Male Reproductive System Flashcards
(116 cards)
1
Q
A
2
Q
A
3
Q
What are the components of the male reproductive system?
A
Testes, excretory ducts, accessory glands, and penis.
4
Q
What is the primary function of the male reproductive system?
A
Reproduction.
5
Q
What are the functions of the testes?
A
Sites of spermatogenesis.
6
Q
What is the role of the excretory ducts in the male reproductive system?
A
Transport of spermatozoa.
7
Q
What is the function of the accessory glands in the male reproductive system?
A
Secretion of the fluid medium of sperms.
8
Q
What is semen composed of?
A
Spermatozoa and secretions from the accessory glands.
9
Q
What is the function of the penis in the male reproductive system?
A
Copulatory organ and passageway for urine.
10
Q
In what specialized pouch are the testes contained?
A
Scrotum.
11
Q
What are the components of the scrotal wall?
A
Epidermal part, dermal part, smooth muscle (tunica dartos), fascia, and peritoneum.
12
Q
What are the two functions of the testes?
A
Exocrine and endocrine.
13
Q
What part of the testis performs the exocrine function?
A
Seminiferous tubules.
14
Q
What cells perform the endocrine function in the testis?
A
Cells of Leydig and Sertoli cells.
15
Q
What connective tissue encapsulates the testes?
A
Tunica albuginea.
16
Q
What type of connective tissue makes up the tunica albuginea?
A
Dense white fibrous connective tissue (DWFCT).
17
Q
What is the external covering of the tunica albuginea?
A
Mesothelium, the visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis.
18
Q
What separates the visceral and parietal layers of the tunica vaginalis?
A
A portion of the peritoneal cavity.
19
Q
What layer is present in the tunica albuginea in most species?
A
Stratum vasculare.
20
Q
In which species is the stratum vasculare superficial?
A
Dog and ram.
21
Q
In which species is the stratum vasculare deep?
A
Stallion and boar.
22
Q
What species may have smooth muscle fibers in the tunica albuginea?
A
Horse.
23
Q
Where does the tunica albuginea continue internally in the testes?
A
Into the areolar connective tissue of the mediastinum testis.
24
Q
At what pole of the testes is the mediastinum testis located in most species?
A
Anterior pole.
25
What structure does the tunica albuginea surround within the testis?
Rete testis.
26
Where is the rete testis located in the stallion?
Extratesticular, penetrating the tunica albuginea.
27
What structures does the tunica albuginea form that divide the testis into lobules?
Septuli testis.
28
What are the lobules of the testis called?
Lobuli testis.
29
What are the coiled portions of seminiferous tubules called?
Tubuli contorti.
30
From where do the tubuli contorti radiate?
Mediastinum testis.
31
What epithelium lines the seminiferous tubules?
Stratified epithelium.
32
What types of cells are found in the seminiferous epithelium?
Cells at various stages of spermatogenesis and Sertoli cells.
33
What is another name for Sertoli cells?
Sustentacular cells.
34
Enumerate the functions of Sertoli cells.
a. Physical and nutritional support of developing germ cells
b. Phagocytosis of cytoplasm from spermiogenesis
c. Formation of blood-testis barrier via zonulae occludens
d. Synthesis of:
1. Androgen Binding Protein (ABP)
2. Antimüllerian hormone
3. Inhibin
4. Fructose-rich medium
5. Testicular transferrin
35
What tight junctions in Sertoli cells create the blood-testis barrier?
Zonulae occludens.
36
What is the function of androgen-binding protein (ABP)?
Increases testosterone concentration in seminiferous tubules by binding it.
37
What is the role of anti-Müllerian hormone?
Suppresses development of the Müllerian duct, establishing male phenotype.
38
What does inhibin do?
Inhibits release of FSH from the anterior pituitary.
39
What is the role of the fructose-rich medium from Sertoli cells?
Nourishes and helps transport spermatozoa.
40
What does testicular transferrin do?
Transfers iron from serum transferrin to maturing gametes.
41
What are the two compartments of the seminiferous tubule wall?
Basal compartment and adluminal compartment.
42
Which compartment lies basal to the zonula occludens?
Basal compartment.
43
Which compartment is isolated from connective tissue by the blood-testis barrier?
Adluminal compartment.
44
What is the purpose of isolating the adluminal compartment?
Protects developing gametes from the immune system.
45
Where are Leydig cells located?
Between the tubuli contorti in loose connective tissue.
46
Describe the morphology of Leydig cells.
Polyhedral, large spherical nucleus, distinct nucleolus.
47
In which species are Leydig cells especially abundant?
Boar and ox.
48
What hormones do Leydig cells secrete?
Testosterone and estrogen (in boars).
49
What are tubuli recti?
Straight tubules leading out of seminiferous tubules.
50
What epithelium lines the tubuli recti?
Simple squamous, cuboidal, or columnar epithelium.
51
What is the structure of the rete testis?
Randomly anastomosing tubules.
52
What types of epithelium line the rete testis?
Simple squamous, cuboidal, or columnar epithelium.
53
What is unique about the rete testis in bulls?
May be lined by stratified cuboidal epithelium.
54
What is unique about the rete testis in boars?
Apical borders may have blebs, indicating apocrine secretion.
55
Where is the rete testis located?
Mediastinum testis.
56
What are ductuli efferentes?
Ducts that connect the rete testis to the ductus epididymis.
57
How many ductuli efferentes are typically present?
About 6–20 coiled ducts.
58
What are other names for the bulbourethral glands?
Cowper’s glands
59
Are the Cowper’s glands paired or unpaired?
Paired
60
Where are the Cowper’s glands located?
Dorsolateral to the pelvic urethra
61
What encapsulates Cowper’s glands?
DWFCT
62
What type of gland are Cowper’s glands?
Compound tubuloalveolar gland
63
What cells line the adenomeres of Cowper’s glands?
Simple columnar or pyramidal cells with basophilic cytoplasm and basal nuclei
64
What epithelial types line Cowper’s gland ducts?
Simple columnar, pseudostratified, or transitional epithelium
65
What is commonly found in the lamina propria–submucosa of Cowper’s glands?
Diffuse and nodular lymphatic tissue
66
Are Cowper’s glands present in dogs?
No
67
What are the 2 main parts of the male urethra?
Pelvic and penile parts
68
What type of glands are found along the length of the urethra?
Glands of Littre (branched tubular mucous glands)
69
What special structure is found in the male urethra?
Erectile tissue
70
What epithelium lines the pelvic urethra?
Transitional epithelium
71
Is muscularis mucosae present in pelvic urethra?
No
72
What tissue is found in lamina propria–submucosa of pelvic urethra?
Erectile tissue
73
Describe the tunica muscularis in the pelvic urethra.
3 layers of smooth muscle in the neck of bladder, replaced by skeletal muscle (urethral m.); sometimes 2 layers
74
What is the outermost layer of the pelvic urethra?
Tunica adventitia
75
Compare the number of glands and erectile tissue in pelvic vs penile urethra.
Pelvic urethra has more glands and less erectile tissue than penile urethra
76
77
What is the penile urethra?
The terminal part of the male urethra that passes through the penis.
78
What type of epithelium typically lines the penile urethra?
Transitional epithelium.
79
In some species, what epithelial change may occur before or at the urethral opening?
Transitional epithelium changes to stratified squamous epithelium.
80
Which species may show the epithelial change from transitional to stratified squamous in the penile urethra?
Species-specific; commonly seen in horses and pigs.
81
Where may glands be present or absent in the penile urethra of stallion and boar?
In the lamina propria–tunica submucosa.
82
Are glands consistently present in the penile urethra of stallion and boar?
No, they may or may not be present.
83
Is muscularis mucosae present in the penile urethra?
No.
84
How is the tunica muscularis of the penile urethra described?
Typical.
85
What are the three main parts of the penis?
Root, body, and glans.
86
What type of connective tissue encapsulates the body of the penis?
Dense white fibrous connective tissue (DWFCT).
87
What is the name of the capsule that encases the penile body?
Tunica albuginea.
88
In which animals is the tunica albuginea especially well developed?
Boar and ruminants.
89
Why is tunica albuginea well developed in these species?
Because they have a fibrous type penis.
90
What major components are found within the body of the penis?
Erectile tissue, smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, and the urethra.
91
What is erectile tissue composed of structurally?
DWFCT rich in elastic fibers and blood sinuses.
92
What is the function of the sinuses in erectile tissue?
To become engorged with blood during erection.
93
Which species have a vascular type penis with well-developed erectile tissue?
Horse, carnivores, and man.
94
What structural type of penis do horses and carnivores have?
Vascular type.
95
What is the primary erectile mechanism in animals with a vascular penis?
Engorgement of sinuses in erectile tissue with blood.
96
In which species is the glans penis well developed?
Primates, stallions, and dogs.
97
What anatomical structure covers the glans penis?
Penile portion of the prepuce (a skin reflection).
98
What types of tissue may be found in the glans penis of different species?
Erectile tissue, bone (os penis), cartilage, and DWFCT.
99
Which animal may have bone (os penis) in the glans penis?
Dog.
100
Which animal may have cartilage in the glans penis?
Bull.
101
What type of epithelium covers the glans penis?
Stratified squamous epithelium.
102
What are the 5 main steps of the erectile mechanism in the penis?
1. Helicine arteries fill with blood under erotic stimulation.
2. Blood flows into cavernous/erectile tissue.
3. Peripheral veins are compressed against tunica albuginea, enhancing rigidity.
4. Helicine arteries contract during detumescence.
5. Pressure in veins decreases and blood drains from the erectile tissue.
103
What arteries are involved in initiating an erection and where do they branch from?
Helicine arteries; branches of the artery of the penis.
104
What is the role of helicine arteries in penile erection?
To deliver blood directly into the erectile tissues.
105
What happens to peripheral veins during erection?
They become occluded (compressed) against the tunica albuginea.
106
Why does occlusion of veins increase penile rigidity?
Because it traps blood in the erectile tissues.
107
What physiological event occurs during detumescence?
Helicine arteries contract and regain tone, allowing blood to leave erectile tissues.
108
What happens to venous pressure during detumescence?
It decreases.
109
What restores normal circulation in the penis after erection?
Drainage of blood from cavernous tissue.
110
Terminal part of the male urethra that runs through the penis
Penile urethra.
111
Epithelium that can change to stratified squamous near urethral orifice in some species
Transitional epithelium.
112
Fibrous capsule that surrounds the body of the penis, especially developed in ruminants and pigs
Tunica albuginea.
113
Connective tissue rich in elastic fibers and vascular sinuses that becomes engorged during erection
Erectile tissue.
114
Reflection of the skin that covers the glans penis
Penile portion of the prepuce.
115
Blood vessels involved in erection, branching from the artery of the penis
Helicine arteries.
116
Bony structure found in the glans penis of dogs
Os penis.
