Male Reproductive Tract Histology

Question 1

How many compartments are there in the testis?

Answer 1

250

Question 2

What surrounds the testis?

Answer 2

tunica albuginea

Question 3

What are the tubules within the testis called?

Answer 3

seminiferous tubules

Question 4

What type of epithelium is in the seminiferous tubules?

Answer 4

stratified epithelium

Question 5

What is contained in the tunica propria of the testis?

Answer 5

myoid cells (contractile smooth muscle cells) and Leydig cells

Question 6

What is the role of Leydig cells?

Answer 6

to secrete testosterone

Question 7

Where does spermatogenesis occur?

Answer 7

in the stratified epithelium of the seminiferous tubules

Question 8

What are sertoli cells?

Answer 8

support cells within the stratified epithelium of the seminiferous tubules - promote spermatogenesis and support the developing sperm

Question 9

What is the tubuli recti?

Answer 9

the final part of the seminiferous tubules that is straight - lined by sertoli cells and simple cuboidal epithelium

Question 10

What is the rete testis?

Answer 10

the netwrok which the tubuli recti empties into - allows for mixing of the sperm - lined with ciliated cuboidal cells

Question 11

What is the epididymis and vas deferens derived from?

Answer 11

the mesonephric duct

Question 12

What lines the epididymis?

Answer 12

pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Question 13

What are the functions of the epididymis?

Answer 13

decapacitation (inhibition of sperm enzymes for fertilisation), absorbs fluid and cleans up cellular debris

Question 14

What lines the vas deferens?

Answer 14

pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Question 15

What is the role of the thick muscular wall of the vas defernes?

Answer 15

to expel the sperm quickly

Question 16

What is the role of the seminal vesicles?

Answer 16

secrete a fructose and prostaglandin alkaline rich secretion to support sperm

Question 17

What are the prostatic sinuses?

Answer 17

the branches off the urethra in the prostate where the prostatic ducts enter into

Question 18

What is the central zone of the prostate?

Answer 18

the zone that surrounds the urethra

Question 19

What is the peripheral zone of the prostate?

Answer 19

the zone that surrounds the central zone

Question 20

What is the transitional zone of the prostate?

Answer 20

the zone that surrounds the prostatic urethra

Question 21

What is the periurethral zone of the prostate?

Answer 21

the zone immediately adjacent to the urethra

Question 22

What is the epithelium of the prostate?

Answer 22

very heterogenous - some areas columnar, some cuboidal and some pseudostratified

Question 23

What are prostatic concretions?

Answer 23

non pathological accumulations of protein, calcium phosphate, cholesterol and cellular debris within the lumen - more common with age

Question 24

What is the function of the prostate?

Answer 24

produce a secretion containing acid phosphatase, fibrolysin and coagulating factors

Question 25

What are the 3 erectile masses that make up the penis?

Answer 25

2 corpora cavernosa and 1 corpus spongiosum

Question 26

What is the tunica albuginea?

Answer 26

strong elastic capsule around the erectile masses in the penis

Question 27

Where is the urethra within the penis?

Answer 27

in the corpus spongiosum

Question 28

What causes erection?

Answer 28

the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 29

What causes detumescence?

Answer 29

the sympathetic nervous system