Function of the Male

Reproductive System
Structure:
The male reproductive system consists of the following organs:
The testes:
• Hang outside the abdominal cavity of the male and lie with in
the scrotum.
• The testes are made up of:
1. Seminiferous tubules:
loops of convoluted tubules, its wall lined by
- primitive germ cells – produce sperms
- Sertoli cells – have many functions.
2. Interstitial cells of Leydig:
Leydig:
cells between the tubules
containing lipid granules
secrete testosterone.
The duct system:
Epididymis:
- Narrow tightly coiled tube connect the testes to the vas deferens.
- Stores sperm
Vas deferens:
30 cm muscular duct connect epididymis to ejaculatory duct
Ejaculatory duct:
2 cm ducts formed by the union of seminal vesicle and vas deferens
Urethra:
- Narrow tube connect urinary
bladder to outside
- Transport semen to outside
Associated glands:
1. Seminal Vesicles:
- Secrete about 70% of clear, alkaline seminal fluid, with
fructose, ATP, PGs, protein & mucus.
- for normal sperm nutrition & function

2. Prostate:
• Exocrine gland that surround the urethra just below the
urinary bladder.
• Secretes 30% of milky, slightly alkaline seminal fluid
contain prostate specific antigen (PSA).
• PSA hydrolyzes the sperm motility inhibitor in semen.
3. Bulbourethral gland: (Cowper's gland)
- Are 2 small exocrine glands open into urethra.
- Produce clear viscous fluid which helps to:
flush the urethra from any residual urine and
to lubricate it for passage of sperm.
Function of sertoli cells:
• Physical sport of germ cells
• Formation of blood–testis barrier
• Maintenance of fluid composition in the lumen of
seminiferous tubules.
• Release of mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS)
• Release of androgen binding protein
• Release of inhibin (causes inhibition of FSH)
• Conversion of androgen to estrogen
Spermatogenesis:
- Is process of sperm production
- Starts at puberty and continues throughout the life of males
Stages:
 One spermatogonium gives about 512 spermatids.
 The formation of a mature sperm from a primitive germ
cell in humans spans approximately 74 days.
 It requires a temperature lower than that of the interior
of the body (32°C) which achieved by:
- Location of testes out side of abdominal cavity.
- Countercurrent system between spermatic arteries &
veins.
Endocrine control of spermatogenesis:
Testosterone: is essential for the germ-cells division resulting
in the spermatid
LH: act on the leydig cells to release testosterone
FSH:
- act on sertoli cells to release:
1. androgen binding protein:
which maintains the high androgen content within the
seminiferous tubules.
2. inhibin:
which control FSH release by negative feedback.
- FSH also causes maturation of sperm.
Semen:
- The fluid that is ejaculated at the time of orgasm.
- The semen contains sperm and the secretions of the
seminal vesicles, Prostate & Cowper’s glands.
- An average volume per ejaculate is 2.5–3.5 mL.
- Each milliliter of semen normally contains about
100 million sperm.
Male infertility
Associated with:
- Reduction in sperm production
- presence of many morphologically abnormal sperm
- Immotile spermatozoa

- Sperm move at a speed of about 3 mm/min through the

female genital tract.

- Sperm reach the uterine tubes 30-60 min after copulation.