LESSON 2: MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

4th QUARTER | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2

OUTLINE
I. Male Reproductive System (introduction)
II. Organs of the Male Reproductive System
III. Male Reproductive Functions
Figure 16.2b Male Reproductive
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Organs
GONADS
• Primary sex organs
• Testes in Males
• Ovaries in Females
• Produce gametes (sex cells = haploid = 23 chromosomes)
and secrete hormones
o Sperm – male gametes
o Ova (eggs) – female gametes

TESTES
• Located inside the scrotum
• Each testis is connected to the trunk via the spermatic
cord, which houses:
o Blood vessels
o Nerves
o Ductus deferens
• Coverings of the Testes:
o Tunica albuginea – capsule that surrounds each
testis
§ provide the right temperature along with the
ANATOMY OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE scrotum for spermatogenesis
o Septa – extensions of the capsule that extend into
SYSTEM
the testis and divide it into lobules.
• Testes
• Duct System
o Epididymis
o Ductus (vas) Deferens
o Urethra

• Accessory Organs • Each lobule contains one (1) to four (4) seminiferous
o Seminal Glands (vesicles) tubules
o Prostate o Tightly coiled structures
o Bulbourethral Glands o Function as sperm-forming factories
• External Genitalia o Empty sperm into the rete testis
o Penis • Sperm travels from the rete testis to the epididymis
o Scrotum • Interstitial cells in the seminiferous tubules produce
androgens such as testosterone

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 DUCT SYSTEM
• Transports sperm from the body and includes:
o Epididymis
o Ductus deferens
o Urethra
EPIDIDYMIS o Other substances that nourish and activate sperm
• Highly convoluted tube 6 m (20 ft) long
• Found along the posterior lateral side of the testis
• First part of the male duct system
• Temporary storage site for immature/developing sperm for
approx. 20 days
• Sperm mature as they journey thru the epididymis
• During ejaculation, sperm are propelled to the ductus
deferens
DUCTUS (VAS) DEFERENS BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
• Runs from the epididymis via the spermatic cord thru the
inguinal canal and arches over the urinary bladder
o Ampulla – end of the ductus deferens which empties
into the ejaculatory duct
o Ejaculatory Duct – passes thru the prostate to merge
with the urethra
• Moves sperm by peristalsis into the urethra for exit
• Ejaculation – smooth muscle in the walls of the ductus
deferens create peristaltic waves to squeeze sperm forward
• Vasectomy – cutting of the ductus deferens at the level of
the testes prevents transportation of sperm (form of birth
control)
A.G. RODRIGUEZ & D. TAN
URETHRA
• Extends from the base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the
penis
• Carries/transports both urine and sperm
• Sperm enters from the ejaculatory duct
• Urethra Regions:
1. Prostatic Urethra – surrounded by prostate gland
2. Membranous Urethra – prostatic urethra to penis
3. Spongy (penile) Urethra – runs the length of the penis
to the external urethral orifice
• Ejaculation causes the internal urethra sphincter to close
(important because ‘di pdeng sabay na sperm at ihi besss
kadire yorn ante)
o Prevents urine from passing into the urethra
o Prevents sperm from entering the urinary bladder
ACCESSORY GLANDS AND SEMEN
SEMINAL VESICLE
• Located at the base of the bladder
• Produce a thick, yellowish secretion (60% of semen) that
contains
o Fructose (sugar)
o Vitamin C
o Prostaglandins
(provide energy for travel)
• Duct of each seminal vesicle joins that of the ductus
deferens on each side to form ejaculatory duct
PROSTATE
• Encircles the upper (prostatic) part of the urethra
• Secretes a milky fluid
o Helps to activate sperm
o Fluid enters the urethra thru several small ducts
• Pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate
• Produce a thick, clear mucus
o Mucus cleanses the spongy (penile) urethra of acidic
urine prior to ejaculation as it passes thru it
o Mucus serves as a lubricant during sexual intercourse
SEMEN
• Milky white mixture of sperm and accessory gland secretions
• Components of accessory gland secretions
o Liquid portion acts as a transport medium to dilute
sperm
o Sperm are streamlined cellular “tadpoles”
o Fructose provides energy for sperm cells
o Alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidic
environment of vagina
o Semen inhibits bacteria
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
SCROTUM
• Divided sac of skin outside the abdomen that houses the
testes
• Viable sperm cannot be produced at normal body
temperature
• Maintains testes at 3o C lower than normal body temperature
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PENIS
• Each division of a spermatogonium stem cell produces:
• Male organ of copulation that delivers sperm into the female
o Type A daughter cell, a stem cell, that continues the
reproductive tract
stem cell production
• Regions of the Penis:
o Type B daughter cell, which becomes a primary
o Shaft spermatocyte, destined to undergo meiosis and form
o Glans Penis (enlarged tip) four sperm
o Prepuce (foreskin)
§ Folded cuff of skin around proximal end
§ Often removed by circumcision
• Internally there are three (3) areas of spongy erectile
tissue around the urethra
• Erections occur when this erectile tissue fills with blood
during sexual excitement
MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS
• Chief roles of the male in the reproductive process
o Produce sperm
o Produce a hormone, testosterone
SPERMATOGENESIS
• Sperm Production
o Begins at puberty and continues throughout life
o Millions of sperm are made every day
• Sperm are formed in the seminiferous tubules of the testis
o Spermatogonia (primitive stem cells) begin the process
by dividing rapidly
o During puberty, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is
secreted in increasing amounts. • Meiosis
o Special type of nuclear division that differs from mitosis
o Occurs in the gonads
o Includes two successive divisions of the nucleus
(meiosis I and II)
o Results in four daughter cells (gametes)
• Games are spermatids with 23 chromosomes
o 23 chromosomes are half the usual 46 found in other
body cells
o 23 is known as the haploid number (n) – half the genetic
material as other body cells.
• Union of a sperm (23 chromosomes, n) with and egg (23
chromosomes, n) creates a zygote (2n, or 46 chromosomes)

Figure 16.3 Spermatogenesis

• Spermiogenesis
o Spermatids are nonmotile and not functional as sperm
o A streamlining process is needed to strip excess
cytoplasm from a spermatid and modify it into a sperm
o A sperm has three regions: head, midpiece, tail
o Acrosome sits anterior to the sperm head (nucleus)
o The entire process of spermatogenesis, including
spermiogenesis, takes 64 to 72 days.

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 TESTOSTERON PRODUCTION
• During puberty:
o Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) begins prodding
seminiferous tubules to produce sperm
o Luteinizing hormone (LH) begins activating the
interstitial cells to produce testosterone

• Testosterone:
o Most important hormonal product of the testes
o Stimulates reproductive organ development
o Underlies sex drive
o Causes secondary characteristics
§ Deepening of voice
§ Increased hair growth
§ Enlargement of skeletal muscles
§ Increased bone growth and density

Figure 16.6 Hormonal control of testosterone release and sperm production

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