BY 32 – SPRING 2002
Study Outline
22.1. Overview to the Male Reproductive System:
a. The two functions of the male reproductive system are the production of _____________________________ and _____________________________.
b. Both functions involve an organ called in general the ___________________ which in the case of the male is called the ____________________________.
c. In addition to the gonad is a duct system consisting of the _______________; ___________________________; __________________________________; and _______________________________.
d. There are a number of exocrine glands that contribute to the final composition of a fluid called ________________________________ that also contains the spermatozoa. These glands include the paired _________________________ and _______________________ glands and the single __________________.
22.2. The Scrotum and Spermatic Cord:
a. The ________________________________ is a sac of skin that hangs outside of the abdominopelvic cavity and contains the testis and epididymis among other structures.
b. The blood vessels, nerves, and vas deferens form the _____________________________ which communicates with the pelvic cavity via the __________________________.
c. The scrotum allows the testes to be maintained a couple of degrees cooler than core body temperature through the presence of the ______________________ and the _____________________________ of the scrotum. In particular, the pampiniform plexus allows heat conveyed in the arteries to be transferred to ___________________________. The scrotum can vary its location relative to the body through the action of the ___________________________ and the _______________________ muscles. The cremaster muscle is derived from the ___________________________.
22.3. The Testis:
a. Each testis is surrounded by the _____________________________ derived from the peritoneum. Inside of this layer is the connective tissue capsule called the ____________________________.
b. The main structural unit of the testis is the __________________________ which is a simple columnar epithelium formed by ____________________ cells. Within the numerous intercellular compartments between adjacent Sertoli cells are found the various stages of _________________________.
c. Tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cell processes form the __________________________ barrier which affords developing spermatocytes protection. This barrier creates two types of intercellular compartments called ___________________ and ____________________. While the basal compartments are continuous with interstitial fluids, the ________________________ compartments form a special microenvironment for the developing spermatocytes.
d. ________________________ cells lie in between seminiferous tubules and are the cells responsible for _________________________ production.
e. Other ducts of the testis include (in order) the ________________________ and the __________________________. Connecting these with the epididymis are the __________________________.
22.4. Epididymis, Vas deferens, Ejaculatory Ducts, and Urethra:
a. The _________________________ consists of a highly coiled duct system that is over 20 feet long, yet lies within the scrotum. It is subdivided into portions called the _______________________, ______________________, and ________________________________.
b. The epididymis is lined by a _____________________ epithelium, and represents the storage organ for spermatorzoa in which they finish their __________________________ process.
c. Leaving the tail of the epididymis is a highly muscular tube called the _______________________ which traverses the inguinal canal to gain access to the ___________________ cavity. The operation in which this structure is cut to render the male infertile is called a _____________________________.
d. The point of merger between the vas deferens and duct of the seminal vesicle forms the _____________________ which traverses the _______________ gland to end at the urethra.
e. The male urethra is subdivided into ______________________________, _______________________, and __________________________ portions.
22.5. Accessory Glands:
a. The ___________________________ provide about 60% of semen including such components as _______________________________ (energy source for spermatozoa) and prostagalandins which affect the motility of the _______________________________.
b. The ______________________________ is a single gland that surrounds the urethra as it descends from the bladder.
c. The ________________________________ glands are minor glands located below the prostate that produce a mucus-like secretion that neutralizes traces of acidic urine in the urethra.
22.6. The Penis:
a. Together with the scrotum, the penis constitutes the male ________________ genitalia.
b. The penis consists of ___________________, _________________________, and ___________________________. At birth the skin covering the glans forms a cuff called the ____________________________ which is sometimes surgically removed in a procedure called ____________________________.
c. The penis consists of cylindrical bodies of erectile tissue called the paired __________________________ and single _______________________.
d. The erectile tissue consists of _________________________ spaces that are normally empty but can fill with blood giving rise to an ______________.
22.7. Spermatogenesis:
a. In the male the process of spermatogenesis does not begin until the time of __________________________, and then continues essentially undiminished throughout the life of the male.
b. The entire process takes about ______________________ days to complete, but in a normal male, on the order of _________________________ million spermatozoa are produced each day.
c. The cycling stem cell for the process is called the _____________________ which divides to form more ____________________________ cells and cells committed to further steps the ______________________________________. There is also a form of spermatogonium called the ______________________ cell which represents a reserve cell. All forms of spermatogonia can be found in the ____________________________________ compartments but it is the ____________________________________ cell which migrates to adluminal compartments.
d. Type B spermatogonia differentiate into _____________________________ which begin meiosis I and complete it to form _________________________. These cells in turn begin and complete meiosis II to form ________________________________________.
e. Spermatids differentiate into spermatozoa in a process called ______________________________. In this process the Golgi apparatus forms the _________________________, and the centrioles develop into a ____________________________.
f. A mature spermatozoan has three parts called the ______________________, ________________________ and _____________________________. It is the ____________________ which houses the numerous mitochondria needed to meet the energy demands of this cell.
22.8. Endocrine Regulation:
a. Normal spermatogenesis depends on the intact structure and function of the _______________________________________ axis.
b. Certain neurons of the hypothalamus release a hormone called __________________________ which acts on cells of the pituitary gland called ________________________.
c. In response to GnRH, gonadotropes increase their release of two hormones called _________________________ and __________________________, which in turn are released into blood and circulate to interact with target cells in the ______________________________.
d. LH interacts with ________________________ cells causing them to increase their production of __________________________.
e. FSH interacts with ______________________________ cells causing them to increase a number of functions related to spermatogenesis such as increases in the amount of ______________________________________ and increased _____________________________ support to spermatocytes.
f. Testosterone inhibits the release of __________________________________ from the hypothalamus and ______________________________ release from the pituitary. It does not directly affect _________________________ release from the pituitary. Instead, FSH secretion decreases in the presence of _______________________________ released by Sertoli cells.
g. The main androgen is ___________________________ which together with the other potent androgen _________________________________ interacts with androgen receptors found within the _________________________ of cells. Androgens act by increasing or decreasing ______________________.
h. Among the many effects of androgens in the body are the _______________________________; _____________________________; _______________________________; and __________________________.
22.9. The Male Sexual Response:
a. The male sex response has two phase called _________________________ and ______________________________.
b. Erection involves stimulation by _____________________________ nerves which cause the release of ___________________________ which is a potent vasodilator leading to filling of the venous spaces. These nerves also stimulate the secretion of the ____________________________ glands whose secretions aid in lubrication. Failure to achieve an erection is known as _________________________.
c. Ejaculation actually consists of two distinct phases called _______________ and ______________________. Both are under the influence of the ________________________ system.
d. During emission, the _____________________ contracts first propelling the spermatozoa forward through the ejaculatory ducts into the _____________. Next the ______________________ contract followed by contraction of the ___________________________. All these secretions mix in the urethra.
e. Stretch of the urethra elicits the final phase known as __________________ in which contraction of the _________________________ muscles propel the semen forward out the end of the penis.