NATS 1675 LNs 16.1

What are the 3 main functions of the Male Reproductive System?

• produce and maintain male sex cells (sperm)

• transport sperm and associated fluids outside the body

• produce and secrete male sex hormones

what are the structures of the male reproductive system?

• pair of testes (scrotum, testis, epididymis, spermatic cord)

• system of ducts

• penis

• accessory glands

Testis (sing. or testes)

• one of a pair of gonads

• produces sperm and testosterone

• cannot produced sperm above 35 degree C

• spermatogenesis

Epididymis

• one of a pair of ducts

• sperm is stored and matures

Bulbourethal gland

• one of a pair of glands

• produces mucous secretions before ejaculation that neutralizes urine in the urethra

Prostate gland

produces alkaline secretions that activate sperm and reduce acidity

Seminal vesicle

produce fluid that nourishes sperm, thickens semen, and assists sperm movement

Ductus (vas) deferens

transports sperm from the epidermis tot he urethra

Urethra

tube that transports semen during ejaculation and urine at other times

Penis

organ of sexual intercourse that delivers sperm to the female reproductive tract

glans penis

tip region of the penis, rich in sensory nerves for arousal

What are the 4 types of tissue in the male reproductive system?

Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, and Nervous tissues.

Epithelial tissue

• Lines ducts of reproductive tracts

• Produces sperm in seminiferous tubules

• Produces secretion in accessory glands

Connective tissue

• Walls of testes

• Erectile cylinders in penis

Nervous tissue

• Sensory nerve fibres and nerve ending in penis

• Hypothalamus secretes hormones that affect the anterior pituitary

Muscle tissue

• smooth muscle surrounds ducts

• propelling sperm out the body

What is the structure of the Testes?

• Function to produce sperm and sex hormones → Spermatogenesis

• Located in the scrotum

• Consists of the tunica albuginea, connective tissue septa, and seminiferous tubules.

Tunica albuginea

• white fibrous capsule encasing the testis

Connective tissue septa

• divided into wedge shaped lobules

• extensions of tunica capsule

Seminferous tubules

• make up loobules

• sperm produced in these tubules

what are the accessory cells within the testis?

• Leydig (Interstitial) Cells

• Sertoli cells

Leydig (Interstitial) Cells

Sertoli cells

• lie among forming sperm (span surface of seminiferous edge to lumen)

• protect & promote the development of sperm

• secrete androgen-binding protein (ABP)

• joined together by tight junctions preventing sperm from leaving seminiferous tubules

Spermatogenesis

• at puberty spermatogenic cells are stimulated to produce sperm

• each former 2 new spermatogonia via mitosis

• 1 of the new spermatogonia divides to form primary spermatocytes

• cells that move towards the lumen matter into secondary octaves and then into spermatids

What are the 3 regions of a mature sperm cell?

• Head (acrosome & nucleus)

• Midpiece (mitochondria to produce ATP)

• Tail, a long flagellum