Male genital system

Saviour ADJENTI (PhD, Cape Town; FWACM)

Dept of Physician Assistantship Studies,
School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS),
Central University,
Miotso Campus.
 Learning Performance Objectives (LPOs)
• By the end of lecture students should be able to:

• - distinguish between the structures forming the external and internal genitilia
in the males,
• - list and describe the gross and histologic appearance of the structures
forming both the external and internal genitilia,
• - describe the basic functions of the structures forming the male genital
system.
• - describe the origin of the male gametes and the histological structure of the
testis and
• - answer simple clinical anatomical questions on the male genitilia.
Male genital system

• Comprises the testes and epididymis

• which are contained in the scrotum;

• The vas deferens/ ductus deferens

• which are contained in the spermatic cord in part of their course;

Male genital system
• The seminal vesicle; the ejaculatory duct;

• The prostate gland;

• the bulbourethral glands &

• the penis
Male genital system

• All these are paired, except the scrotum & the penis

• Scrotum & penis (phallic part) are collectively called the external
genitilia.
Male genital system
 Testis

• It is the primary sex organ in the male.

• Firm, tough organ lying within the scrotum

• Left testis lies at a lower level than the

right
 Testis
• Each testis has superior & inferior ends
(upper and lower poles)

• Medial and lateral surfaces,

• Anterior and posterior margins.

 Testes
• Apart from production of spermatozoa,

• it is also endocrine in function

• – secrets a hormone that is responsible for

male secondary sexual characters.
 Testes – when things go wrong!
• (Failure of testis to descend = cryptorchidism)

• (Testis descended at an anomalous site, eg

perineum = ectopia testis).

• Hydrocoele testis is a collection of fluid in the

serous cavity of the scrotum.

• It may be congenital due to the

• persistence of a communication between

processus vaginalis & peritoneal cavity.
 Fine structure of the
testis

• Each testis is surrounded by a tough,

• fibrous connective tissue capsule

• called the tunica albuginea.

 Fine structure of the testis
• Extending from the inner surface of

• the capsule are series of fibrous septa that

• divide the interior of the organ into lobules.

• Lying within each lobule are one to three

• Coiled tubules called seminiferous tubules.

 Fine structure of the testis

• Each loop of the seminiferous tubules

• is drained via a straight tubule into

• a network of channels called the

• rete testis.
 Fine structure of the testis

• Small efferent ductules connect

• the rete testis to the upper end of the

epididymis.
 Rete testis

• An anastomosing network of seminiferous tubules.

• All the seminiferous tubules appear to start and end at the rete testis.

• It forms a kind of anatomical valve to prevent backflow of spermatozoa.

• It is found at the hilum of the testis (mediastinum testis).

Passage way of spermatozoa in the testis
• From seminiferous tubule to straight tubules

• From straight tubules to rete testis

• From rete testis to efferent ductules

• From efferent ductules to epididymis

 Fine structure of the testis

• Between the seminiferous tubules

• are blood vessels, lymphatics and

• Groups of rounded interstitial cells called

• Leydig cells which produces the hormone

testosterone.
 Fine structure of the testis
• The epithelium of the seminiferous tubules

• has a basement membrane on which lie

• germinal cells called spermatogonia &

• sustentacular or Sertoli cells.

 Fine structure of the testis

• Between adjacent Sertoli cells are

• found tight and gap junctional complexes

• which constitute a blood-testis-barrier.

 Fine structure of the testis

• The sustentacular / Sertoli cells are involved in;

• (i) maintenance of the blood-testis-barrier and

• (ii) supporting mitosis and meiosis upon FSH

stimulation.
 Testes - clinical correlations (applied anatomy)

• ASPIRATION OF A HYDROCOELE

• The patient lies in the supine position &

• the extent of the hydrocoele is confirmed.

• The relative positions of the testis &

• hydrocoele are shown by palpation and trans-illumination.

• Trans-illumination may also reveal large superficial scrotal vessels which are best avoided
 Testes - clinical correlations (applied anatomy)

• The hydrocoele is usually anterolateral to the testis.

• The scrotum is held in the left hand and is compressed sufficiently to tense the
hydrocoele.

• A fine trocar & cannula are then introduced, passing through the layers of the
scrotum and into the hydrocoele.
 Testes - clinical correlations (applied anatomy)
• PRECAUTION / FACTS TO REMEMBER

• - (in aspiration of a hydrocoele testes)

• Define the position of the testis before tapping.

• This will avoid injury to the testis and epididymis.

• After tapping the hydrocoele, the procedure is NOT complete until the testis
has been re-examined.