freely from testes.
Know which structures are included in the parenchyma of the testes (tubular and interstitial portions).
-Tubular compartment: Seminiferous tubules:
-Interstitial compartment: Cells of Leydig, Blood vessels, Lymphatic vessels, and Connective tissue
Know the difference between the basal and adluminal compartments of the seminiferous epithelium.
Primary spermatocytes form in the basal compartment then move through the junctional complexes between sertoli cells into the adluminal compartment to divide and form secondary spermatocytes.
Know why the blood testis barrier is necessary and what structures make up this barrier (hint: one type of junction & one specific cell type that is not the sertoli cell).
-Peritubular cells
-Tight junctions
-The purpose of the blood testis barrier is to keep out immune cells
Be able to list at least the functions of the sertoli cells.
-Cell barrier to chemicals in the plasma
-Nourish developing sperm,
-Secrete luminal fluid including androgen binding protein,
-Receive stimulation by testosterone and FSH to secrete paracrine agents that stimulate sperm proliferation and differentiation,
-Secrete the protein hormone inhibin which inhibits FSH secretion,
-Secret paracrine agents that influence the function of Leydig cells,
-Phagocytize defective sperm,
-Secrete during embryonic life Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) which causes the primordial female duct system to regress
Know the function and location of the spermatic cord and the structures contained within the spermatic cord.
-Attaches testicles to body/pelvis.
-Suspends testes.
-Contains pathways for: Testicular vasculature (Pampiniform Plexus), Lymphatics, and Nerves
-Houses Vas Deferens (Ductus Deferens)
-Connects epididymis to pelvic urethra
-Houses cremaster muscle: Short term contraction
Know how the epidermis of the scrotum participates in thermoregulation of the testes.
-Skin
-Innervated by sympathetic fibers
-Sweat glands: Evaporative cooling
-Innervation of thermosensitive nerves that increase sweating: May induce polypnea
Know how the tunica dartos participates in thermoregulation of the testes.
-Smooth muscle
-Thermoregulation: Contract towards body for heating and relax away from body for cooling
Know how the cremaster muscle participates in thermoregulation of the testes.
-Contract towards body for heating
-Relax away from body for cooling
-Helps pump blood
Know how the pampiniform plexus participates in thermoregulation of the testes.
-Countercurrent heat exchanger: Blood in veins and arteries is cooler in this area to keep testes cooler
(Works like a radiator)
Be able to describe the countercurrent heat exchange that occurs in the pampiniform plexus, including how many degrees the blood temperature changes.
-Blood coming from the testes is at a cooler temperature which cools the blood heading to the testes and in turn this helps keep everything cooler
-39-34 degrees Celsius temperature difference
Be able to describe the parts, function and arrangement of the epididymis. (Convoluted Duct)
-Final stage of sperm maturation (mobility, potential fertility)
-Storage reservoir for spermatozoa
-Surrounded by smooth muscle using peristaltic contractions to facilitate sperm movement
-30-60 meters long
Be able to describe the sperm characteristics in each part of the epididymis .
-Transit time varies (9-14 days)
-Caput (proximal): Not mobile and not fertile
-Corpus (intermediate): Some mobility and some fertility, could bind to egg
-Cauda (distal): Normal mobility, Normal fertility, and Could bind to egg
Describe the vas deferens.
-Main genital tract
-Continuous form the caudal epididymis to the pelvic urethra
-Passage for spermatozoa from the epididymis to the urethra
Accessory sex glands.
Responsible for production of secretions which contribute to the liquid, non-cellular portion of semen known as seminal plasma.
Be able to list the accessory sex glands.
-Ampullae
-Vesicular Glands (Seminal Vesicles)
-Prostate Gland
-Bulbourethral Gland
