Anatomy and Cell Biology 3309 Lecture Notes - Lecture 44: Seminiferous Tubule, Vas Deferens, Male Reproductive System
2 May 2018
School
Department
Professor
Histology Lecture 15 – Semester 2
Male Reproductive System – TESTIS
Which statement regarding the pituitary gland is false?
A. Putuicyes are cells that resemble astrocytes
- They are glial cells
B. Basophilic mammotrophes secrete prolactin when stimulated by breast feeding
- ACIDOPHILS NOT BASOPHILS
C. Neurons on the hypothalamo-hypotropic nuclei project to the Median Eminence
D. Herring bodies contain ADH
- Transport vesicles in swellings of axons
E. The Pars Intermedia develop from Rathke’s pouch
- Adenoma = epithelial tumour
- What gland is affected by all of these symptoms? ADRENAL GLAND under the control of ACTH
o ACTH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland
- Answer = D, which is the anterior pituitary gland
- Why is the answer not A, the cells that regulate D?
o There can not be an adenoma because ADENOMA MEANS EPITHELIAL TUMOUR, it can
not be neuronal
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Learning Objectives
- List the main components of the male reproductive system
- Describe the histological organization of seminiferous tubules
- Differentiate between and describe the location of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes,
spermatids, and spermatozoa
- Explain the processes of spermiogenesis and spermatogenesis
- Outline the morphological organization and functions of Sertoli cells
- Draw a diagram of a spermatozoon and label its different parts
- Explain the location and functions of Leydig cells
- List the hormones that affect sperm production and describe their source and their actions on
various cell types
- Testis: production place of male germ cells
- Production of spermatozoa takes place in the testis – they leave through a convoluted duct system,
vas deferens
o Channels the spermatozoa into the urethra, that opens up at the tip of the penis
- There are glands in the region where the vas deferens delivers spermatozoa into the urethra
o These glands produce semen
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Testis
- Testis divided up to 300 different lobules
- Has connective tissue capsule
o It sends septations into the testis dividing the structure into lobules
- Each lobule contains up to 4 highly coiled epithelial tubules = seminiferous tubules
o The tubules carry spermatozoa. This is where spermatozoa are being generated
o These tubules carry spermatozoa into a meshwork of of channels, rete testis
o They converge into several tubules that lead into a highly coiled structure, epididymis
- Spermatozoa are being stored in the epididymis between ejaculations
o After production, spermatozoa end up in the epididymis, and they mature while they are in
there
- Upon demand, the spermatozoa leave via the vas deferens
- Seminiferous tubules are designed to produce copious amounts of cells (millions of spermatozoa)
- If you take all of the seminiferous tubule and sew them end to end, it will cover almost 1 km (800m)
o Tremendous amount of cellular division going on to produce spermatozoa, and packaged in
a highly coiled space
- The testis is enclosed by a dense connective tissue capsule (Tunica Albuginea) and contains 250-
300 lobules with one to four seminiferous tubules each
- Low magnification
- Two features we see:
o 1. Substantial connective tissue capsule
▪ Dense connective tissue irregularly arranged
▪ Fibroblasts, blood vessels
▪ Since it is so thick, it appears white in real life due to all of the collagen = TUNICA
ALBUGINEA
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Which statement regarding the pituitary gland is false: putuicyes are cells that resemble astrocytes. They are glial cells: basophilic mammotrophes secrete prolactin when stimulated by breast feeding. Acidophils not basophils: neurons on the hypothalamo-hypotropic nuclei project to the median eminence, herring bodies contain adh. Transport vesicles in swellings of axons: the pars intermedia develop from rathke"s pouch. Adrenal gland under the control of acth: acth is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. Answer = d, which is the anterior pituitary gland. Why is the answer not a, the cells that regulate d: there can not be an adenoma because adenoma means epithelial tumour, it can not be neuronal. List the main components of the male reproductive system. Describe the histological organization of seminiferous tubules. Differentiate between and describe the location of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa. Outline the morphological organization and functions of sertoli cells. Draw a diagram of a spermatozoon and label its different parts.
