Male Reproductive Histology Flashcards
(21 cards)
Where are the Interstitial Cells of Leydig located?
between the seminiferous tubules, close to blood vessels and lymphatic channels
What is a hallmark of Sertoli cells?
cyclops nucleus
What forms the blood-testis barrier? Be specific.
The tight junctions between Sertoli cells
What do the Sertoli-Sertoli junctional complex divide the epithelium into? (2)
- basal compartments
- adluminal compartments
What is restricted to the basal compartments? (2)
- spermatogonia
- early primary spermatocytes
What is restricted to the adluminal compartments? (2)
- mature spermocytes
- spermatids
How are mature spermatids released?
Spermiation
What happens during spermiation? (3)
- loss of intercellular bridges
- remodeling of spermatid head and cytoplasm (residual bodies)
- mature spermatids separated, released into lumen
What are the parts of the mature sperm? (3)
- head
- neck
- tail
What does the head of the sperm contain? (2)
- flattened, elongated nucleus
- capped by acrosome
What is the tail subdivided into? (3)
- middle piece (mitochondria)
- principal piece (longest segment)
- end piece
What is the sperm transport pathway? (6)
straight tubules → rete testis → efferent ductules → epididymis → ductus deferens → ejaculatory duct
What type of epithelium does most of the sperm conduction pathway contain?
pseudostratified columnar (some w/stereocilia - mainly the stuff conducting sperm to final resting place)
What cell types are contained in the epididymis? (2)
- principal cells
- stem cells
What are the zones of the prostate gland? (3)
- transition zone
- central zone
- peripheral zone
What zone of the prostate gland encircles the ejaculatory ducts?
central zone
What makes up most of the prostate gland?
peripheral zone
What do the lumen of the glands in the prostate gland contain?
corpora amylacea
What layer are the corpus cavernosa surrounded by?
tunica albuginea
What system controls erections? What happens in this process?
parasympathetics (ANS)
- helicine arteries and trabecular smooth muscle relax
What system resolves erections? What happens in this process?
sympathetics
- helicine arteries and trabecular muscle constrict)
