THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE

SYSTEM
JUSTINE AWIO
MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
ORGANS OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
 The scrotum
 2 Testes

 Reproductive system ducts (epididymis,vas

deferent, ejaculatory ducts and urethra)
 Accessory sex glands (seminal vesicles, prostate
gland, bulbourehtral/cowper’s gland)
 Supportive structure (penis and scrotum
FUNCTION OF THE MALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 The testes produce sperm and male sex hormone
testosterone
 The ducts transport, store and assist in the maturation of
sperm
 Accessory gland produce secretions that forms part of
semen and nourish the sperm
 Penis contain urethra a passageway for sperm, semen
and urine
THE TESTES
 The testes are the reproductive glands of the male and
are the equivalent of the ovaries in the female.
 Ovoid structures about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide.

 Located within the scrotal sac (scrotum)

 During fetal development they are near the kidneys and

slowly move inferiorly in the abdominal cavity.
 During the 7th month they descend through the inguinal
canals
CROSS SECTION OF TESTES
LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF TESTES
STRUCTURE OF THE TESTES
 Each testes is enclosed by the tunica
vaginalis, a continuation of the
peritoneum that lines the abdominopelvic
cavity.
 A fibrous capsule inside the tunica
vaginalis covers each testis called the
tunica albuginea.
CON`T
 The tunica albuginea gives rise to septa
(partitions) that divide the testis into lobules
(about 250)
 Each lobule contains 3 or 4 highly coiled
seminiferous tubules (where sperm is
produce)
 These converge to become rete testis which
transport sperm to the epididymis
CON`T
SCROTUM
 Sac of skin and superficial fascia that hangs outside the
abdominopelvic cavity at the root of the penis
 Contains paired testicles separated by a midline septum

 Its external positioning keeps the testes 3C lower than

core body temperature
 This temperature is favorable for sperm formation

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WALL OF THE SCROTUM
 In the dermis, there is a
thin layer of smooth
muscle known as the
dartos muscle.
Contractions of this
muscle causes wrinkling
of the skin.
 The cremaster muscle is
a thicker layer of skeletal
muscle that lowers and
raises the testes based on
temperature.
SPERMATIC CORD
 Contains the structures
running from the testicles to
the pelvic cavity.
 Passes through the inguinal
canal
 Contents:
 VasDeferens
 Nerves
 Blood Vessels

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ACCESSORY GLANDS:
SEMINAL VESICLES
 Lie on the posterior wall of the bladder and secrete 60% of
the volume of semen
 Seminal fluid:
 Fructose: provides energy for the sperm.
 Fibrinogen: helps turn semen into a bolus that can be readily propelled

into the vagina.

 Prostaglandins: decrease cervical mucus viscosity and stimulate reverse

peristalsis of the uterus.

 Join the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

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POSTERIOR BLADDER

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ACCESSORY GLANDS: PROSTATE
GLAND
 Doughnut-shaped gland that encircles part of the
urethra inferior to the bladder
 Plays a role in the activation of sperm
 Enters the prostatic urethra during ejaculation
 Prostatic secretions include:
 Citrate:is a food source (TCA cycle)
 Proteolytic enzymes: acts to "decoagulate" the
semen that was coagulated by seminal vesicle
secretions, which helps the sperm begin their
journey once inside the vagina

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STRUCTURE OF THE PROSTATE GLAND
 BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
(COWPER’S GLANDS)

 Pea-sized glands inferior to the

prostate
 Produce alkaline mucus prior to
ejaculation that neutralizes
traces of acidic urine in the
urethra

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THE PENIS
STRUCTURE OF THE PENIS
 The penis has a root and a body. The root lies in
the perineum and the body surrounds the urethra.
o It is formed by three cylindrical masses of erectile tissue

and involuntary muscle. The erectile tissue include;

 The two lateral columns are called the corpora cavernosa

 the column between them, containing the urethra, is the

corpus spongiosum
CON`T
 At its tip it is expanded into a triangular structure known
as the glans penis. Just above the glans the skin is folded
upon itself and forms a movable double layer, the
foreskin or prepuce.
 Arterial blood is supplied by deep, dorsal and bulbar
arteries of the penis which are branches from the internal
pudendal arteries.
 A series of veins drain blood to the internal pudendal and
internal iliac veins.
PHYSIOLOGY OF ERECTION
 The penis is supplied by autonomic and somatic nerves.
 Parasympathetic stimulation leads to filling of the
spongy erectile tissue with blood, caused by arteriolar
dilatation and venoconstriction, which increases blood
flow into the penis and obstructs outflow.
 The penis therefore becomes engorged and erect, an
essential prerequisite for coitus to occur
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EJACULATION
 During ejaculation, which occurs at the point of male
orgasm, spermatozoa are expelled from the epididymis
and pass through the deferent duct, the ejaculatory duct
and the urethra.
 The semen is propelled by powerful rhythmical
contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the
deferent duct; the muscular contractions are
sympathetically mediated.
 Muscle in the walls of the seminal vesicles and prostate
gland also contracts, adding their contents to the fluid
passing through the genital ducts to form semen
CON`T
 Between 2 and 5 ml of semen are produced in a normal
ejaculate, and contain between 40 and 100 million
spermatozoa per ml.
 If not ejaculated, sperm gradually lose their fertility after
several months and are reabsorbed by the epididymis
STOP THINKING INSIDE THE BOX
PENIS HISTOLOGY

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SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES

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SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES
HISTOLOGY

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EPIDIDYMIS
 Epididymis: Storage and maturation area for sperm
 Its head joins the efferent ductules and caps the
superior aspect of the testis
 The duct of the epididymis has stereocilia that:
 Absorb testicular fluid
 Pass nutrients to the sperm

 Nonmotile sperm enter, pass through its tubes and

become motile (propelled by peristalsis)
 Upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts, expelling
sperm into the ductus deferens
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EPIDIDYMIS HISTOLOGY
REVIEW QUESTIONS
 What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
 What are the results of meiosis?
SPERMATOGENESIS

 Spermatogenic stem cells of the seminiferous tubules give rise to

sperm in a series of events
 Mitosisof spermatogonia, forming spermatocytes
 Meiosis forms spermatids from spermatocytes
 Spermiogenesis: spermatids form sperm

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SPERMATOGENESIS

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SPERMATOGENESIS
SPERMIOGENESIS:
SPERMATIDS TO SPERM

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SPERMATOZOA/SPERMCELL
 SPERM
 Sperm have three major regions

1. Head :contains DNA and has a helmet-like acrosome

containing hydrolytic enzymes that allow the sperm to
penetrate and enter the egg

2. Midpiece: contains mitochondria spiraled around the

tail filaments that provide energy

3. Tail :a typical flagellum produced by a centriole for

movement
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SPERM SUMMARY
 Produced: Seminiferous tubules
 Stored: Epididymis
 Transported through epididymis by rhythmic peristaltic
contractions as they mature
 Epididymis Vas Deferens  Ejaculatory duct (ampulla of vas
deferens fuses with duct of seminal vesicle “ejaculatory duct”)
 prostate prostatic urethra (then passes the bulbourethral
gland) membranous urethra  penile urethra

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PUBERTY IN MALE
 This occurs between the ages of 10 and 14.
 Luteinising hormone from the anterior lobe of the
pituitary gland stimulates the interstitial cells of the
testes to increase the production of testosterone. This
hormone influences the
development of the body to sexual maturity. The changes
which occur at puberty are:
 growth of muscle and bone and a marked increase in
height and weight
 enlargement of the larynx and deepening of the

voice —it 'breaks‘

CON`T
 enlargement of the penis, scrotum and prostate gland
 maturation of the seminiferous tubules and

production of spermatozoa
 the skin thickens and becomes more oily.

 growth of hair on the face, axillae, chest, abdomen and

pubis