-
primary organs of stallions repro tract
testicles/testes
-
What do the testicles produce?
-
What are the male sex cells?
-
Where are the testes located?
scrotum
-
What does the spermatic cord do?
suspend the testicles above the abdomen
-
What is found in the spermatic cord?
- nerves
- blood vessels
- cremaster muscle
-
What is the septum scroti?
tissue that separates the two testes
-
What is the tunica albuginea?
fibrous capsule surrounding each testicle
-
Testicles are divided into:
several lobules called lobuli testis that house seminiferous tubules
-
What is found in seminiferous tubules?
primary germ cells that eventually become viable spermatozoa
-
What is spermatogensis?
- sperm production
- the change from a germ cell to a spermatid (immature sperm cell)
-
3 phases of spermatogenesis:
- spermatocytogenesis
- meiosis
- spermiogenesis
-
How long does it take sperm to develop and mature?
65 days
-
Where does spermatogensis begin?
in the seminiferous tubules, where germ cells reproduce by meiosis
-
spermatids travel from:
seminiferous tubules to the epididymis
-
as the spermatid migrates, what happens?
- gains maturity
- loses cytoplasm
- gains a tail (flagellum)
-
Where does final maturation of sperm occur?
epididymis
-
What is the epididymis?
long U-shaped structure attached to the top of each testicle
-
What is the vas deferens?
duct that carries mature sperm from the epididymis to the urethra
-
What do the accessory sex glands do?
secrete seminal fluid into the vas deferens, forming semen
-
What are the accessory sex glands of the stallion?
- seminal vesicles
- the ampulla
- prostate gland
-
What do seminal vesicles do?
secrete a large portion of seminal fluid, which contains high levels of protein and potassium
-
What is the ampulla?
- enlarged glandular portion of the vas deferens
- secretes a large amount of fluid very similar to that of the seminal vesicles
-
What does the prostate gland do?
produces alkaline fluid that contains proteins that can break up proteins, citric acid and zinc
-
What do bulbourethral glands do?
produce a clear fluid that flushes the urethra of urine and bacteria before ejaculation
-
What is the purpose of semen?
- carries sperm
- exits the body through the urethra
-
What is the path of a sperm cell?
- from the seminiferous tubules
- to the epididymis
- to the vas deferens
- to the urethra and out of the body
-
How long is a colt unfertile after birth?
18 to 24 months
-
When do testes begin to grow and develop rapidly?
at 18 months
-
What is the male ovulatory organ?
penis
-
Where is the penis found?
in the sheath or prepuce
-
Where is the urethra found?
within the penis
-
Why is it uncommon for a hore to have prostatitis?
it doesnt completely circle the urethra
-
Is the prostrate important in the horse?
not really
-
What is testicular torsion?
- When a testicle was twisted
- causes inflammation, necrosis, abnormal blood flow/clotting
- can cause shrinking or atrophy
-
Why are crytorchids a problem?
- causes overheating of sperm and hormonal problems
- usually less fertile
- it is hereditary
|
|