male repro

Question 1

functions of the male reproductive system

Answer 1

• prod of spermatozoa
• transmission of gametes thru male ducts and into female reproductive tract

Question 2

spermatozoa

Answer 2

male gamete

Question 3

testes and duct development

Answer 3

begin development on posterior abdominal wall, descend into developing scrotum

Question 4

testis function

Answer 4

• prod morphologically diff gametes
• prod testosterone

Question 5

testis germinal compartment

Answer 5

exocrine part
- seminiferous tubules
- prod: spermatozoa

Question 6

testis interstitial compartment

Answer 6

endocrine part
- interstitial tissue (leydig cells)
- prod: testosterone

Question 7

seminiferous tubules

Answer 7

2 cell populations in epithelium:
- spermatogenic cells + sertoli cells
- strat columnar
- fluid secretion by sertoli cells
- myoid cell contraction in tubule wall facilitates movement out of tubules

Question 8

spermatogenic cells

Answer 8

germ cell line which diff into spermatozoa

Question 9

sertoli cells

Answer 9

architectural element of seminiferous epithelium
- basal tight junction complexes (largest + tightest in the body)
basal: spermatogonial stem cell niche
blood-testis barrier
adluminal compartments

at apex: junctions disassemble to release sperm
- turnover of basal junctions without compromising barrier

Question 10

spermatogenesis

Answer 10

differentiation, takes 64 days
1. proliferative phase
2. meiosis
3. spermiogenesis

• diff segments of tubules are always at diff stages of spermnatogenesis
• constant prod of sperm

Question 11

proliferative phase

Answer 11

aka spermatocytogenesis
- spermatogonia on basal lamina starts proliferating
- replenishes spermatogonial population
- gives rise to spermatocytes

Question 12

meiosis

Answer 12

• spermatocytes move up off the basal lamina
• meiosis: genetic material halved
• haploid spermatids

Question 13

spermiogenesis

Answer 13

spermatids:
- condense nuclei
- prod acrosome + flagellum
- package all excess cytoplasm for eventual removal

Question 14

blood-testis barrier

Answer 14

one of the tightest in the body

Question 15

straight tubules

Answer 15

after seminiferous tubules
- sertoli cells, low columnar to cuboidal

Question 16

rete testis

Answer 16

at hilum of testicle
- cuboidal epi with some microvilli and one cilium
- begins process of resorption
- wall: CT only

Question 17

efferent ductules

Answer 17

leaving testis
- pseudostr epi
- low microvillar cells (major resorption)
- high ciliated cells (movement)
- Wall: first appearance of smooth muscle (movement)

Question 18

epididymus functions

Answer 18

physiological maturation of spermatozoa (7-14 days)
- acquire movement
- ability to fertilize
Store spermatozoa until ejaculation (1 month)

Question 19

epididymus histology

Answer 19

long coiled tube, 4-6 meters
epithelium: pseudostr high->low columnar
- mod for secretion and endocytosis
- stereocilia
- secretion of molec that prevent movement + acrosome rxn
wall: smooth muscle incr in thickness
- incr under control of symp nervous system

Question 20

ductus deferens function

Answer 20

transport sperm from epididymis to urethra during sexual excitement + ejaculation (minutes)

Question 21

ductus deferens location

Answer 21

passes from scrotum to inguinal canal, drops into pelvis to join urethra in prostate gland

Question 22

ductus deferens histology

Answer 22

single tube 35 cm long
epithelium: pseudostr
wall: v thick circular and longitudinal smooth muscle
- symp nervous system control

Question 23

seminal vesicle function

Answer 23

secretion of fructose and fibrinogen (70% of ejaculate)

Question 24

seminal vesicle development

Answer 24

from blind ended tubular outgrowth from ductus deferens
- joins ductus deferens right before it penetrates into prostate

Question 25

seminal vesicle histology

Answer 25

highly coiled tube
epithelium: pseudostr secretory
- mucosa highly folded to incr SA
wall: thick smooth muscle
- sympathetic nervous system

Question 26

prostate gland development

Answer 26

30-50 tubuloalveolar glands that develop from epithelium of urethra and protrude into urethral wall

Question 27

prostate gland function

Answer 27

secretes:
- clotting enzymes (fibrinogen -> fibrin)
- prostate specific antigen
- more
15% of ejaculate

Question 28

prostate gland histology

Answer 28

epithelium: pseudostr secr
- glands surrounded by smooth muscle of urethral wall
- surrounds lumen of urethra

Question 29

ejaculation process

Answer 29

1. erection (vascular, PNS)
2. During sexual excitement, internal urethral sphincter constricts (SNS)
3. caudal part of epididymis and deferens constrict (SNS)
4. vas, seminal vesicles, and prostate constrict and force ejaculate into base of urethra (SNS)
5. Filling at urethra base sets off spinal reflex to contract skeletal muscles + move semen out of penis (somatic nervous system, bulbospongiosus muscle)

Question 30

duct design features for transport

Answer 30

seminiferous tubules: myoid cell contraction + fluid prod
rete testis: single cilia
efferent ductules: smooth muscle + ciliated cells
epididymis + ductus deferens: massive incr in smooth muscle
internal + external urethral sphincters

Question 31

capacitation

Answer 31

factors preventing acrosome reaction are removed in the female reproductive tract (4-7 hrs)

Question 32

acrosome reaction

Answer 32

enzymes released from sperm head via exocytosis