Male Reproductive System

Testes - origin & location

Mesodermal origin & located in pouch called Scrotum

Testes - descent

developed into Abdominal Cavity

descend into Scrotal Sac thru Inguinal Canal (in early foetal life)

Testes - shape & size

Oval,

4-5 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, 3cm thick

TUNICA VAGINALIS

outer incomplete peritoneal covering

TUNICA ALBUGINEA

middle collagenous connective tissue layer

TUNICA VASCULOSA

inner, thin, membranous & vascular layer

Testes - Internal Structure

each testis contains 200-300 testicular lobules each with 1-4 highly coiled seminiferous tubules

Name Accessory Ducts in Male R.S.

1)Rete Testis 2)Vasa Efferentia 3)Epididymis 4)Vas Deferens

5) Ejaculatory Duct 6)Urethra

1) Rete Testis

network of tubules where seminiferous tubules join

2) Vasa Efferentia

12-20 fine tubules to carry sperms from Rete Testis to Epididymis

3) Epididymis

•long coil tube divided into Caput (head), Corpus (body), Cauda (tail)

•sperms undergo physiological maturation here

4) Vas Deferens

•travels into Abdominal cavity & joins the duct from the Seminal Vesicle.

•opens into Urethra

5) Ejaculatory Duct

formed by joining of Vas Deferens & duct of Seminal vesicle

6) Urethra

provides a common passage for both urine and semen (urinogenital duct)

Name Accessory Glands in Male R.S.

1)Seminal vesicles 2)Prostate gland 3)Cowper’s gland

Seminal Vesicles

a pair of glands that secrete an alkaline fluid containing Fructose (energy for sperms), Fibrinogen & Prostaglandins

Prostate Gland

•a single, large gland secrets whitish, alkaline prostatic fluid that contains Citric acid and Enzymes -neutralizes the acidity of the vagina.

Cowper’s Gland

•a pair of small glands

•secrete an alkaline, viscous, mucous-like fluid which acts as a lubricant during copulation

External Genitalia - PENIS

•a male copulatory organ

•contains 3 bundles of Erectile Tissue -1)Pair of Corpora Cavernosal 2)Median Corpus Spongiosum

•TIP is called Glans Penis -covered by a loose fold skin called Prepuce (foreskin).

SCROTUM

•loose pouch of pigmented skin.

•divided into 2 sacs by a septum called Tunica Dartos

•acts as thermoregulator maintaining 2-3°C lower than body temp for proper spermatogenesis

What is the term - Cryptorchidism

failure of the testes to descend into scrotum which may lead to Sterility

SEMEN

•viscous, alkaline, milky fluid.

•pH - 7.2 to 7.7

•sperm count - about 400M/ejaculation.

•function - nourishes sperm (fructose), neutralizes acidity (bicarbonates) & activated sperm movement (prostaglandins)