Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system is designed for species survival, rather than homeostasis

Three Main Functions:

• Production of hormones

  • Endocrine Leydig Cells are responsible for the production of testosterone

• Production of gametes (sperm)

  • Spermatogenesis- production of sperm cells

    • Takes place in the seminiferous tubules

    • Mature sperm cells are stored in the lumen of seminiferous tubules

    • Stem cells/ immature cells are stored further from the lumen

    • Mitosis —> Meiosis 1 —> Meiosis 2

• Store, transport, & deliver reproductive cells

  • Sertoli Cells

    • Nourish developing sperm because they are unable to utilize glucose

      • Produces lactate to be used by sperm cells in krebs/etc

    • Prevents bloodborne cells from getting to the lumen of seminiferous tubules

      • Prevents immune cells from attacking sperm cells (aren't mature until puberty —> seen as foreign + attacked by immune cells)

  • Scrotum

    • hold and protect testes

    • Maintains temperature of testes to protect sperm (cremaster muscle moves based on temperature)

      • 2-5 degrees lower than core temperature of the body

      • High temperatures reduce sperm count (healthy: 60 mil sperm/ 1 mL semen; unhealthy: less than 20 mil sperm/1mL semen) and alter motility/morphology

        • includes outside sources of heat (hot tub, laptop, etc)