MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

• Male and female reproductive systems


  Develop from similar embryonic tissue

  
• First few weeks of development, male and female embryos are indistinguishable
• Adult reproductive systems


  • Share some functional similarities
• Testes


  Ovoid structures about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, located within the scrotal sac (scrotum)

  
• Descent of the testes

  1. During fetal development they are near the kidneys and slowly move inferiorly in the abdominal cavity

  2. During the 7th month they descend through the inguinal canals
• Scrotum


  Sac of skin and superficial fascia that hangs outside the abdominopelvic cavity at the root of the penis, contains paired testicles separated by a midline septum, its external positioning keeps the testes 3C lower than core body temperature
• Wall of the scrotum

  • In the dermis, there is a thin layer of smooth muscle known as the dartos muscle, contractions of this muscle causes wrinkling of the skin
  • The cremaster muscle is a thicker layer of skeletal muscle that lowers and raises the testes based on temperature
• Inside the scrotum


  • Each testes is enclosed by the tunica vaginalis, a continuation of the peritoneum that lines the abdominopelvic cavity
  • A fibrous capsule covers each testis called the tunica albuginea
• Testicle


  • The tunica albuginea gives rise to septa (partitions) that divide the testis into lobules (about 250)
  • Each lobule contains 3 or 4 highly coiled seminiferous tubules
  • These converge to become rete testis which transport sperm to the epididymis

  
• Spermatic cord


  Contains the structures running from the testicles to the pelvic cavity, passes through the inguinal canal, contents: Vas Deferens, Nerves, Blood Vessels

  
• Seminal vesicles


  • Lie on the posterior wall of the bladder and secrete 60% of the volume of semen
  • Seminal fluid contains: Fructose (provides energy for the sperm), Fibrinogen (helps turn semen into a bolus that can be readily propelled into the vagina), Prostaglandins (decrease cervical mucus viscosity and stimulate reverse peristalsis of the uterus)
  • Join the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

  
• Prostate gland


  Doughnut-shaped gland that encircles part of the urethra inferior to the bladder, plays a role in the activation of sperm, enters the prostatic urethra during ejaculation, prostatic secretions include: Citrate (food source), Proteolytic enzymes (acts to "decoagulate" the semen that was coagulated by seminal vesicle secretions, which helps the sperm begin their journey once inside the vagina)
• Bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands)


  Pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate, produce alkaline mucus prior to ejaculation that neutralizes traces of acidic urine in the urethra
• Epididymis


  Storage and maturation area for sperm, its head joins the efferent ductules and caps the superior aspect of the testis, the duct of the epididymis has stereocilia that absorb testicular fluid and pass nutrients to the sperm, nonmotile sperm enter, pass through its tubes and become motile (propelled by peristalsis), upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts, expelling sperm into the ductus deferens

  
• Spermatogenesis: Spermatogenic stem cells of the seminiferous tubules give rise to sperm in a series of events - Mitosis of spermatogonia, forming spermatocytes, Meiosis forms spermatids from spermatocytes, Spermiogenesis: spermatids form sperm

  
• Sperm


  • Have three major regions: Head (contains DNA and has a helmet-like acrosome containing hydrolytic enzymes that allow the sperm to penetrate and enter the egg), Midpiece (contains mitochondria spiraled around the tail filaments), Tail (a typical flagellum produced by a centriole)

  
• Sperm transport

  1. Produced: Seminiferous tubules

  2. Stored: Epididymis

  3. Transported through epididymis by rhythmic peristaltic contractions as they mature

  4. Epididymis -> Vas Deferens -> Ejaculatory duct (ampulla of vas deferens fuses with duct of seminal vesicle) -> Prostate -> Prostatic urethra -> Bulbourethral gland -> Membranous urethra -> Penile urethra