HTC101 - Male Reproductive System

Testes

Reproductive organ in males that creates sperm

Lobule of testis

~250 per testis, condensed regions of 1-4 highly coiled seminiferous tubules that converge to form a single straught tubule, which leads to the rete testis

Seminiferous tubules

Structures within testis where germination, maturation, and transportation of sperm cells occurs

Sertoli cells

Cells that compose the seminiferous tubules

Spermatogenic cells

Cells on the epithelial interior of seminiferous tubules

Stem cells (in testis)

Cells on epithelial exterior of seminiferous tubules

Leydig cells

Cells in between seminiferous tubules in testes, produce androgens like testosterone

Acrosome

Cap on front half of sperm head that contains enzymes to help penetrate outer layers of egg

Epididymis

Structure attached to testis that matures, stores, and transfers sperm from ducts of the testis to the vas deferens

Vas (ductus) deferens

Tube that transports sperm from epididymis to urethra

Inner longitudinal layer of vas deferens

Contains mucosal layer with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and longitudinal folds that allow the tube to expand during ejaculation

Thick intermediate circle layer of vas deferens

Contains inner and outer longitudinal layers and a middle circular smooth muscle layer

Outer longitudinal layer of vas deferens

Connective support layer of vas deferens

Seminal vescicles

Male accessory sex glands located behind the bladder, with an epithelial lining composed of pseudostratified columnar epithelium that secrets fructose-rich fluid that nourishes sperm

Prostatic urethra

Portion of male urethra that passes through prostate and is joined by ejaculatory duct. Lined by transitional epithelium

Membranous urethra

Portion of male urethra that passes through pelvic floor and is lined by either pseudostratified or stratified columnar epithelium

Penile urethra

Portion of male urethra that extends length of penis and opens to outside at external urethral orifice, lined by psueostratified columnar epithelium with areas of stratified squamous epithelium near orifice

Prostate

Male secondary sex organ that produces majority of seminal fluid

Prostate glands

Glands within the prostate, composed of ducts and acini. Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium and contains secretory cells which produce thin, milky seminal fluid rich in citric acid and hydrolytic enzymes

Fibromuscular stroma

Large compact bundles of smooth muscle cells in the prostate

Corpora amylacea

Rounded eosinophilic bodies ~2mm in diameter characteristic of the prostate, believed to play a role in storage and clearance of debris. Increases in number with age

Secretory ducts

Ducts in the prostate lined by simple columnar epithelium that transitions to transitional epithelium near duct opening to urethra