Male Reproductive System I Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Male Reproductive System I Deck (49)
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1
Q

What is testicular determining factor (TDF)?

A

A transcription factor from the Y chromosome that causes fetal gonad differentiation.

2
Q

How are the primitive sex cords formed? What do these eventually become?

A

When primordial germ cells from the yolk sac endoderm migrate into the genital ridge. Eventually becomes the serminiferous tubules.

3
Q

What do Sertoli cells, intersitial cells, and CT derive from?

A

Mesoderm.

4
Q

What is the tunica vaginalis?

A

The double-layered covering of the anterior testis.

5
Q

What is the testicular capsule made of? What is a fancy word for it?

A

AKA tunica albuginea. Made of dense fibrous CT.

6
Q

What is the mediastium testis? What other important structure is found here?

A

An area of the posterior testis where the CT of the tunica albuginea gets thick. The rete testis is found here.

7
Q

Where is the tunica vasculosa found and what does it contain?

A

Found deep to the albuginea in the testis, contains lymphatics and blood vessels.

8
Q

What separates testicular lobules? How many seminiferous tubules are found in each lobule?

A

CT septa separates. 1-4 tubules per lobule.

9
Q

What type of epithelium is found in the seminiferous tubule wall?

A

Stratified seminiferous epithelium.

10
Q

What cells are found deep to the basal lamina in the seminiferous tubules?

A

Contractile peritubular myoid cells, fibroblasts, CT.

11
Q

What two cell types are found in the seminiferous tubules?

A
  1. Spermatogenic cells

2. Sertoli cells (supporting cells)

12
Q

What are the four phases of spermatogenesis?

A
  1. Spermatocytogenesis
  2. Meiosis
  3. Spermiogenesis
  4. Spermiation
13
Q

What happens during spermatocytogenesis?

A

Generation of primary spermatocytes.

14
Q

What is spermiogenesis?

A

Cytodifferentiation

15
Q

What is spermiation?

A

Release of spermatozoa (sperm) from the sertoli cells.

16
Q

In which spermatogenic cells does crossing over take place?

A

Primary spermatocytes.

17
Q

What do Type A and B spermatogonia do?

A

Type A remain stem cells. Type B differentiate.

18
Q

Which spermatogenic cell moves up from the basal lamina in seminiferous tubules?

A

Primary spermatocytes.

19
Q

Which spermatogenic cell is the largest and most prominent in histologic sections?

A

Primary spermatocytes.

20
Q

What do secondary spermatocytes look like in histologic sections?

A

Trick question! They have a short half life and are rarely seen!

21
Q

What do early spermatids look like?

A

Small round cells with a heterochromatic nuclei.

22
Q

What do late spermatids look like?

A

Condensed nuclei and tapered cell body with a tail.

23
Q

When are the cytoplasmic bridges between spermatogenic cells broken?

A

When they are released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. This is called the “clonal nature of sperm development.” -sounds like something Dr. G would be stoked on.

24
Q

What are the five steps of spermiogenesis?

A
  1. Acrosome formation.
  2. Centriole migration and flagellum formation.
  3. Mitochondria migration.
  4. Condensation of the nuclear chromatin.
  5. Sloughing of residual bodies.
25
Q

What does the acrosome arise from?

A

The Golgi.

26
Q

What is found in the acrosome?

A

Enzymes!
Hyaluronidase, neuraminidase, acid phosphatase, trypsin-like protease, and other PAS-positive carbohydrate rich components!

27
Q

What is a residual body?

A

“Extra” cytoplasm of spermatozoa that glob off before they are released into the lumen.

28
Q

What do Sertoli cells look like? What are they under the influence of?

A

Long cells that sit on the basal lamina and extend towards the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. Under influence of FSH.

29
Q

Name five things that Sertoli cells do.

A
  1. Form gap junctions with neighboring cells.
  2. Form the blood-testis barrier.
  3. Phagocytose residual bodies.
  4. Secrete fluid, androgen binding protein (ABP), activin, and inhibin.
  5. Physical support.
30
Q

What do activin and inhibin do?

A

Activin stimulates FSH from pituitary. Inhibin inhibits.

31
Q

What is found in the spaces between seminiferous tubules?

A

Interstitial containing CT, nerves, blood, lymphatic vessels, and Leydig cells.

32
Q

What are Leydig cells derived from?

A

Embryonic genital ridge mesoderm.

33
Q

What do Leydig cells do? What are they inder the influence of?

A

Secrete testosterone, DHEA, and 5-alpha-androsteindione. Under influence of LH

34
Q

Why is the blood-testis barrier important?

A

Spermatogenesis does not occur until after puberty, so the proteins created during the process may be considered “foreign” by the immune system. The barrier blocks immune attack.

35
Q

Junctional complexes on the _________ aspect of Sertoli cells make up the blood-testis barrier.

A

Lateral

36
Q

What are the two compartments of the seminiferous tubule with regard to the blood-testis barrier?

A
  1. Basal compartment

2. Adluminal compartment.

37
Q

Are spermatogonia and spermatocytes that are touching the basal lamina accessible by things that cross the basal lamina?

A

Yup

38
Q

Define the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubule.

A

The area between the Sertoli cell lateral junctional complexes and the lumen.

39
Q

Which spermatogenic cells can one find in the albuminal compartment of the seminiferous tubule?

A

Primary, secondary spermatocytes, and spermatids.

40
Q

What happens to testosterone in the seminal vesicles, bulburorethral glands, and external genetalia?

A

Converted to DHT by 5-alpha-reductase.

41
Q

What happens to testosterone in the peripheral tissues?

A

Converted to estradiol by aromatase.

42
Q

What is prolactin’s role in the male reproductive system?

A

Increases the effect of LH on Leydig cells.

43
Q

What effect does FSH/LH have on Leydig cells?

A

Stimulates them to make testosterone.

44
Q

What is cryptorchism?

A

Failure to descend.

45
Q

What is the order of ducts that a sperm will encounter, beginning at the seminiferous tubule?

A

Seminiferous tubule –> rete testis –> duculi efferentes –> epididymis –> ductus deferens

46
Q

Spermatogonia have __N DNA.

A

2N DNA. These are the precursor cells for meiosis.

47
Q

Primary spermatocytes have __N DNA.

A

4N. These have copied their DNA prior to any meiotic division.

48
Q

Secondary spermatocytes have __N DNA.

A

2N DNA. They have done the first meiotic division.

49
Q

Spermatids have __N DNA.

A

1N DNA. They have completed meiotic divisions.