Male Reproductive Physiology

Question 1

where is sperm mainly made?

Answer 1

Main structure where sperm Is produced is the testicles in the scrotum

Question 2

why are the testes outside your body

Answer 2

Testicular temp has to be lower that the body’s that’s why it is outside of the abdominal cavity so it is 1 or 2 degrees lower

Question 3

Posterior to the testes is a gland called the _________ and this is the storage site of sperm where they mature for _ months

Answer 3

epididymis

3

Question 4

Epididymis is connected to the ___ ________ and this passes through the ________ region and the secretions of the ______ vesicles and the _______ gland are added and converges to one tube to the _______ and travels outside the body

Answer 4

vas deferens

inguinal

seminal

prostate

urethra

Question 5

what is the process/route of sperm?

Answer 5

Sperm made in testes > stored in epididymis > then travels to vas deferens > coils around the bladder > seminal vesicles and prostate make the fluid which is semen > carried along the urethra and travels out of penis

Question 6

what is required ofr male fertility?

Answer 6

For male fertility the structure, function and pathway of sperm needs to be intact

Question 7

1

Answer 7

epididymis

Question 8

2

Answer 8

prostate

Question 9

3

Answer 9

penis

Question 10

4

Answer 10

urethra

Question 11

5

Answer 11

testes

Question 12

6

Answer 12

scrotum

Question 13

what is the testes divided into?

Answer 13

lobules

Question 14

what divides the testes into lobules?

Answer 14

Fibrous capsule surrounding called the tunica albuginea and this is what divides it into different lobules

Question 15

where is sperm made in the testes?

Answer 15

Sperm production in the seminiferous tubules

Question 16

All seminiferous tubules merge and move where?

Answer 16

to the head of the epididymis

Question 17

Epididymis has 3 parts – what are they?

Answer 17

head, body and tail

Question 18

A

Answer 18

head of epididymis

Question 19

B

Answer 19

seminiferous tubules

Question 20

C

Answer 20

tunica albuginea

Question 21

D

Answer 21

vas deferens

Question 22

E

Answer 22

body of epididymis

Question 23

F

Answer 23

tail of epididymis

Question 24

what surrounds the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 24

basememnt membrane

Question 25

There are three types of cells within the seminiferous tubules what are they?

Answer 25

Germ cells (purple) Sertoli/substentacular cellsproducing cell, produce inhibin Interstitial (Leydig) cells

Question 26

what is the function of Germ cells (purple)?

Answer 26

produce sperm, different stages and as they are produced they are driven towards the lumen of the testes

Question 27

what is the function of Sertoli/substentacular cells?

Answer 27

support sperm producing cell, produce inhibin

Question 28

what is the function of Interstitial (Leydig) cells?

Answer 28

produce testosterone, in-between seminiferous tubules

Question 29

what is the function of the testes?

Answer 29

Sperm production – millions of viable sperm per day, average time form production to ejaculation is 64 days Testosterone production – male secondary sexual characters, controls spermatogenesis

Question 30

What is the Endocrine Control of Testicular Function – Reproductive hormone?

Answer 30

* GnRH – gonadotrophin releasing hormone, produced from hypothalamus * Gonadotrophins – FSH and LH, released from anterior pituitary * Testosterone – released form testicles Need enough hormones for the process of sperm production to happen and need to interact correctly * FSH = sperm * LH = testosterone

Question 31

If you take testosterone supplements then your own axis will be \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 31

suppressed

Question 32

Inhibin produced by fertilized cells and creates negative feedback on ______ \_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 32

anterior pituitary

Question 33

Sperm production form the _______ germ cells

Answer 33

primordial

Question 34

Average cycle of spermatogenesis is __ days in which the germ cells pass through different developmental stages

Answer 34

64

Question 35

Two distinct phases during the development in spermatogenesis, what are they?

Answer 35

Spermatocytogenesis – clonal expansion and maturation through mitotic and meiotic process Spermiogenesis – differentiation into mature sperm cells Process starts at puberty and continues lifelong

Question 36

what is mitosis, meiosis and a spermatid?

Answer 36

Mitosis – one germ cell splits into 2, duplication Meiosis – the daughter cells only have half the number of chromosomes Spermatid not capable of fertilization – in spermiogenesis they turn into mature sperm cells through differentiation

Question 37

what is the process of Chromosomal division during spermatogenesis?

Answer 37

* One mitotic division – spermatogonium to primary spermatocyte-duplication, diploid chromosomes number (46) * First meiotic division – primary spermatocyte to secondary spermatocyte, two cells with haploid chromosome number (23) * Second meiotic division – secondary spermtocyte to spermatid, two cells with haploid chromosome number (23) (spermatogenesis – maturation of spermatids into functional sperm cells)

Question 38

What are factors affecting spermatogenesis?

Answer 38

* Medical * Lifestyle * Combination

Question 39

medical factors affecting spermatogenesis can be put into what two categories?

Answer 39

* Pretesticular – problem with the hormonal control * Testicular – problem at the site of production

Question 40

what are pretesticular medicla factors affecting spermatogenesis?

Answer 40

Functional – excessive weight loss, gain Intracranial tumours, cysts, bleed prolactinoma Medications – opiates, external testosterone, steroids (body building) Genetic – Kallmanns syndrome

Question 41

what are testicular medical factors affecting spermatogenesis?

Answer 41

Surgery – orchidectomy, orchidopexy STI Mumps orchitis Testicular trauma or torsion Radiotherapy or chemotherapy Genetic – Klinefelters (46XXY), Y-chromosome microdeletion

Question 42

what environmental/lifestyle factors can affect spermatogenesis?

Answer 42

* Smoking – heavily impacts sperm production and functional capacity of the sperm * Obesity – both mum and dad * Occupational or environmental chemical exposure

Question 43

what are some steps to reduce the impact of factors affecting fertility?

Answer 43

* Improve lifestyle – normal BMI, stop smoking, alcohol in recommended limits, healthy diet, exercise, adjustments to occupational exposure * Optimise underlying medical condition * Stop medications or switch to alternative pregnancy compatible medications * Reduce STI risk and treat promptly if diagnosed * Fertility preservation – sperm freezing prior to surgery or cancer treatment