Introduction
This current page provides background support information for Medicine phase 1 BGD Histology Practical Virtual Slides. Page does not form part of the BGDA practical class virtual slides.
- Virtual Slides: Male Histology (requires zpass login)
- Practical Manual Notes 2013 online PDF (2 pages)
- Draft page (notice removed when completed).
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Objectives
- Gain an overview of the microanatomy of the male reproductive system.
- Undertake a microscopical examination of the testis, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate gland, penis, and sperm. The functional significance of the various histological structures identified will be discussed.
- Links: Testis Development | Histology
Testis Histology
Spermatozoa
This brief animation shows an overview of the structural components of the spermatozoa.
- Blue - Nucleus containing male haploid genome required to combine with oocyte haploid genome to form diploid zygote.
- Red - Acrosome containing enzymes required to digest the zona pellucida. The acrosome develops as a highly modified golgi structure.
- Green - Centriole and axonema required for spermatozoa movement.
- Orange - Mitochondria and annulus required for energy for spermatozoa movement.
- Grey - Cytoplasm and plasmolemma, cell membrane containing membrane proteins for chemotaxis and binding to the oocyte zone pellucida.
- mature human spermatozoon is about 60 µm long and actively motile.
- divided into head, neck and tail.
- head - (flattened, about 5 µm long and 3 µm wide) chiefly consists of the nucleus (greatly condensed chromatin!). The anterior 2/3 of the nucleus is covered by the acrosome, which contains enzymes important in the process of fertilisation. The posterior parts of the nuclear membrane forms the so-called basal plate.
- neck - short (about 1 µm) and attached to the basal plate. A transversely oriented centriole is located immediately behind the basal plate. The neck also contains nine segmented columns of fibrous material, which continue as the outer dense fibres into the tail.
** tail - further divided into a middle piece, a principal piece and an end piece. The axonema (the generic name for the arrangement of microtubules in all cilia) begins in the middle piece. It is surrounded by nine outer dense fibres, which are not found in other cilia. In the middle piece (about 5 µm long), the axonema and dense fibres are surrounded by a sheath of mitochondria. The middle piece is terminated by a dense ring, the annulus. The principal piece is about 45 µm long. It contains a fibrous sheath, which consists of dorsal and ventral longitudinal columns interconnected by regularly spaced circumferential hoops. The fibrous sheath and the dense fibres do not extend to the tip of the tail. Along the last part (5 µm) of the tail, called the end piece, the axonema is only surrounded by a small amount of cytoplasm and the plasma membrane.
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<mediaplayer width='300' height='240' image="http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/images/0/02/Spermatozoa_animation_icon.jpg">File:Spermatozoa_animation.mp4</mediaplayer>
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Epididymis Histology
Pseudostratified Epithelium
- Nuclei of the epithelial cells are typically located in the widest part of the cell.
- the nuclei of cells that do or do not reach the surface of the epithelium are often located at different heights within the epithelium, giving the epithelium a "stratified" appearance.
- The epithelium though is not stratified, therefore named "pseudostratified".
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Human Testis (adult)
convoluted seminiferous tubules x10
convoluted seminiferous tubules x20
convoluted seminiferous tubules x40
convoluted seminiferous tubules x40
ductus deferens overview x2
Human Testis (young)
convoluted seminiferous tubules x10
convoluted seminiferous tubules x40
convoluted seminiferous tubules x40
Other Species
Rabbit
convoluted seminiferous tubules x20
convoluted seminiferous tubules x100
Mouse
Ductus Deferens Histology
Penis Histology
Terms
- cortex - (Latin = rind, or bark) outer layer of an organ.
- hilum - or hilus (Latin,= a trifle; depression in a seed) a depression at vascular entrance/exit of a gland or organ.
- medulla - (Latin, medulla = pith, marrow) the inner portion of an organ, in contrast to cortex.
- mucosa - (Latin, = mucous membrane) thin layer which lines body cavities and passages formed by epithelium and lamina propria.
- parenchyma - (Greek," + enkeim = to pour in) the essential functional cells of an organ as opposed to its stroma.
- serosa - (Latin, serum = whey; a pale fluid) a serous membrane lining body cavities.
- stroma - (Greek, = a cover, table-cloth, bedding) term for the internal supporting frame-work of a tissue, or organ, as opposed to its parenchyma.
- tunica albuginea - a dense, white, fibrous sheath enclosing a part or organ.
- Links: Female | Ovary | Oocyte | Uterus | Vagina
- Histology Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ANAT2241 Support | Histology | Histology Stains | Embryology Glossary
BGDA: Lecture 1 | Lecture 2 | Practical 3 | Practical 6 | Practical 12 | Lecture Neural | Practical 14 | Histology Support - Female | Male | Tutorial
Glossary Links
- Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers | Symbols | Term Link
Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 11) Embryology BGDA Practical - Male Reproductive Tract Histology. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/BGDA_Practical_-_Male_Reproductive_Tract_Histology
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- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G