Male Reproductive System

Adolescence

Burst of hormones activate maturation of

the gonads: testes
Begins: 9 – 14 yrs of age

Abnormally early = precocious puberty

Delayed = eunuchoidism
General Physical Changes
 Enlargement of the external and
internal genitalia
 Voice changes
 Hair growth
 Mental changes
 Changes in body and skin
 Sebaceous gland secretions
thicken/increase  acne
External Genitalia
 Gonads -testes

 Undescended by birth-
cryptorchidsim

 Scrotum
 Penis
Male reproductive system
Testes
 Each testis is an oval structure about 5 cm long
and 3 cm in diameter

 There are about 250 lobules in each testis.

Each contains 1 to 4 -seminiferous tubules that
converge to form a single straight tubule,
which leads into the rete testis.

 Interstitial cells (cells of Leydig), which produce

male sex hormones, are located between the
seminiferous tubules within a lobule.
scrotum

 consists of skin and subcutaneous tissue

 A vertical septum, of subcutaneous tissue in the
center divides it into two parts, each containing one
testis.
 Smooth muscle fibers, called the dartos muscle, in the
subcutaneous tissue contract to give the scrotum its
wrinkled appearance. When these fibers are relaxed,
the scrotum is smooth.
Epididymis
 a long tube located along the superior and
posterior margins of the testes.
 Sperm that leave the testes are immature
and incapable of fertilizing ova. They
complete their maturation process and
become fertile as they move through the
epididymis. Mature sperm are stored in the
lower portion, or tail, of the epididymis
Duct System
 Sperm cells pass through a series of
ducts to reach the outside of the
body. After they leave the testes, the
sperm passes through the epididymis,
ductus deferens, ejaculatory duct,
and urethra.
Ductus Deferens [vas deferens]

 enters the abdominopelvic cavity through the

inguinal canal and passes along the lateral
pelvic wall, behind bladder & toward the
prostate gland. Just before it reaches the
prostate gland, each ductus deferens enlarges
to form an ampulla.
 Sperm are stored in the proximal portion of the
ductus deferens, near the epididymis
Ejaculatory Duct
 Each ductus deferens, at the ampulla,
joins the duct from the adjacent
seminal vesicle (one of the accessory
glands) to form a short ejaculatory
duct.
 Each ejaculatory duct passes through
the prostate gland and empties into
the urethra.
Urethra
 extends from the urinary bladder to the
external urethral orifice at the tip of the
penis.
 It is a passageway for sperm and fluids
from the reproductive system and urine
from the urinary system.
 divided into three regions: The prostatic
urethra, the membranous urethra & the
penile urethra (also called spongy urethra or
cavernous urethra)
accessory glands
 seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and
the bulbourethral glands. These
glands secrete fluids that enter the
urethra.
Seminal Vesicles
 glands posterior to the urinary
bladder.
 Each has a short duct that joins with
the ductus deferens at the ampulla to
form an ejaculatory duct, which then
empties into the urethra.
 The fluid is viscous and contains
fructose, prostaglandins and proteins.
Prostate
 a firm, dense structure about the size of a
walnut that is located just inferior to the
urinary bladder.
 encircles the urethra as it leaves the
urinary bladder.
 Numerous short ducts from the prostate
gland empty into the prostatic urethra. The
secretions of the prostate are thin, milky
colored, and alkaline. They function to
enhance the motility of the sperm.
Bulbourethral Glands (Cowper's)
 small, about the size of a pea, and
located near the base of the penis. A
short duct from each enters the
proximal end of the penile urethra.
 In response to sexual stimulation, the
bulbourethral glands secrete an
alkaline mucus-like fluid
Seminal Fluid or Semen
 a slightly alkaline mixture of sperm cells and
secretions from the accessory glands.
 Secretions from the seminal vesicles make up
about 60 percent of the volume of the semen,
with most of the remainder coming from the
prostate gland. The sperm and secretions from
the bulbourethral gland contribute only a small
volume.
 There are between 50 to 150 million sperm per
milliliter of semen. Sperm counts below 10 to
20 million per milliliter usually present fertility
problems.
penis
 is a cylindrical pendant organ located
anterior to the scrotum and functions to
transfer sperm to the vagina.
 consists of three columns of erectile tissue
that are wrapped in connective tissue and
covered with skin. The two dorsal columns
are the corpora cavernosa. The single,
midline ventral column surrounds the
urethra and is called the corpus
spongiosum.
penis
 3 parts: a root, body (shaft), and glans penis.
 The root of the penis attaches it to the pubic
arch
 the body is the visible, pendant portion.
 The corpus spongiosum expands at the distal
end to form the glans penis.
 The urethra, which extends throughout the
length of the corpus spongiosum, opens
through the external urethral orifice at the tip
of the glans penis. A loose fold of skin, called
the prepuce, or foreskin, covers the glans
penis.
Hormones
 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
stimulates spermatogenesis
 Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone
(ICSH) stimulates the production of
testosterone
 testosterone stimulates the
development of male secondary sex
characteristics & spermatogenesis.
Spermatogenesis
 Sperm are produced within the
seminiferous tubules.
 Interspersed within the tubules are
large cells which are the
sustentacular cells (Sertoli's cells),
which support and nourish the other
cells.
 Spermatogenesis
 Takes place in the seminiferous tubules

 Head of a sperm consists of the nucleus

and an acrosome, containing enzymes
that help penetrate the egg
Spermatogenesis in the seminiferous
tubules
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
 Early in embryonic development, primordial
germ cells enter the testes and differentiate
into spermatogonia
 Spermatogonia are diploid cells, each with 46
chromosomes (23 pairs) located around the
periphery of the seminiferous tubules.
 At puberty, hormones stimulate these cells to
begin dividing by mitosis. Some remain at the
periphery as spermatogonia.
 Others become primary spermatocytes.
Because they are produced by mitosis, primary
spermatocytes, like spermatogonia, are diploid
and have 46 chromosomes.
Spermatogenesis
 Each primary spermatocytes goes through the first
meiotic division, meiosis I, to produce two secondary
spermatocytes, each with 23 chromosomes (haploid).
Just prior to this division, the genetic material is
replicated
 During meiosis I, one chromosome, goes to each
secondary spermatocyte. In the second meiotic division,
meiosis II, each secondary spermatocyte divides to
produce two spermatids. There is no replication of
genetic material in this division, but a single-stranded
chromatid goes to each cell.
 As a result of the two meiotic divisions, each primary
spermatocyte produces four spermatids.
 each spermatid has 23 chromosomes (haploid), one from
each pair in the original primary spermatocyte.
Spermatogenesis
 The final step in the development the
spermatids formed from spermatogenesis
become mature spermatozoa, or sperm.
 The mature sperm cell has a head, midpiece,
and tail. The head, also called the nuclear
region, contains the 23 chromosomes
surrounded by a nuclear membrane. The tip of
the head is covered by an acrosome, which
contains enzymes that help the sperm
penetrate the female gamete. The midpiece,
metabolic region, contains mitochondria that
provide adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The tail,
locomotor region, uses a typical flagellum for
locomotion.
Spermatogenesis
 The sperm are released into the lumen of the
seminiferous tubule and leave the testes. They
then enter the epididymis where they undergo
their final maturation and become capable of
fertilizing a female gamete.
 Sperm production begins at puberty and
continues throughout the life of a male.
 The entire process, beginning with a primary
spermatocyte, takes about 74 days. After
ejaculation, the sperm can live for about 48
hours in the female reproductive tract.
 Sperm pass in sequence through

 Seminiferous tubes of the testes

 Epididymis
 Vas deferens
 Ejaculatory duct
 Urethra
Structure of a
mature sperm
 Contains Several
Parts:
 Head
 Chemical to
dissolve egg goo
 Dad’s genetic
information (DNA)
 Mitochondria
 Energy
 Tail
 Swimming
Prostate Gland
 Adds non-sperm stuff to semen
 pH buffers
 Nourishment
Bulbourethral gland
 Adds lubricant to aid travel of semen
through the urethra
Conception/Fertilization
 Ejaculation
 Release of 300-500 million sperm
 Egg needs to be in oviduct
 Sperm to egg, not an easy task
 only 1 leads to an egg
 Get attacked by female’s white blood cells
 Acidic environment
 Current
 Once egg is reached…
 Dissolve protective goo surrounding egg
 One gets through – enters egg
 Instant biochemical change in zygote
 No more sperm allowed in
Zygote begins development

Time Lapse
Development