[PHYSIO] Male Repro

• Rete testis drains into the epididymis
• The epididymis acts as the storage area for mature sperm cells
• Seminiferous tubules (lined by sertoli cells) are where sperm cells mature
• The vas deferens will eventually empty into the urethra via the ejaculatory duct
• Seminal vesicles secrete a fluid rich in fructose, citrate, and prostaglandins
• Seminal vesicles give the semen a mucoid consistency
• Prostaglandins react with cervical mucus to make it more penetrable by the sperm. It induces peristaltic contractions in the female reproductive tract to propel the sperm up the reproductive tract via reverse peristalsis
• The prostate gland secretes a milky aqueous solution rich in citrate, calcium, and enzymes
• The secretion from prostate gland is slightly alkaline
• Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is secreted by the prostate gland and liquefies semen
• PSA can dissolve cervical mucus and is present in males serum in low levels
• Seminiferous tubules are lined by sertoli cells and noursh the developing sperm from the spermatogonium towards the mature spermatocytes
• Seminiferous tubules maintains the blood-testis barrier
• different levels of sex determination: phenotypic sex, gonadal sex, and genetic sex
• male phenotype in the interna genital tract: prostate, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, and epididymis
• male phenotype in the external genital tract: scrotum and penis
• the male phenotype is expressed when the testis secretes testosterone and anti mullerian hormone during embryonic development
• female phenotype in the internal genital tract: fallopian tube, uterus, and upper third of the vagina
• female phenotype in the external genital tract: clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and lower part of the vagina
• which type of sec can be determined by external features?

  phenotypic sex
• gonadal sex determines which gonad is present (testes or ovaries)
• germ cell produce spermatogonia
• sertoli cell synthesize anti mullerian hormone
• leydig cell synthesize testosterone
• during the first 5 weeks of gestational life, the embyro is still bipotential which means there is no sign if it is male or female
• during gestational weeks 6-7, the embryo is genetically XY, thus the testis will begin to develop
• during gestational week 9, if the embryo is genetically XX, the ovaries will begin to develop. no testis will emerge in weeks 6-7
• the Y chromosome contains the gene SRY
• human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is secreted by the placenta
• HCG has LH-like effects and stimulates testosterone production
• cryptorchidism


  one or two testis fail to descend from the lack of testosterone
• true or false: undescended testis are prone to cancer

  true
• the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is released from the hypothalamus
• LH and FSH are released from the anterior pituitary gland
• androgens are released from end organs
• the hypothalamus begins to secrete GnRH, which in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce FSH and LH
• LH stimulates the interstitial cells or the leydig cells to secrete testosterone
• FSH stimulates the sertoli cells to facilitate spermatogenesis
• true or false: the testosterone can stimulate the anterior pituitary gland and hypothalamus for positive feedback loop

  false. the testosterone INHIBITS for negative feedback loop
• sertoli cells produce a substance called inhibin