Male Reproductive Organs L18 Flashcards
(144 cards)
What are testes?
a Pair of oval glands which are found in the scrotum
Testes DO NOT originate in the scrotum, but instead are formed in the Abdomen in the fetus and humans
Testes move to the scrotum from the pelvis During Last Month of pregnancy - low temperatures os the tests can survive
Testes which do not descend = cryptorchidism
“Crypt”= hidden “Orchid”=testes
Cryptorchid individuals are Infertile (due to testes losing their ability to produce sperm by not being in the scrotum) and are At Risk of testicular cancer
1-3 % of all babies are cryptorchid, then most of these baby’s testes descend a few weeks after birth
Where are testes located?
Scrotum
DO NOT ORIGINATE in the scrotum. instead originate in the abdomen. move from pelvis to scrotum during the Last month of pregnancy (when there is low temperatures so the testes can survive)
What happens if testes don’t descend from the abdomen to the scrotum?
Cryptorchidism
“Crypt”=hidden “Orchid”=testes
Cryptorchid individuals are Infertile (due to testes losing their ability to produce sperm by not being in the scrotum) and are At Risk of testicular cancer
1-3 % of all babies are cryptorchid, then most of these baby’s testes descend a few weeks after birth
What percentage of babies are cryptorchid?
1-3 % of all babies are cryptorchid, then most of these baby’s testes descend a few weeks after birth
Where is the site of sperm production?
Scrotum
which contains the testes
which contain the seminiferous tubules
What is the 9x stage route of the Testes and Ducts, all located in the Scrotum?
- Sperm are produced in the Seminiferous Tubules
- Sperm then move into the Rete Testis (the Rete testes is an area where all the seminiferous tubules Join to form a single duct and collecting system) –> Afferent tubule
3.Sperm then move into the Epididymis- which is a single tube (sperm mature here (10-14days) going form head –> tail) - Sperm then move into the Vas Deferens
- Sperm then store in the Ampulla of ductus/Vas deferens
- Sperm is joined into the Ejaculatory duct
- Urethra
- Penis
- Exit
Seminiferous tubule –> Rete Tesis –> Epididymis –> Ductus Vas Deferens –> Ampulla of ductus vas deferens –> Ejaculatory duct –> Urethra –> Penis –> Exit
What is the Rete Testis?
Sperm move into the Rete Testis from the Seminiferous Tubules
Rete Testis is an area where All the Seminiferous tubules Join
The Rete Testis forms a Single duct and a Collecting system
Afferent Tubule
What 2x things does the Rete testis form?
- Single duct
- Collecting system- where all the semeniferous tubules come together
Afferent Tubule
What sort of Tubule is the Rete testis?
Afferent Tubule
For how long does sperm mature in the Epididymis?
Sperm mature in the Rete Testis for 10-14days
moving from head –> tail
what is the overall pathway of sperm form production to complete ejection?
- Lumen Seminiferous tubules in tests in scrotum for production –> 2. Rete Testis –> 3. Epididymis –> 4. Ductus Vas Deferens –> 5. Ampulla of Ductus Vas Deferens –> 6. Ejaculatory Duct –> 7. Urethra –> 8. Penis –> 9. Exit
How do sperm move in the Seminiferous tubules?
Move via the liquid secreted by sertoli cells
Sperm are Not capable of swimming yet until they have matured in the epididymis.
They’re also not capable of fertilising an egg
Can IVF by used on sperm when they first exit the seminiferous tubule?
No
As these sperm are incapable of swimming, and are also incapable of fertilising
therefore only a biopsy of the testes to get these sperm for ICSI would be effective
What are the capabilities of sperm when they first enter the lumen of the seminiferous tubule?
Unable to swim
Unable to fertilise
How long does it take for a sperm to acquire the abilities of (motility) swimming and fertilisation in the epididymis (essential for sperm maturation to occur)?
10-14 days
What is the pathway for sperm maturation?
straight tubule –> rete testis –> efferent duct –> Head of epididymis –> Tail of epidiymis
What 2x things does the epididymis do?
- sperm maturation (10-14 days) (motility and fertilisation)
- Concentrates sperm by absorbing the liquid.this liquid is currently pushing the immotile sperm, but now want all the sperm to be in a smaller volume so it can be pushed further. 5x10^7 sperm/mL –x100–> 5x10^9 sperm/mL. This allows the ejaculate to be thicker and more viscous. Ejaculate therefore has maximum concentration of sperm, maximising chances of fertility.
What are the changes in sperm concentration from the head to the tail of the epididymis?
5x10^7 sperm/mL —100x—> 5x10^9 sperm/mL
-ejaculate is now thicker and more viscous, with max conc. of sperm to maximise chances of fertility
What is a sagittal section?
vertical place which passes through the body from anterior –> posterior
Divides the body into Right and Left halves
What are 5x main features of the ductus Vas Deferens?
- sperm move to the vas deferens from the epididymis and are Stored here for Several months (proximal –> ampulla). Exit = ejaculation or leak out
- Storage = several Months
- about 45cm long. From the Epididymis –> Ejaculator duct
- Convoluted tube: Up and around the bladder –> behind the bladder –> down to the ejaculatory duct/lower pelvis
- Near the ejaculatory duct there is a widening of the 45cm vas deferens when it is behind the pelvis, called the Ampulla. Ampulla is a large site of sperm storage. This allows the sperm to be stored and ready to be immediately expelled by the penis.
How long is storage of sperm in the ductus vas deferens?
Several months
How long is the ductus vas deferens?
45 cm long
Is a convoluted tube:
Up and around the bladder, behind the bladder, down to the ejaculatory duct/lower pelvis
Whast sort of tube is the vas deferens?
Convoluted tube.
45 cm long
goes Up and around the bladder –> behind the bladder –> down to the ejaculatory duct/Lower pelvis
Where is the ampulla located?
Widening at the end of the vas deferens, near the ejaculatory duct
is a large site of sperm storage, so can be stored and then be immediately expelled from the penis