22.
4: Male Reproductive System
Male Reproductive System
The testes produce spermatozoa (sperm), the male reproductive cells. Spermatozoa are produced in the seminiferous tubules and
collected by the rete testis (rete = net). Spermatozoa travels from the rete testis to the head of the epididymis where they mature
and are stored until ejaculation. The vas deferens transports spermatozoa from the tail of the epididymis to the prostate gland.
Seminal glands, the prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands add fluid secretions to spermatozoa to form semen. These
additional fluids support the spermatozoa and their survival as well as facilitate their transfer to the female reproductive tract.
Above: Male reproductive system, lateral view of the left side with structures shown with sagittal sections.
The epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct and urethra form a system of tubules for the transport of spermatozoa from testes to
the pelvic cavity. There they will be combined with the secretions of the accessory glands to form semen.
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Above: Structures of the male genitalia.
In order for proper and efficiently development of spermatozoa, the testes must be cooler than core body temperature (95°F is
optimal for spermatogenesis and 98.6°F is core body temperature). The testes cool some just from being suspended away from the
body, but the core temperature arterial blood from the gonadal artery must also be cooled before reaching the testis capillary beds.
As blood is cooled in the peripheral capillary beds of the scrotal walls, it collects into a network of gonadal veins called the
pampiniform plexus (pampiniform = shaped like a vine or tendril). As it ascends to the abdomen, this venous plexus wraps around
the gonadal artery, cooling the arterial blood to sufficient temperature.
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Above: Internal structure of the testis and epididymis.
Sperm cells are produced in the seminiferous tubules in the testes. A cross section through the process of spermatogenesis (a type
of meiosis). Close examination of a cross section of a seminiferous tubule shows that sperm cells develop beginning close to the
inner lining of the seminiferous tubule, beginning with specialized stem cells called spermatogonia, and develop as they move
closer to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Primary spermatocytes (cells that undergo the first meiotic division) and
secondary spermatocytes (cells that undergo the second meiotic division) are intermediate cells produced as spermatozoa develop.
Spermatogenesis produces immature spermatids that ultimately mature into spermatozoa.
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Above: The testis is both an exocrine (producing spermatozoa) and an endocrine (producing androgens) gland. This immature
testis, cut in cross section, provides an overview of the testis proper, its enclosing tunics, and its location in the scrotum. Also seen
are the epididymis and the ductus deferens lying posterior to the testis. Tissue is magnified by 10x.
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Above: The exocrine function of the testis is performed by the epithelium lining the convoluted portions of seminiferous tubules.
Each convoluted tubule is lined by a stratified epithelium composed of two cell types. Germ cells divide and cytodifferentiate to
form haploid spermatozoa. Sertoli cells nourish and protect germ cells during their formation before releasing them into the lumen
of the tubule. Tissue is magnified by 1000x.
Above: Structures of the spermatic cord and structures enveloping the testis.
Structure Location Function
produce ~1% of the total volume of semen; produce a
bulbourethral glands pair (right and left) of glands posterior to the thick mucus that cleans and neutralizes the urethra of
(Cowper's glands) bulb of the penis and membranous urethra residual urine and increases the mobility of sperm in
the vagina
two of the three bodies of erectile tissue
corpus cavernosum become engorged with blood, causing an erection
bodies in the penis
one of the three bodies of erectile tissue in
corpus spongiosum the penis; the spongy urethra passes through become engorged with blood, causing an erection
the corpus spongiosum
elevate the testes to warm them when the testes
very thin muscle that surrounds the
cremasteric muscle become too cold for optimal sperm production and
spermatic cord and testes
development
a very thin muscle in the walls of the elevate the scrotum to warm it when the testes are too
dartos muscle
scrotum cold for optimal sperm production and development
channels in the prostate gland formed when
spermatozoa and semen fluids flow through toward
ejaculatory ducts vas deferens joins with duct from the
the prostatic urethra
seminal vesicle
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Structure Location Function
location where spermatids mature and become
paired organ (right and left) located on the spermatozoa; store spermatozoa until ejaculation;
epididymis posterior aspect of the testes; consists of spermatozoa account for about 3% of semen volume;
head, body and tail regions an average of 200 – 500 million sperm released from
an ejaculation
external urethral orifice urethral opening on the penis location where urine and semen leave the body
the highly sensitive bulbous structure at the
contains the external urethral orifice and is covered by
glans penis end of the corpus spongiosum and tip of the
the prepuce in uncircumcised males
penis
short segment of the urethra that passes
membranous urethra transports urine and semen
through the floor of the pelvis
external genitalia composed of shaft and
penis male copulatory organ
glans penis
loose skin of the penis which covers the
prepuce (foreskin) glans and is often removed by a process protects glans penis
called circumcision
gland inferior to the urinary bladder; contributes ~26% to the volume of semen; secretes
prostate gland prostatic urethra and ejaculatory ducts pass fluid that stabilizes sperm and protects them from the
through acidic environment of the vagina
region of the urethra that passes through the
prostatic urethra prostate; occurs from the bladder to the transports urine and semen
membranous urethra
scrotum skin surrounding the testis protection of the testis and associated tissues
produce fluid that mixes with spermatozoa in the vas
deferens just before the prostate gland; fluid from the
seminal vesicles contributes the majority (~70%) of
pair (right and left) of tubular glands;
seminal vesicles the volume of semen (semen = the mixture of sperm
posterior to the urinary bladder
and supporting fluids); fluid from the seminal vesicles
contains a lot of fructose, a sugar that is used by
spermatozoa as their main energy source
site of spermatogenesis (production of spermatozoa);
seminiferous tubules tubules within the testes
produce millions of spermatozoa per day
bundle of vessels (blood and lymphatic
a connective tissue sheath consisting of blood vessels,
spermatic cord vessels) and nerves traveling from the trunk
nerves and the cremaster muscle
to the testes
region of the urethra between the
membranous urethra and the external
spongy urethra transports urine and semen
urethral orifice; passes through the corpus
spongiosum
pair of organs within the scrotum; located
outside of the abdominopelvic cavity;
testis (pl. testes) produces spermatozoa and testosterone (a hormone)
covered with tunica albuginea ("white
tunic")
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Structure Location Function
a dense connective tissue capsule or "white
tunic" that covers the testes; inward
tunica albuginea
extensions of the tunica albuginea divides
the seminiferous tubules into lobes
Passes from the epididymis, through the
spermatic cord, through the inguinal canal, upon ejaculation, sperm is received here from the
vas deferens (ductus deferens)
into the pelvic cavity and superiorly over the epididymis by peristalsis
bladder
Above: (Left) External male genitalia. (Right) Cross section of the penis.
Attributions
"Anatomy 204L: Laboratory Manual (Second Edition)" by Ethan Snow, University of North Dakota is licensed under CC BY-
NC 4.0
"Anatomy and Physiology Lab Reference" by Laird C Sheldahl, OpenOregonEducational Resources, Mt. Hood Community
College is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
"Digital Histology" by Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth
University School of Medicine and the ALT Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University is licensed under CC BY 4.0
"Male Reproductive System" by Dongho Kim is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
"Rete testis.jpg" by KDS444 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
"Wiki Images" by https://www.scientificanimations.com/wiki-images/ is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
This page titled 22.4: Male Reproductive System is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by
Rosanna Hartline.
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