Term
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Definition
| collagenous capsule that surrounds the testis |
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Term
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Definition
| incompletely divide the testis into ~250 lobules that in turn contain seminiferous tubules |
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Term
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Definition
| hilus of testis, access point of vessels/nerves/lymphatics/efferent duct |
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Term
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Definition
| highly coiled, blind-end tubules lined by spermatogenic epithelium; outer wall contains smooth muscle and is fibrous (tunica propria) |
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Term
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Definition
| made up of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and Sertoli cells; considered "stratified glandular epithelium" |
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Term
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Definition
| renewable stem cells found in the seminiferous epithelium |
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Term
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Definition
| proliferative cells, very mitotically active, differentiate to become primary spermatocytes |
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Term
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Definition
| "stratified" epithelium that functions in sperm production |
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Term
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Definition
| connections between clusters of type B spermatogonia that persist through maturation of spermatids into spermatozoa, help to synchronize differentiation |
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Term
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Definition
| ~70 day process in which spermatogonia proceed through differentiation into secondary spermatocytes |
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Term
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Definition
| stage after spermatogonia, plentiful, found close to precursor cells, long prophase lasting ~20 days, highly susceptible to insult/injury, undergo 1st meiotic division to produce next cell type |
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Term
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Definition
| diploid, sparse due to brief time in this stage, undergo 2nd meiotic division to yield next stage |
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Term
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Definition
| haploid cells, differentiate to form spermatozoa, have close physical association with Sertoli cells, still connected to one another |
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Term
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Definition
| process of the spermatids undergoing dramatic structural changes to form spermatozoa, has 3 distinct phases |
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Term
| Golgi phase of spermiogenesis |
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Definition
| polarization of organelles (Golgi to one end and centrioles to other), hydrolytic enzymes (hyaluronidase, trypsin-like protease, etc.) accumulate in acrosomal vesicle, centrioles migrate opposite acrosomal vesicle |
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Term
| acrosomal phase of spermiogenesis |
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Definition
| acrosomal cap develops, grows opposite of flagellum, cap flattens/spreads/associates w/ the nucleus, cell rotates so centrioles face the lumen, head remains embedded in Sertoli cell, axoneme outgrowth begins |
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Term
| maturation phase of spermiogenesis |
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Definition
| apparatus for motility develops, gains capacity to fertilize ovum, residual body is shed, sperm released into lumen, morphologic development incomplete and sperm are not motile |
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Term
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Definition
| tall columnar epithelial cell found in the seminiferous tubule, non-mitotic after puberty, terminalljy differentiated, has large euchromatic nucleus that is commonly indented, has abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, stretches from basement membrane to lumen of tubule, supports spermatid production and spermiogenesis, "conditions" the microenvironment for sperm to develop |
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Term
| spermatogenic-asynchronous cycle of the seminiferous epithelium |
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Definition
| adjacent areas of tubule are in different stages of sperm development, gap junctions in Sertoli cells contribute to this, allows for continual production of mature cells |
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Term
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Definition
| Sertoli tight cell junctions positioned on the luminal side of the spermatogonia prevent immunoglobulins from entering lumen, allows for compartmentalization of seminiferous epithelium |
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Term
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Definition
| fenestrated, have limited-to-no barrier function, counterbalanced by Sertoli tight junctions in protecting developing sperm |
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Term
| one cause of male infertility |
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Definition
| barrier may not be sufficient, and since primary spermatocytes acquire new cell surface features, cells of the luminal compartment may be recognized as non-self and destroyed |
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Term
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Definition
| stimulate Sertoli cell function, one is carried by androgen-binding protein |
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Term
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Definition
| contains nutrients and metabolites for developing spermatocytes, produced by Sertoli cells |
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Term
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Definition
| made by Sertoli cells, carrier of testosterone and allows it to be concentrated in the seminiferous tubule lumen |
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Term
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Definition
| peptide hormone produced by Sertoli cells that provides negative feedback on FSH release by the pituitary |
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Term
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Definition
| produced by the Sertoli cells, allows positive feedback on FSH release |
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Term
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Definition
| performed by Sertoli cells, degrades damaged cells and recycles spermatid residual bodies |
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Term
| interstitial cells of Leydig |
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Definition
| clusters of eosinophilic cells in peritubular interstitium, produce testosterone in response to LH, are structured like steroid secretory cells, have crystalline inclusions, abundant smooth ER, mitochondria with tubular cristae, no secretory granules; transient activity allows for male gonad development in fetal period, and they are reactivated during puberty to help develop secondary sex characteristics |
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Term
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Definition
| short segment immediately following seminiferous tubules, contains numerous Sertoli cells, makes contribution to tubular fluid, cells range from simple cuboidal to columnar |
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Term
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Definition
| could be considered "hilum" of testis, immediately after tubuli recti, elaborate network of channels near mediastinum of testis, also contributes to tubular fluid, very irregular epithelium (squamous, cuboidal, columnar cells), has thick fibromuscular stroma |
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Term
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Definition
| segment that leaves the testis (good riddance!), has irregular epithelium (ciliated pseudostratified), only site of ciliated cells in the male tract, short cells are absorptive, leads to epididymis |
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Term
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Definition
| duct of organ, has pseudostratified columnar epithelium, has stereocilia, cells are very tall, has highly coiled and innervated tubules; functions to absorb 90% of tubular fluid, secrete factors promoting sperm maturation and capacitation, and phagocytose cytoplasmic debris from spermatozoa; has a prominent muscularis that plays a role in ejaculation |
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Term
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Definition
| very active cells present in the ductus epididymis, secrete factors that promote spermatozoa maturation/capacitation |
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Term
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Definition
| actively dividing cells found in the ductus epididymis that differentiate into the secretory cell type |
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Term
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Definition
| contains inner circular layer of muscularis |
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Term
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Definition
| has 2 muscularis layers: an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer |
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Term
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Definition
| immediately follows the epididymis, run with spermatic cords, cross body wall, contain pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereocilia, have very thick muscularis and abundant sympathetic innervation |
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Term
| inner muscularis of vas deferens |
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Definition
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Term
| middle muscularis of vas deferens |
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Definition
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Term
| outer muscularis of vas deferens |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| located at the junction of the vas deferens and seminal vesicle, pair enters prostate at colliculus seminalis |
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Term
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Definition
| traverses muscular urogenital diaphragm, epithelium ranges from pseudostratified to stratified columnar but is generally irregular |
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Term
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Definition
| runs with corpus spongiosum, ranges from pseudostratified to stratified columnar epithelium, becomes stratified squamous near distal tip, contains urethral glands (clusters of mucous cells in mucosa) |
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Term
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Definition
| paired, blind-ending pouches near junction of ductus deferens and prostate, very looped and cells are very short, contains pseudostratified columnar epithelium, height and activity of cells is testosterone-dependent, mucosal arches are unique, has abundant smooth muscle, produces viscous mucoid secretion (60% of ejaculate volume, rich in fructose, prostaglandins, amino acids, and ascorbic acid) |
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Term
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Definition
| surrounds urethra at base of bladder, compound tubulo-alveolar gland, has numerous branching ducts opening into urethra, has very thick fibromuscular stroma |
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Term
| glandular epithelium of prostate |
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Definition
| irregular, ranges from pseudostratified to simple columnar |
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Term
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Definition
| eosinophilic, glycoprotein-rich concretions in the lumen of glands, found only in urethra, look like biconcave sponges in the middle of the lumen |
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Term
| prostate secretory product |
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Definition
| watery, slightly acidic fluid, has factors that inactivate macrophages and fibrinolysin (inhibits clot formation in ejaculate) |
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Term
| 3 glandular zones of the prostate |
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Definition
| periurethral mucosal glands, periurethral submucosal glands, and peripheral glands |
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Term
| periurethral mucosal and submucosal glands |
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Definition
| surround the urethra and are typically responsible for benign prostatic hyperplasia |
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Term
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Definition
| in prostate proper, commonly involved in prostate cancer |
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Term
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Definition
| paired glands at junction of membranous and penile urethra, produce clear/viscous pre-ejaculatory fluid |
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Term
| bulbourethral glands discharge (ejaculation) |
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Definition
| lubricates penile urethra, first step in ejaculation |
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Term
| prostate releases contents (ejac) |
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Definition
| contraction within fibromuscular stroma occurs, products condition vaginal environment for spermatozoa survival, step 2 in ejac |
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Term
| ductus deferens participation (ejac) |
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Definition
| stimulated to secrete product by sympathetic nervous system input, 3rd step of ejac |
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Term
| seminal vesicle discharge (ejac) |
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Definition
| fluid clears urethra, "happy ending" to process |
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