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Flashcards in Male Reproductive System Deck (86)
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1
Q

what are the four functional components of the male reproductive system

A

testes, ductular system, exocrine glands, penis

2
Q

what is the function of the testes

A

produce male gametes, secrete testosterone

3
Q

what is the function of the ductular system

A

collect, store, conduct spermatozoa from testes

4
Q

what is the function of the exocrine glands

A

produce seminal fluid

5
Q

what is the function of the penis

A

the organ involved in copulation

6
Q

the testes have two major functions, what are these generalised into

A

reproductive and hormonal

7
Q

what are the testes surrounded by

A

by a thick capsule of connective tissue - tunica albuginea

8
Q

there is a thick capsule of connective tissue surrounding the testes, what is this connective tissue called

A

the tunica albuginea

9
Q

the testes have fibrous septae dividing them into lobules, what does each lobule consist of

A

lobules consist of seminiferous tubules, leydig cells, vessels and nerves

10
Q

what is the function of the rete testis

A

The rete testis a network of delicate tubules located in the hilum of the testicle that carries sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis

11
Q

roughly how many seminiferous are there and what is the aggregate length of them

A

800-1600 tubules with an aggregate length of around 600 metres

12
Q

seminiferous tubules are lined by what type of epithelium

A

stratified complex germinative epithelium

13
Q

what two cell types are present in the seminiferous tubules

A

sertoli cells and spermatogenic (germ cells)

14
Q

what do the germ cells reproduce several times to form

A

to form spermatazoa

15
Q

what is the process of germ cells producing spermatazoa called

A

spermatogenesis

16
Q

what is a characteristic feature of the sertoli cells

A

they have a characteristic dark nucleolus that is elongated

17
Q

why are sertoli cells sometimes referred to as nurse cells

A

because they preserve the correct environment for spermatogenesis

18
Q

where is there a permanent population of sertoli cells

A

permanent population in outer portion of tubule

19
Q

how does the nucleus of a sertoli cell stain

A

the nucleus stains pale, the nucelolus is prominent

20
Q

what is a major role of sertoli cells

A

a major role is to define two separate and physiologically different compartments in the seminiferous tubule

21
Q

how is the basal comparment near the periphery sealed off from the luminal compartment

A

the basal compartment is sealed off from the luminal compartment by processes of adjacent sertoli cells that reach out and make contact; where the processes are in contact they form occluding junctions

22
Q

what cell type is present below the sertoli cell junction (basal compartment)

A

diploid spermatagonia

23
Q

sertoli cells secrete factors which regulate the process of

A

spermatogenesis

24
Q

sertoli cells secrete factors which regulate the function of which cell type

A

leydig cells

25
Q

sertoli cells secrete inhibin which regulates the production of which hormone

A

fsh

26
Q

serotli cells are involved in the phagocytosis of what

A

phagocytosis of discarded spermatid cytoplasm during development

27
Q

who discovered sertoli cells and in which year

A

enrico sertoli in 1865

28
Q

what is spermatogenesis

A

the production of male gametes

29
Q

what is spermatogonia

A

primitive germ cells

30
Q

spermatogonia are present only in ____ numbers in the male gonads before sexual maturity

A

small

31
Q

what happens to the spermatogonia in males after puberty

A

after puberty, spermatagonia multiply continuously by mitosis to provide a supply of cells which then undergo meisosis to form male gametes

32
Q

how long does the process of spermiogensis take place

A

about 70 days

33
Q

where do both spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis (final stage) occur

A

in the testes

34
Q

where does the final maturation of spermatozoa occur

A

in the epididymis

35
Q

where re spermatagonia located

A

spermatogonia are basally located - at the periphery of the tubule

36
Q

what are primary spermatocytes

A

primary spermatocytes are the initial product of spermatogonial maturation

37
Q

what do the primary spermatocytes become after the first meiotic division

A

secondary spermatocytes

38
Q

how do secondary spermatocytes become spermatids

A

undergo meiosis

39
Q

where are the spermatids located

A

closer to the lumen of the tube, resting in the branches of the sertoli cell tree

40
Q

where are the spermatids cast off to

A

into the lumen

41
Q

what is spermiogenesis

A

process by which spermatids are transformed into motile mature spermatozoa

42
Q

the golgi apparatus elaborates a large vesicle called the

A

acrosomal vesicle

43
Q

what does the acrosomal vesicle accumulate inside

A

carbohydrates and hydrolytic enzymes

44
Q

where does the acrosomal vesicle end up

A

the acrosomal vesicle becomes applied to one pole of the progressively elongating nucleus

45
Q

what does the acrosomal vesicle end up forming

A

forms an acrosomal head cap

46
Q

where do both centrioles migrate to

A

to the end of the cell opposite to the acrosomal head cap

47
Q

how do the centrioles align themselves

A

centriole aligned parallel to the long axis of the nucleus

48
Q

what do the centrioles elongate to form

A

a flagellum -

49
Q

what is the basic structure of a flagellum similar to

A

cilium

50
Q

as the flagellum elongates, how many coarse fibrils form and what do they contain

A

nine coarse fibrils (contain contractile proteins)

51
Q

the cytoplasm migrates to surround the first part of the flagellum for what reason

A

to concentrate mitochondria in the flagellar region

52
Q

as the flagellum elongates, what happens to the excess cytoplasm

A

the excess cytoplasm is phagocytosed by the sertoli cell prior to release of the spermatid into the lumen

53
Q

what hormone do the leydig cells produce

A

testosterone

54
Q

what do leydig cells contain in humans and wild bush rate

A

leydig cells contain crystals of reinke

55
Q

what are crystals of reinke

A

Reinke crystals are rod-like cytoplasmic inclusions which can be found in Leydig cells of the testes

56
Q

what hormone is the trigger for the interstitial/leydig cells to start making testosterone at the onset of puberty

A

the pituitary hormone icsh

57
Q

what does icsh stand for

A

interstitial cell stimulating hormone

58
Q

what is a sign of testes cancer caused by the leydig cells

A

the presence of crystals of reinke

59
Q

the rete testis have low cuboidal epithelium with cilia, why is the cilia present

A

to move the spermatids along

60
Q

seminferous tubules discharge their spermatazoa into what channels

A

into the rete testis

61
Q

where do the efferent ducts lead to

A

into a long, extremely coiled single duct called the ductus epididymis

62
Q

how many ducts does the rete testis open into

A

seven or eight efferent ducts

63
Q

what type of epithelium do the efferent ducts have

A

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

64
Q

what do many of the epithelium cells lining the efferent ducts contain

A

cilia

65
Q

what type of cilia are present on the efferent ducts

A

true cilia - capable of movement. the cilia help propel the spermatozoa

66
Q

what is the epididymis

A

the epididymis is an absorptive and secretory organ

67
Q

why do sperm have to spend some time in the epididymis

A

to be capacitated before capable of fertilising an oocyte

68
Q

what does the lining epithelium of the epididymis produce

A

lining epithelium produces glycoprotein material that coats the sperm

69
Q

what can be seen clearly in the epithelium of the epididymis and why is this

A

due to the secretory nature of the epithelium, large and easily seen golgi apparatus in lining cells

70
Q

what type of epithelium line the epididymis

A

epididymis is lined by a columnar epithelium adorned at its surface with large microvilli

71
Q

the epididymis resembles the cilia found in other parts of the body, the similar appearance led to them being called

A

stereocilia

72
Q

why are the stereocilia present in the epididymis not actually cilia

A

cilia have internal microtubuels and are capable of movement, stereocilia do not

73
Q

what are stereocilia filled with

A

cytoplasm, structures for absorption not movement of fluids

74
Q

once the spermatozoa are physically and phsyiologically mature, where do they move out of the epididymis into

A

the ductus deferens

75
Q

where does the ductus deferens lead to

A

the urethra

76
Q

what is the seminal vesicle

A

two highly tortuous tubes

77
Q

what is the length of the seminal vesicles

A

15m

78
Q

what type of epithelium is present in the seminal vesicle

A

pseudostratified columnar epithelium

79
Q

what is the function of the seminal vesicle

A

to produce a nutrient rich fluid for survival and motility of spermatozoa

80
Q

what is the epithelium lining the seminal vesicles dependent upon

A

testosterone

81
Q

what fluid does the prostrate gland produce and when is it released

A

it produces prostatic fluid and stores it for expulsion during ejaculation

82
Q

what is the prostate gland surrounded by

A

fibro-elastic capsule rich in smooth muscle

83
Q

what are corpora amylacea

A

they are derived from degenerate cells or thickened secretions and occur more frequently with advancing age

84
Q

LOL describe the penis

A

3 cylindric masses of erectile tissue surrounded by skin plus urethra

85
Q

two of the cylinders forming the erectile tissue are dorsal what is it caled

A

corpora cavernosa

86
Q

there is one ventral cylinder, which surrounds the urethra, what is this called

A

corpus spongiosum