MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

• Spermatogenesis – sperm production
• Steroidogenesis – elaboration of sex hormones; testosterone
• Penis – copulatory organ used during sex
• Seminiferous tubules - site of spermatogenesis happens
• Excretory Ducts – passage ways necessary of sperm cell transportation coming for testes
• Excretory Ducts:

  1. epididymis
  2. vas deferens
  3. urethra
  4. rete testes
  5. ejaculatory duct
  6. tubuli recti
• Accessory Glands – providing fluid of semen
• Bulbourethral Glands – lubricate penal urethra to ejaculatory process
• Testes (paired organ; enclosed in a scrotum)

  -       paired oval organ enclosed in a scrotal sac/scrotum
• Scrotum:

  -       pendulous bag of loose skin with incomplete layer of smooth muscle (Dartos)

  -       loose areolar CT w/o adipocytes

  -       highly pigmented

  -       has large surface area
• Stroma

  -       interstitial portion

  -       presence of polygonal leydig cells found in the interstitial portion that is important in testosterone production
• Delivery of sperm – copulatory organ (penis)
• Excretory Ducts – passage ways necessary of sperm cell transportation coming for testes
• Seminal Vesicle (Paired) – produces majority of the seminal fluids
• Bulbourethral Glands – lubricate penal urethra to ejaculatory process
• Sertoli cells (sustentacular cells)

  • appear columnar between germinal layer
  • pyramidal nucleus
  • function for nutrition and support for developing sperm cells
  • maintain blood testes barrier
• Tunica Vaginalis – outer covering; serous sac

  • outer parietal
  • inner visceral – covers the next layer.
• mediastinum testis – thickened part of albuginea; divisions of compartments arise from here
• Tunica Albuginea – middle; thick; dense irreg contis
• Tunica Vasculosa – innermost layer, filled with lymphatic and blood vessels
• Spermatogonia - earliest sperm cell during spermatogenesis\
• Spermatids - immature spermatozoa
• Secondary Spermatocytes - haploid stage of spermatogenesis
• Primary Spermatocyte - diploid stage of spermatogenesis
• Sertoli cells - support spermatogenesis by providing nutrients to developing germ cells
• Leydig Cells - produce testosterone which is needed for spermatogenesis
• Sertoli Cells - support the development of germ cells (spermatogonia)
• Seminiferous tubules - site of spermatogenesis
• Leydig Cells - produce testosterone
• Seminiferous Tubules - site of spermatogenesis
• Epididymis - site where sperm maturation occurs
• Intratesticular Ducts

  • Carry sperm and liquid from the seminiferous tubules to the duct of the epididymis
• Intratesticular Ducts

  • Tubuli Recti
  • Rete Testis
  • Ductuli Efferentes/ Efferent Duct
• Straight tubules or Tubuli Recti
• Tubuli Recti

  • found in periphery of mediastinum testis
  • epithelium: sertoli cells in proximal portions, simple cuboidal in distal portions
  • support tissue: connective tissue
  • conveys sperm into the rete testis
• Rete Testis

  • found in mediastinum testis
  • epithelium: simple cuboidal cells with microvilli and single cilia
  • support tissue: dense irregular connective tissue
  • channels with sperm from all seminiferous tubules
• Efferent Ductules

  • from rete testis to the head of the epididymis (caput epididymis)
  • epithelium: alternating patches of simple cuboidal nonciliated and simple columnar ciliated
  • support tissue: thin circular layer of smooth muscle and vascular loose connective tissue
  • function to absorb most fluids from seminiferous tubules and convey sperm into epididymis
• Epididymis

  • Long, coiled ducts
  • Storage and maturation of sperm cells coming from the seminiferous tubules
  • Lined by pseudostratified columnar epith with stereocilia
• Cells of Epididymis:

  1. Basal - cuboidal/round, no stereocilia, for regen and support
  2. Principal - columnar with stereocilia, function for secretion and removal of water, absorption
• Parts of Epididymis

  • Head (caput epididymis)
  • Body (corpus epididymis)
  • Tail (cauda epididymis)