OB ANAPHY MALE

PENIS

male organ of copulation and urination.

penile erection

The parasympathetic nervous system which causes vasodilatation governs:

Glans Penis

The enlarged end which is the most sensitive part

Prepuce or Foreskin

: it is a fold of retractable skin covering the glans and which is removed during circumcision. In some cases, the prepuce is too tight and cannot be retracted over the glans, this condition is called phimosis

Urethral Meatus

it is the slit like opening located at the tip of the penis which serves as passage way of both semen and urine

SCROTUM

is a saclike structure rugated, skin covered, muscular pouch, suspended from the perineum containing the testes (sing. Testis) that hangs behind the penis.

scrotum

supplied abundantly by sweat and sebaceous glands. The scrotum has no subcutaneous fat because the testes must be kept cool.

TESTES

oval shaped glandular organs lying within the abdominal cavity in early fetal life and descend in the scrotum after 28 weeks gestation.

testes

4 to 5 cm long

left testis

Often, one testis is slightly larger than the other and is suspended slightly lower than the other, this is usually the

tunica albuginea

is a fibrous covering which divides the testis into 200 to 300 lobules. The lobules contain semeniferous tubules in which sperm cells develop.

Leydig cells or insterstitial cells

Connective tissue which produce testosterone surround the semeniferous tubules.

tunica vasculosa

is an inner layer of connective tissue containing blood vessels.

Seminiferous Tubules

are long coiled tubes where Spermatogenesis takes place; the testes produce about 176 sperm cells a day. This tubes lead to the tightly coiled epididymis where the sperm cells continue their travel and maturation.

Leydig or Interstitial Cells

produce testosterone, they are found around the seminiferous tubules.

Sertoli Cells or Supporting Cells

which plays a role in sperm transport.

EPIDIDYMIS

is a long coiled tube approximately 20 feet long and at which the sperm travels for 12 to 20 days after it leaves the testis. It takes about 64 days for the sperm to become mature and it is for this reason that therapy for aspermia and oligospermia becomes effective only after two months.

VAS DEFERENS/DUCTUS DEFERENS

forms the passageway of the sperm cells from the epididymis in the testis to the urethra. It is surrounded by arteries, veins and a thick fibrous covering. The contractile power of this part of the duct system propels the spermatozoa to the urethra during ejaculation

EJACULATORY DUCT

-pass through the urethra and then, connect the seminal vesicles to the urethra carrying the secretions of the said organs.

-is the passageway of the semen.

SEMINAL VESICLE

These are two pouch-like organs consisting of many saclike structures located next to the ductus deferens and lying behind the bladder and in front of the rectum.

PROSTATE GLAND

is a walnut-shape chestnut sized body lying below the bladder surrounding the urethra and the two ejaculatory ducts.

COWPER’S /BULBOURETHRAL GLAND

These are two small glands that are located below the prostate and secrete an alkaline fluid which helps to neutralize the acidic nature of the urethra and provides additional lubrication during intercourse.

SEMEN

is a mixture of secretions from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland and, Cowper's gland, ejaculatory duct and sperm cells.

Ejaculation

is the forceful expulsion of semen from the urethra caused by contraction of muscles in the penis such as what happens during male orgasm.

URETHRA

Hollow tube leading from the base of the bladder, which after passing through the prostate gland, continues to the outsides through the shaft and glans of the penis.

EPIDIDYMIS

20 feet long