22
Male Reproductive Physiology
Paul J. Turek
Questions
1.Embryologically, the vas deferens is derived from what developmental structure?
a.Müllerian ducts
b.Wolffian ducts
c.Urogenital ridge
d.Gubernaculum testis
e.Metanephros
2.The bulk of testicular volume in the adult human testicle is composed of:
a.Leydig cells.
b.Sertoli cells.
c.spermatogenic cells.
d.myoid cells.
e.vascular endothelium.
3.Which of the following anterior pituitary hormones directly influences testicular function?
a.Estradiol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
b.Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol
c.Luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH
d.Testosterone and LH
e.Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and testosterone
4.The bulk of the ejaculate volume is derived from:
a.the epididymides.
b.the Cowper gland.
c.the seminal vesicles.
d.the testes.
e.the prostate.
5.Which of the following veins are responsible for varicoceles?
a.The hypogastric veins
b.The deferential veins
c.The internal iliac veins
d.The internal spermatic veins
e.The cavernosal veins
6.A 25-year-old body builder eschews the merits of "natural" bodybuilding and uses injectable anabolic steroids regularly to maximize muscle bulk. His fertility potential would be expected to be:
a.normal, because exogenous testosterone does not impair production of endogenous testosterone.
b.low, because exogenous testosterone stimulates pituitary production of FSH and LH.
c.low, because exogenous testosterone inhibits pituitary production of FSH and LH.
d.low, because exogenous testosterone is not as potent as endogenous testosterone at nurturing spermatogenesis.
e.normal, because intratestis testosterone concentrations are 50 times higher than serum levels, whether or not the blood contains exogenous testosterone.
7.Tight junctions between which testis cell types are structurally integral to the blood-testis barrier?
a.Sertoli-Sertoli cells
b.Myoid-Leydig cells
c.Spermatids-Sertoli cells
d.Leydig-Leydig cells
e.Endothelial-endothelial cells
8.A 26-year-old man has a 1-year history of infertility and abnormal bulk semen parameters (low sperm concentration and motility). Hormonal testing reveals normal testosterone, FSH, and LH levels, but an elevated serum prolactin level (20 ng/dL, normal level, 2-18 ng/dL). The most likely cause of his elevated prolactin level is:
a.pituitary microadenoma.
b.pituitary macroadenoma.
c.drug polypharmacy.
d.stressful blood draw.
e.timing of blood draw relative to sleep-wake cycle.
9.What is the normal developmental progression of spermatogenic cells?
a.Sertoli, spermatogonia, spermatocyte
b.Spermatocyte, spermatogonia, spermatid
c.Spermatid, Sertoli, spermatocyte
d.Spermatogonia, spermatid, spermatocyte
e.Spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid
.Which hormone is the primary feedback inhibitor of pituitary LH secretion?
a.Inhibin
b.Testosterone
c.Activin
d.Prolactin
e.Sertolin
.Which of the following testicular volumes would be considered low for an adult human of any ethnicity?
a.12 mL
b.18 mL
c.22 mL
d.30 mL
e.40 mL
.Major anatomic regions of the epididymis include:
a.septa, efferent ductules, and corpus
b.globus minor, ductus deferens, and cauda.
c.rete testis, efferent ductules, and caput.
d.efferent ductules, caput, and cauda.
e.caput, corpus, and cauda
.Which of the following is characteristic of meiosis?
a.It is a process that occurs in all somatic cells.
b.The chromosome number is maintained with cell division.
c.It is a process that occurs only in gametes.
d.There is no chromosomal crossing over.
e.Daughter cells are identical to parent cells.
.When do testosterone peaks occur during a human male's life?
a.First trimester gestation, 2 months of age, puberty
b.1 year of age, puberty, 50 years of age
c.Puberty, 30 years of age, 70 years of age
d.Puberty, 50 years of age
e. First trimester gestation, puberty, 70 years of age
.With chronic obstruction, sperm motility is highest in what region of the epididymis?
a.Rete testis
b.Efferent ducts
c.Caput epididymis
d.Corpus epididymis
e.Cauda epididymis
.What occurs during spermiogenesis?
a.Division of spermatogonia to form primary spermatocytes
b.Division of primary spermatocytes to form secondary spermatocytes
c.Cellular remodeling and nuclear compaction of spermatid DNA
d.Cytokinesis
e.Meiosis
.Changes to sperm during epididymal transit include:
a.decreased motility.
b.sulfhydryl reduction.
c.decreased phospholipid content.
d.reduced membrane rigidity.
e.increased capacity for glycolysis.
.Which of the following germ cell types is considered a true stem cell?
a.Elongating spermatids
b.Primary spermatocytes
c.Round spermatids
d.Secondary spermatocytes
e.Type A spermatogonia
.During their development within the male reproductive tract before ejaculation, sperm spend the majority of time in which organ?
a.Epididymis
b.Ejaculatory ducts
c.Seminal vesicle
d.Testis
e.Urethra
.The sperm region containing mitochondria is the:
a.tail.
b.head.
c.acrosome.