Anatomy of Male Reproductive

system
Male Reproductive organs consist of:

• Testes: contained in scrotum

• Ducts
• Accessory sex glands
• penis
 Male reproductive tract

• Primary sex organs: Testes

• Secondary sex organs: vasa efferentia, the
epididymides, vasa deferentia & penis.
• Accessory sex organs: Prostate gland, two seminal
vesicles & two bulbourethral glands
 Scrotum & Testes

• Scrotum: cutaneous pouch, it contains testes in it.

• Location: Between thighs except in boar and cat.

• Boar and Cat: Caudal to the thighs.

• Testis is fixed to scrotum by means of scrotal ligament

attached to its caudal end near to tail of epididymis.

• Hairs over the scrotum are very scantly present

 Different layers of tissues between scrotal skin
and testes

• Tunica dartos layer: Present under scrotal skin and composed of

smooth muscle fibers with fibrous and elastic connective
tissues. Surrounds both the testes and form medial septum in
between two testes.

• Loose connective tissue layer: present under tunica dartos

layer.

• Vaginal process layer: present under the loose connective

tissue layer. It is extension of peritoneum.
 contd.
• Vaginal process layer is composed of:

• a)Tunica vaginalis communis: Superficial layer correspond to

parietal peritoneum.

• b) tunica vaginalis properia: deeper layer corresponds to visceral

layer of peritoneum.

• Tunica albuginea layer: tough layer composed of fibromuscular

tissue present beneath the visceral layer of vaginal process.
extensions of tunica albuginea penetrate the testicular parenchyma
to join at mediastinum. Fibrous septa divide the testicular
parenchyma into lobules.
Reproductive organs of Bull
 Testes

• Divided into many lobules

containing highly coiled

seminiferous tubules. 75% of
testicular mass is composed
of seminiferous tubules.
These are lined by germinal
epithelium and produce
spermatozoa.
 Cont..

• Seminiferous tubules join the rete testes through straight

tubules (tubuli recti)/tubules rectus.

• In stallion there is no mediastinum testes and the collecting

tubules join the efferent tubules.

• In bull passage of spermatozoa

• Seminiferous tubules – Tubuli recti – Rete testes- Efferent

tubules – Epididymis-Vas deferens-Ampulla-Urethra.

• The testes in the scrotal pouch is held by its tunics and

spermatic cord.
Length of seminiferous tubules in different species

• Bull: 5000 meters

• Ram: 4000 meters

• Boar: 6000 meters

• Dog: 150 meters

• Cat: 25 meters
 Spermatic cord
• It is composed of :

• Internal spermatic artery

• Internal spermatic vein

• Vas deferens

• Autonomic nerves from renal and caudal mesentric plexus

• Lymphatic vessels

• Internal cremaster muscle

• Tunica vaginalis properia

• Vaginal process: Is an extension of the peritoneum passing
through abdominal wall at the inguinal canal.
• Inguinal canal is the slit like space between the internal
abdominal oblique muscle forming the inguinal ring(deep
opening of inguinal canal) and external inguinal
ring(Superficial opening of inguinal canal) formed by the
tendon of the external oblique muscle.
• Mesorchium: Is the delicate and double layer of
peritoneum connecting the visceral and parietal layer of
peritoneum.
 Shape, color of parenchyma and
measurement of testes
Horse Bull Ram Boar Dog Cat
Shape Oval Elongated Elongated Elliptical Round to Round to
Oval oval oval oval
Parenchy Reddish Yellow Creamy Greyish to Reddish Reddish
ma grey white dark red

Measure 11x6x4 14x7x7 10x6x6 13x7x7 1x1.2- 1.2x0.7-

ment(cm) 4x2.5 2x1.5
Weight(g 200-300 250-300 200-300 150-200 7-15 --------
m)
Plane Horizonta Vertical Vertical Oblique Oblique Oblique
l
 Thermoregulation of testes
• Temperature of testes should be maintained at a temperature
lower by 2-5 °C than body of animal. The lowering of
temperature is maintained by:

• 1.The scrotal skin lacks subcutaneous fat.

• 2. During cold weather, the cremaster and dartos muscle

contract and thus testicles are held close to body during hot
weather, cremaster and dartos muscle relax to lower the testis
in a thin walled pendulous scrotum.
 Contd.
• The internal spermatic artery enters the
testes from the spermatic cord. The
testicular artery is highly convoluted and
cone shaped on dorsal pole of testis. The
arterial coils are enmeshed with
pampiniform plexus of the testicular vein.
This arrangement further assists in
thermoregulation of testis. The arterial
blood reaching the testes is cooled down
by the venous blood leaving the testes.
Seminiferous tubule
Seminiferous tubule
Seminiferous epithelium showing association between
Sertoli cells and germ cells
Seminiferous tubule
Seminiferous tubule
 Functions of the testes
• Production of testosterone (Endocrine function).

• Production of spermatozoa(Exocrine function).

• Blood testes barrier (at the level of basement membrane of

the seminiferous tubule and also by some special features of
sustentacular cells/sertoli cells) protect the germinal
epithelium from the immunological damages.
 Epididymis
• Coiled tube closely
attached to the testes by
fibrous tissue.
• Epididymis is more firm in
consistancy than testes.
• Epididymis consists of :
Head(Caput),
Body(corpus) and
Tail(Cauda)
Length of the epididymal tube in different
animals

• Bull: 30 meters

• Ram: 50 meters

• Boar: 50 meters

• Horse: 20 meters
 contd.

• Caput: broad, somewhat flat, U shaped and covers nearly one

third of the proximal end of testes.

• Corpus: comparatively narrow part running towards distal end

of testes along its posterior border.

• Cauda: Enlarged end of epididymis at the distal pole of the

testes and is continuous with the vas deferens.
 Histology of Epididymis
• Two prominent layers:
• 1. Circular muscle fibers layer,
• 2. Pseudostratified columnar cell layer.

• Histologically epididymis has three segments: Proximal segment has

ciliated cells(Having kinocilia) beating outwards. Medusa formations
seen in the semen ejaculates are actually the detached ciliated cells
from this initial segment of epididymis.

• In middle segment: The lumen is wide and cilia are not so straight.

• In terminal segment of epididymis, the cilia are short, lumen is very

wide and is packed with spermatozoa.
 Functions of epididymis
• Absorption: the epithelial cells of the epididymis, especially the of the
tail region are involved in the active absorption of fluid.

• Secretion: The secretions of the epididymal cells maintain vialibility of

the spermatozoa during storage.

• Maturation: During the storage period in the epididymis, the

spermatozoa undergo maturation changes. There is migration of the
cytoplasmic droplet from the neck of spermatozoa(proximal
protoplasmic droplet) to distal end of midpiece (Distal protoplasmic
droplet) in bull. This change is associated with cytochemical changes in
spermatozoa leading to its increased capacity for motility and
fertilizing capacity.
 contd.
• Transportation: transportation of spermatozoa is due to action of the
ciliated epithelium and the actions of peristaltic waves of muscle fibers
in the duct. The average duration of the epididymal journey of the
spermatozoa in different species is: Bull 10 days, Ram 13-15 days, Boar
9-12 days, Stallion 8-11 days.

• Storage: The epididymis is the store house of spermatozoa. The cauda

epididymis stores nearly 50% of extra gonadal sperms. However,
sperm in epididymis remain in quiescent metabolic state. The two
epididymis in bull can accommodate up to 3-4 days of spermatozoa by
the testis (nearly up to 75x109 spermatozoa)
 Vas deferens
• Ductus deferens/vas deferens extend from cauda epididymis to
the pelvic urethra.

• The ducts are firm with thick muscular walls and lumen is quite
small.

• Ducts are convoluted near the cauda epididymis and then run
parallel to corpus epididymis. Later this pass through the
inguinal canal in to the abdominal cavity along with other
components of the spermatic cord.
 contd.
• On reaching the abdominal cavity, the vas deferens separates
from spermatic cord, passes upward and backward to open into
pelvic urethra. The terminal part of vas deferens is enlarged
and called ampulla. The ampullae open in the cranial portion
of pelvic urethra through a prominence called “Colliculus
seminalis”

• The ampulla is furnished with branched tubular glands.

• Ampullae absent in dog and cat.

• The ampulla in Bull measures about 10-12 cm in length and 1.0-

1.5 cm in diameter
Reproductive organs of Bull
 Accessory sex glands

• Vesicular glands/seminal vesicles: Paried glands. Absent in

dog and cat.

• Prostate gland: Single

• Bulbourethral gland/Cowpers gland: Absent in dog

• Urethral glands: Distinct in boar, absent in bull and stallion

 Vesicular glands
• Distinct lobulations, located on pelvic floor cranial and lateral to
the ampullae.

• These glands open in the pelvic urethra near the opening of

ampullae or share common ejaculatory orifice with ampulla.

• In stallion, vesicular glands are pear shaped sacs.

• In boar, these glands are large bag like.

 Vesicular glands
• Dimentions in different species

Species Length Breadth Thicknes Weight

(cm) (cm) s (gm)
(cm)
Bull 10-15 2-4 2 75
Stallion 15-20 2.5-5.0 5 -----
Boar 12-15 5-8 4 200
Ram 4-5 2 1.5 5
 contd.
• Secretion make up about 50% of total semen ejaculate.
• Secretions more alkaline than prostate.
• Secretions contain protein ,fructose, ascorbic acid, citric acid,
potassium bicarbonate, acid soluble phosphate and several enzymes.
• In ruminants its secretion contains lrge quantity of fructose than
other domestic animals .
• In stallion, vesicular glands constitute gel to the ejaculate.
• In boar vesicular glands contain milky and highly viscous fluid and
contain high inositol and ergothionine.
• In bulls, vesicular glands secretion is yellow due to high riboflavin
contents.
 The prostate gland

• In bull, the gland is located on the pelvic floor, on or around

neck of bladder or cranial portion of pelvic urethra.

• The gland has two parts: the body of prostate(pars properia)

and the pars disseminata which surrounds pelvic urethra.

• The gland opens into pelvic urethra lateral to the opening of

the ampullae.
 Prostate gland dimensions
• In stallion, the gland consist of two lateral lobes (Each 7x4x1 cm)
connected by isthmus (2x3x0.5 cm).

• In ram, gland has no body and scattered over large portion of the pelvic
urethra.

• In dog, the size of gland varies greatly and may be quite large in older
dogs. Some disseminate lobes are present in urethral wall.

Pars properia Pars disseminata

(cm) (cm)

Bull 3x1x1 12x1.5x1.0

Boar 3x3x1 17x1.0x1.0

 contd.
• In dog, there are two excretory ducts of prostate gland.

• The prostatic secretions are rich in enzymes like glycolitic,

proteinases, phosphatases, glycosidases, nucleases and
nucleotidases that resemble interior milieu of the cells.

• Zinc concentration in seminal plasma is chiefly due to

prostatic secretions.

• In dog, prostatic secretion pH is 6.5 and there are no

reducing sugars. Prostate secretion contains citric acid
and acid phosphatases.
 Bulbourethral glands/Cowper's glands
• These are paired glands in bull lying on either side of pelvic
urethra in the region near the ischial arch and embedded under
the bulbospongiosus muscle.

• These glands are ovoid in bull, stallion and ram.

• In boar, these are large and cylindrical.

• In cat, these are size of prostate.

• In bull and boar each gland opens in urethra through a single

duct, but in stallion each gland opens in to the urethra through 6-
8 secretory ducts.

• These secretions delete harmful substances present in urethra.

 contd.
• In boar, glands contain rubber like white substance which is
essential for gel formation in semen.

• Dimention of glands in different species:

Species Diameter(cm) Length(cm)

Bull 1.5-3.0 ---------------

Stallion 2.5-5.0 --------------

Ram 0.5-1.0 -------------

Boar 2.5-3.0 12.0

 Urethra
• It is common passage for the excretion of urine as well as
for the transportation of semen.

• Urethra has three distinct parts: pelvic part, bulb of urethra

and the penile part.

• In bull, the pelvic part of urethra is 20 cm long, enclosed by

heavy urethral muscles and is situated on pelvic floor.

• The bulb of urethra is extra pelvic part situated at ischial

arch and is bending ventral to the pelvis.

• Penile urethra runs inside the penis proper.

 Penis
• It is copulatory organ in male.

• Penile body is largely composed of corpus cavernosum muscle and

arise as a pair of crura/roots under ischial arch under
ischiocavernosus muscle.

• Corpus cavernosus penis is enclosed by thick layer of tunica albuginea

which is made of collagan fibres.

• Several trabeculae are sent from tunica albuginea to enter into the
corpus cavernosum penis for support of cavernous (Cave like) tissue

• Ventral to corpus cavernosum penis and surrounding the penile

urethra is smaller corpus spongiosum penis/corpus sponsiosum
urethrae.
 contd.
• The corpus sponsiosum penis is enlarged at ischial arch to form penile
bulb. The bulb is covered by bulbospongiosus / bulbocavernosus
muscle.
• The two corpora have several spaces (blood sinusoids) and are
continuous with veins in the penis.
• Distension of blood sinusoids leads to penile erection.
• In bull ram and boar sigmoid flexure is present. It is post - scrotal in
bull and ram and pre-scrotal in boar.
• In horse, sigmoid flexure is absent.
• Ischiocavernosus/erector penis muscle is short paired muscle and
helps penile erection by its compressing and pumping action.
 contd.
• The retractor penis muscle is a smooth muscle and arises from
scral or 1st and 2nd coccigeal region, divides and meet again
under the anus and attaches to the penis at the distal end of
sigmoid flexure with fibres extending dorsal to the penis. The
thickened portion of this fibrous sheath is known as dorsal
apical ligament of penis.

• Retractor penis muscle draws the penis back in to sheath by

acting on sigmoid flexure.
 Penis Bull

• Penis is fibroelastic/musculo-fibrous/ fibrous type.

• Length is 90cm from root to tip of glans.

• Diameter is 4-5 cm on erection.

• Glans penis is 7.5-12.5 cm long, terminal part is pointed and

slightly twisted
 Penis stallion
• Penis is vascular/musculo-cavernous type.
• Penis has large amount of erectile tissue.
• Length is about 50 cm and diameter is 2.5-6.0 cm when
not erect.
• A length of about 15-20 cm lies free in prepuce.
• Lengh of penis increases double and glans penis triple
on erection.
• There is prominent urethral process in glans penis
encircled by shallow groove called as fossa glandis
which forms urethral sinus or diverticulum, dorsal to
urethral process.
 Penis ram

• Penis is fibroelastic/musculo-fibrous/ fibrous type.

• Penis is 30 cm in length and 1.5-2.0 cm in diameter and is

characterized by urethral process, which extends 4-5 cm
beyond the glans penis
 Penis boar

• Penis is fibroelastic/usculo-fibrous/fibrous type.

• Penis length is 45-55 cm.

• There is no glans penis but the cranial portion is twisted

counter clockwise
 Penis dog
• Penis is vascular/musculo-cavernous type.
• Penis length is 6.5-24 cm in non erect condition
depending on size of dog.
• Penis has two separate corpora cavernosa (separated by
medial septum).
• The cranial free portion of penis contains a bone called
“os penis” which is grooved ventrally for urethral
passage.
• The glans penis consist of two parts. The proximal 1/3rd
is “bulbus glandis” and distal 2/3rd is “pars longa
glandis”.
• The bulbus glandis become engorged with blood after the
penis enters the vagina of bitch.
 Penis cat
• Penis is vascular/musculo-cavernous type.

• Penis is short and directed caudally and ventrally.

• The urethra lies dorsally in the penis.

• Os penis is absent or short.

• Bulbus glandis is also absent.

• Glans penis is absent but the terminal part (about 1 cm)

contains several spines (about 120).

• Because of the pain caused by these spines the queen

emits a loud cry after service.
 Prepuce
• Prepuce is the invaginated fold of skin surrounding the free
end of penis, when not erect.
• Bull prepuce is 35 cm long and 4 cm in diameter .Prepucial
orifice is 5-7 cm behind umbilicus and is surrounded by tuft
of hair. Prepuce is in the form of pendulous sheath in Indian
breeds.
• Horse prepuce makes a double fold. Prepucial cavity is 15-
20 cm deep and there is second fold to form prepuce
proper. prepucial ring is prominent in between two
prepucial folds.
• Prepuce of ram is similar to bull but is relatively short.
• Prepuce of boar has a diverticulum dorsal to prepucial
orifice.
 Blood and nerve supply
• Testes: Blood is supplied from internal spermatic artery
.The internal spermatic veinrun parallel to internal
spermatic artery except near testes where it more
convoluted and tortuous to form pampiniform plexus.
Nerve supply to testes is through fibers from renal and
caudal mesenteric plexus. These fibres run close to internal
spermatic artery.
• Scrotum: Blood supply is by the external pudendal artery
(also internal pudendal artery in cat and boar). Nerve
supply is by genital nerve.
• Penis blood supply is through internal pudendal artery to
root of penis, obturator artery to body of penis and the
external pudendal artery give rise to dorsal artery of penis.
 Blood and nerve supply contd.
• Nerve supply to penis is from autonomic nerves from pelvic plexus and
from pudendal and hemorrhoidal nerves.

• The pudendal and hemmorrhoidal nerves are the motor nerves for
retractor penis muscle.

• The dorsal nerve of penis is a branch of pudendal nerve and supplies

sensory fibers to the glans penis.

• The reflex centers for erection and ejaculation are located in lumber
portion of spinal cord.
 Blood and nerve supply to accessory sex glands

• Blood supply is from internal pudendal artery in large animals. In dog the
blood supply is from prostatic artery (a branch of urogenital artery arising
from internal iliac artery).

• The nerve supply is through autonomic nerves from hypogastric nerve

and pelvic plexus.
 Pre-natal develpment
• The testis develops from the genital ridge.
• Primordial germ cells (originate from mesodermal cells of yolk
sac) migrate to the gonadal ridge by about day 27 in bull.
• Testicular/parenchymal cells for production of androgen arises
from gonadal blastema of meso-nephric/Wolfian cells.
• The primordial germ cells are carried to the medulla by primary
sex cords(arise from coelomic epithelium, to form germinal
epithelium of seminiferous tubules).
• The mesonephric tubules form the efferent ductules in the
head of epididymis.
• Mesonephric duct form the rest of epididymis, the ductus
deference and vesicular glands.
 contd.

• Sertoli cells are formed from “cord cell blastema “of meso-
nephic cell.
• The rete testis is formed from “rete blastema “of meso-nephic
cell.
• Urethra is formed from the urogenital sinus.
• At urogenital orifice, the genital tubercle is formed and within it
penile part of urethra is developed.
• A separate fold of skin grows distally over the genital tubercle
to form the penile prepuce.
• Genital swellings unite to form scrotum.
 Descent of tetes in different farm animals

Stage of Bull Ram& goat Boar Stallion

developme
nt

Testicular Decends in Decends in Decends in Decends to

developmen middle of middle of last part of stratumjust
t fetal life fetal life fetal life before or
just after
birthof fetus