Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the duct that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct?
What is the duct that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct?
- Vas deferens (correct)
- Prostate
- Seminal vesicle
- Ejaculatory duct
What consists of the mucosa of the ductus deferens?
What consists of the mucosa of the ductus deferens?
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium and lamina propria.
Which accessory sex gland contributes the majority of the seminal fluid?
Which accessory sex gland contributes the majority of the seminal fluid?
Seminal vesicles.
What is the supporting structure of the male reproductive system that includes the ductus deferens?
What is the supporting structure of the male reproductive system that includes the ductus deferens?
What is the inguinal canal?
What is the inguinal canal?
What is a varicocele?
What is a varicocele?
What is the function of the ejaculatory duct?
What is the function of the ejaculatory duct?
What is the primary function of the male urethra?
What is the primary function of the male urethra?
What are the three subdivisions of the male urethra?
What are the three subdivisions of the male urethra?
Where does the spongy urethra end?
Where does the spongy urethra end?
What is the seminal vesicle?
What is the seminal vesicle?
What helps to neutralize the acidic environment of the male urethra?
What helps to neutralize the acidic environment of the male urethra?
What is the prostate?
What is the prostate?
What substances does the prostate secrete?
What substances does the prostate secrete?
What is the function of the bulbourethral gland?
What is the function of the bulbourethral gland?
What organs are included in the male reproductive system?
What organs are included in the male reproductive system?
What do the testes (male gonads) do?
What do the testes (male gonads) do?
What is the duct system responsible for?
What is the duct system responsible for?
What delivers sperm into the female reproductive tract?
What delivers sperm into the female reproductive tract?
What supports the testes?
What supports the testes?
What does the scrotum consist of?
What does the scrotum consist of?
What externally separates the scrotum into lateral portions?
What externally separates the scrotum into lateral portions?
What internally separates the scrotum into two sacs, each containing a single testis?
What internally separates the scrotum into two sacs, each containing a single testis?
What is the Dartos Muscle?
What is the Dartos Muscle?
What is the Cremaster Muscle?
What is the Cremaster Muscle?
What helps regulate the temperature of the testes?
What helps regulate the temperature of the testes?
What temperature does normal sperm production require, and how is this maintained?
What temperature does normal sperm production require, and how is this maintained?
Where do the testes develop?
Where do the testes develop?
When and how do the testes begin to descend to the scrotum?
When and how do the testes begin to descend to the scrotum?
What tissue layers cover and protect the testes?
What tissue layers cover and protect the testes?
What is the tunica vaginalis?
What is the tunica vaginalis?
What is a hydrocele?
What is a hydrocele?
What is the tunica albuginea?
What is the tunica albuginea?
What forms the septa that divide the testis into internal compartments called lobules?
What forms the septa that divide the testis into internal compartments called lobules?
Each of the 200-300 lobules contains what?
Each of the 200-300 lobules contains what?
What is a seminiferous tubule?
What is a seminiferous tubule?
What is spermatogenesis?
What is spermatogenesis?
What are the two types of cells contained in the seminiferous tubules?
What are the two types of cells contained in the seminiferous tubules?
What are spermatogenic cells?
What are spermatogenic cells?
What is a sustentacular cell?
What is a sustentacular cell?
How does spermatogenesis occur?
How does spermatogenesis occur?
What are spermatogonia?
What are spermatogonia?
What is a spermatozoon?
What is a spermatozoon?
Which cells secrete testosterone?
Which cells secrete testosterone?
The blood-testis barrier includes spermatogonia.
The blood-testis barrier includes spermatogonia.
How do sustentacular cells support and protect developing spermatogenic cells?
How do sustentacular cells support and protect developing spermatogenic cells?
What is an interstitial cell?
What is an interstitial cell?
What are androgens?
What are androgens?
In humans, how long does spermatogenesis take?
In humans, how long does spermatogenesis take?
When in spermatogenesis are the cells no longer diploid and become haploid?
When in spermatogenesis are the cells no longer diploid and become haploid?
What happens during spermatogenesis?
What happens during spermatogenesis?
How many chromosomes do spermatogonia have?
How many chromosomes do spermatogonia have?
How many chromosomes do primary spermatocytes have?
How many chromosomes do primary spermatocytes have?
How many chromosomes do secondary spermatocytes have?
How many chromosomes do secondary spermatocytes have?
How many chromosomes do spermatids have?
How many chromosomes do spermatids have?
How many chromosomes do spermatozoa have?
How many chromosomes do spermatozoa have?
If spermatogonia mature into primary spermatocytes, why don't males ever run out of sperm?
If spermatogonia mature into primary spermatocytes, why don't males ever run out of sperm?
How do spermatogonia become primary spermatocytes?
How do spermatogonia become primary spermatocytes?
What is the outcome of meiosis I?
What is the outcome of meiosis I?
When does meiosis begin in spermatogenesis?
When does meiosis begin in spermatogenesis?
How do primary spermatocytes become secondary spermatocytes?
How do primary spermatocytes become secondary spermatocytes?
What occurs in meiosis II?
What occurs in meiosis II?
How do secondary spermatocytes become spermatids?
How do secondary spermatocytes become spermatids?
A single primary spermatocyte produces four spermatids via cell division.
A single primary spermatocyte produces four spermatids via cell division.
What is spermiogenesis?
What is spermiogenesis?
Does cell division occur during spermiogenesis?
Does cell division occur during spermiogenesis?
Once sperm enter the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, how do they get to the ducts of the testes?
Once sperm enter the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, how do they get to the ducts of the testes?
Each day, how many sperm complete the process of spermatogenesis?
Each day, how many sperm complete the process of spermatogenesis?
Describe the head of a spermatozoon.
Describe the head of a spermatozoon.
Describe the tail of a spermatozoon.
Describe the tail of a spermatozoon.
Once ejaculated, most sperm do not survive more than _____ hours within the female reproductive tract.
Once ejaculated, most sperm do not survive more than _____ hours within the female reproductive tract.
At puberty, what cells secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)?
At puberty, what cells secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)?
What does gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) do?
What does gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) do?
Which cells secrete inhibin?
Which cells secrete inhibin?
Where are luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted from?
Where are luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted from?
What does the hormone LH do?
What does the hormone LH do?
What effect does testosterone have on hormones?
What effect does testosterone have on hormones?
What does the hormone FSH do?
What does the hormone FSH do?
How is androgen-binding protein (ABP) secreted?
How is androgen-binding protein (ABP) secreted?
What is the function of androgen-binding protein (ABP)?
What is the function of androgen-binding protein (ABP)?
How does spermatogenesis stop when enough sperm has been produced?
How does spermatogenesis stop when enough sperm has been produced?
What is inhibin?
What is inhibin?
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone both bind to the same androgen receptors which are _________.
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone both bind to the same androgen receptors which are _________.
What are secondary sex characteristics?
What are secondary sex characteristics?
Which hormones inhibit secretion of FSH and LH by the anterior pituitary?
Which hormones inhibit secretion of FSH and LH by the anterior pituitary?
What is a straight tubule?
What is a straight tubule?
What is the rete testis?
What is the rete testis?
What are efferent ducts?
What are efferent ducts?
What is the ductus epididymis?
What is the ductus epididymis?
Describe where sperm travels from development to fertilizing the egg.
Describe where sperm travels from development to fertilizing the egg.
What is the epididymis?
What is the epididymis?
Each epididymis consists mostly of what?
Each epididymis consists mostly of what?
Where do the efferent ducts from the testis join the ductus epididymis?
Where do the efferent ducts from the testis join the ductus epididymis?
The tail of the epididymis continues as what?
The tail of the epididymis continues as what?
What is the ductus epididymis made up of?
What is the ductus epididymis made up of?
What are stereocilia?
What are stereocilia?
What attaches the loops of the ductus epididymis?
What attaches the loops of the ductus epididymis?
Where is the site of sperm maturation?
Where is the site of sperm maturation?
What is sperm maturation?
What is sperm maturation?
Study Notes
Male Reproductive System Anatomy
- Comprises testes, a duct system (epididymis, ductus deferens, ejaculatory ducts, urethra), accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral glands), and supporting structures (scrotum, penis).
Functions of Testes
- Produce sperm and secrete hormones.
Duct System Roles
- Transports, stores sperm, assists in maturation, and conveys semen to the exterior.
Semen Composition
- Consists of sperm and secretions from accessory sex glands.
Scrotum Structure
- Supports testes; composed of loose skin and a subcutaneous layer, separated into lateral portions by the raphe externally and two sacs by the scrotal septum internally.
Muscle Regulation
- Dartos and cremaster muscles regulate testicular temperature; necessary for optimal sperm production (2-3°C below core body temperature).
Testes Development
- Testes develop near the kidneys and descend into the scrotum via inguinal canals during the latter half of the seventh month of fetal development.
Protective Layers of Testes
- Covered by tunica vaginalis (serous membrane from peritoneum) and tunica albuginea (dense connective tissue).
Lobule Structure
- Tunica albuginea forms septa that divide the testis into lobules, housing seminiferous tubules where spermatogenesis occurs.
Spermatogenesis Process
- Involves maturation from spermatogonia (stem cells) to spermatozoa over approximately 65-75 days, with various developmental stages.
Sertoli Cells' Role
- Nourish and support developing sperm, mediate hormonal effects, and maintain the blood-testis barrier to protect against immune response.
Hormonal Regulation
- GnRH from hypothalamus stimulates LH and FSH secretion; testosterone from Leydig cells suppresses LH and GnRH secretion.
Inhibin Function
- Secreted by sustentacular cells, inhibits FSH release when sperm production is sufficient.
Pathway of Sperm
- Sperm travels from seminiferous tubules → straight tubules → rete testis → ductus epididymis → vas deferens, undergoing maturation in the epididymis.
Spermiogenesis
- Process of transforming spermatids into motile sperm without further cell division.
Sperm Structure
- Composed of a head (with acrosome for fertilization) and a tail (divided into neck, middle piece for energy, principal, and end piece for motility).
Survival of Sperm Post-Ejaculation
- Most sperm do not survive longer than 48 hours in the female reproductive tract.
Accessory Glands
- Seminal vesicles contribute the majority of seminal fluid during ejaculation.
Spermatic Cord Components
- Includes ductus deferens, blood vessels, nerves, and muscle tissue, providing support and structure to the reproductive system.
Varicocele Definition
- A condition characterized by twisting veins and accumulation of blood in the spermatic cord, often causing swelling in the scrotum.
Ejaculatory Duct Role
- Transports sperm from the ductus deferens to the prostatic urethra for ejaculation.### Male Urethra
- Connects urinary bladder to the exterior body, allowing urine passage in females and both urine and semen in males.
- Consists of three main subdivisions: prostatic, intermediate, and spongy urethra.
Subdivisions of the Male Urethra
- Prostatic urethra: traverses through the prostate gland.
- Intermediate urethra: located within the deep muscles of the perineum.
- Spongy urethra: extends through the corpus spongiosum of the penis, terminating at the external urethral orifice.
Seminal Vesicle
- Pouchlike structures situated posterior and inferior to the urinary bladder, anterior to the rectum.
- Functions as a major contributor to semen production, secreting components into the ejaculatory ducts.
Neutralization of Acidity
- Seminal fluid is alkaline and viscous, containing fructose, prostaglandins, and clotting proteins to protect and preserve sperm in acidic environments of the urethra and female reproductive tract.
Prostate Gland
- A doughnut-shaped gland positioned beneath the urinary bladder, encircling the upper portion of the male urethra.
- Secretes a slightly acidic fluid essential for sperm motility and viability.
Prostate Secretions
- Citric acid: vital for ATP production in sperm.
- Proteolytic enzymes: help in breaking down seminal vesicle clotting proteins.
- Acid phosphatase: function is not well established.
- Seminalplasmin: acts as an antibiotic agent against bacteria.
Bulbourethral Gland
- Pair of glands positioned beneath the prostate, flanking the urethra.
- Produces an alkaline fluid that lubricates and protects the urethra, known as Cowper's glands.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore key concepts of the male reproductive system in this quiz. Review the structures, functions, and roles of the organs included in male reproduction. Perfect for students studying reproductive biology or health sciences.
