Male Reproductive System Review

Exam and Appointments

  • The final exam is cumulative, covering material from units one, two, and three.
  • Students are encouraged to schedule appointments to discuss exams.

Male Reproductive System - Semen Production

  • Semen is produced by three glands: seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper's gland (or bulbourethral gland).

Prostate Gland

  • Shaped like a walnut.
  • Helps neutralize the acidity of urine left in the urethra and the natural acidity of the female vagina.

Cowper's Gland (Bulbourethral Gland)

  • Resembles two small cow ears on either side of the urethra in appearance.
  • Produces a neutralizing effect on uric acid remaining in the urethra.
  • Produces pre-ejaculate to pre-lubricate the distal urethra (the end of the urethra).
  • Pre-lubrication speeds up semen/sperm expulsion during ejaculation.
  • Pre-ejaculate assists with penetration during sexual activity.
  • Pre-ejaculate contains enough sperm to cause pregnancy.
  • Natural rhythm method or pull-out method may not be effective due to the presence of sperm in pre-ejaculate.

Gland Functions Summary

  • Seminal vesicles provide fructose to nourish sperm and prostaglandins to cause uterine contractions.
  • The prostate gland neutralizes acidity.
  • Cowper's gland produces pre-ejaculate for lubrication and faster ejaculation.

Male Infertility

  • Semen analysis tests sperm morphology, pH, and fructose levels.
  • An inhospitable semen environment can kill sperm before they leave the body.

Ejaculation Pathway

  • Erection occurs.
  • Sperm move through the vas deferens (ductus deferens).
  • The three glands contribute to semen production.
  • Ejaculation releases semen through the ejaculatory duct, up the urethra, and out of the body.

Prostate Issues

Prostatitis

  • Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate.
  • It can be caused by inflammation, injury, infection, or cancer.
  • An enlarged prostate requires further tests to rule out serious causes.
  • Older men are more prone to prostatitis, often experiencing difficulty starting urination or sporadic urine flow.
  • Inflammation squeezes the urethra, making urination difficult.
  • Comorbidities like diabetes can worsen prostatitis.
  • In severe cases, a catheter is needed to bypass the urethra and drain urine from the bladder.

Catheter

  • A tube inserted through the penis and urethra into the bladder to drain urine.

Recommendations for Prostatitis

  • Consult a physician or nurse practitioner for treatment.
  • Ejaculation (if comfortable and not due to infection) may help reduce inflammation.

Prostate Cancer

  • In Alberta, it's considered a matter of when, not if, a male will develop prostate cancer if they live long enough.
  • Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Canada.
  • Prostate cancer often has a slow cell growth rate.
  • Screening is important for early detection.

Screening Methods

*Blood Test: A blood test can check for gene markers related to prostate cancer.
*The marker levels can be used to determine if more tests are needed.
*Rectal Exam: A rectal exam involves a doctor inserting a lubricated gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for enlargement or abnormalities; this is not the primary screening method anymore.

Risk Factors

*Men over 50 have an increased risk of prostate cancer.
*Family history and certain ethnicities (African and Caribbean descent) increase the risk.
*Diet can play a role.

Prostate Cancer Stages

*Cancer is staged from 1 to 4, with substages in each.
*Advanced prostate cancer can squeeze the urethra, requiring catheterization.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

  • The primary treatment is often the removal of the prostate gland, if the patient is deemed surgical, improving their chances of recovery.

Ejaculation and Erection - The Nervous System Perspective

  • Ejaculation involves the sperm moving up the ductus deferens, converging with the ejaculatory duct, and semen production.
  • The male urethra, about 2 cm long, is shared with the reproductive system.

Nervous System Involvement

  • Ejaculation and erection are largely autonomic responses.
  • Ejaculation is associated with the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).
  • Erection is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest).

Implications of Stress

  • Stress can inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system and contribute to erectile dysfunction.
  • Stress can decrease sexual libido and function.

Energy Diversion Concept

  • During rest and digest, energy is diverted towards blood flow, allowing the penis to become firm.
  • In high-stress situations, energy is diverted away from the pelvic region and towards the muscles needed for escape.

Review of Male System Topics

  • Semen production
  • Sperm production (spermatogenesis)
  • Ejaculation and erection

The Great Sperm Race (BBC Documentary)

  • Documentary explores the journey of sperm into the female reproductive system.
  • The documentary treats the journey with humor, blowing up sperm to human size.

Key Points Covered

*The testicles produce a thousand sperm with every heartbeat.
*Sperm are unique, almost free-living cells aimed at delivering genetic material from the male to the female.
*Each sperm contains 23 chromosomes of DNA, including the sex-determining chromosome (X or Y).
*After creation, sperm are stored in the epididymis, waiting for ejaculation.
*Sperm face numerous challenges in the female reproductive tract (hostile environment, immune system attacks).
*From the sperm's viewpoint, entering the vagina is like "D-Day,"
*To reach the egg, they first need to pass the cervix, a maze of tunnels where most sperm die before making it to the uterus.
*Once inside the uterus, they must find the proper doorway within this vast space, all while still under constant attack from the elite forces of the female immune system.
*Regular Intercourse, having regular intercourse, every couple of days throughout the month, can improve their chance of conception.
*Vagina Environment poses a toxic hazard, the vagina is coated in deadly acid that serves to kill off more than 99% of sperm to make their journey to the site of fertilization, all within the first 30 minutes.
*To navigate this hostile environment Oestrogen surges through the body's mucus in order to transform for radical change, into alkaline consistencies to provide nutrients, energy, and a safe passageway for the sperm up the ladder to the egg.