MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
BY INNOCENT EMMANUEL
DIAGRAM OF MALE REPRODUTIVE
SYSTEM
INTRODCTION
Male reproductive system is a network of
organs and tissues that work together to
produce and transport male sex cell
(sperm cell), and secretion of male sex
hormone (androgen). It consist of internal,
and external genitalia.
THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
The external genitalia are located
outside the body and include;
1. Penis
2. Scrotum
PENIS (PHALLUS)
The penis is the male organ for used in sexual intercourse. The penis
has three parts: a root, a shaft and glans (head).
•The root: the root anchors the penis in the perineum
•The body or shaft: The body of the penis is cylindrical in shape
and consists of three circular shaped chambers. These chambers are
made up of special, sponge-like tissue (corpora cavernosa and
corpus spongioum). This tissue contains thousands of large spaces
that fill with blood when the man is sexually aroused. As the penis
fills with blood, it becomes rigid and erect, which allows for
penetration during sexual intercourse. The skin of the penis is loose
and elastic to accommodate changes in penis size during an erection
PENIS CNTD………
The glans (Head): This is the cone-shaped end of
the penis. The glans, which is also called the head
of the penis, is covered with a loose layer of skin
called foreskin. This skin is sometimes removed in
a procedure called circumcision. The opening of
the urethra which transport semen and urine, is at
the tip of the penis. The glans of the penis also
contains a number of sensitive nerve endings.
Semen, which contains sperm, is ejaculated
through the end of the penis when a man reaches
sexual climax (orgasm). When the penis is erect,
the flow of urine is blocked from the urethra,
allowing only semen to be ejaculated at orgasm.
DIAGRAM OF PENIS
NUEROVASCULAR SUPPLY OF
THE PENIS
•NERVE SUPPLY: The penis is supplied by autonomic and
somatic nerves. Parasympathetic stimulation leads to filling
of the spongy erectile tissue with blood, caused by arteriolar
dilation and venoconstriction, which increases blood flow
into the penis.
ARTERIAL SUPPLY: Arterial blood is supplied by deep,
dorsal and bulbar arteries of the penis, which are branches
from the internal pudendal
arteries.
NUEROVASCULAR SUPPY OF PENIS
CNTD….
VEINEOUS DRAINAGE: A series of veins drain
blood to the internal pudendal and internal iliac
veins.
SCROTUM
The scrotum is the wrinkled loose pouch-like sac of skin that hangs
behind the penis. The skin of the scrotum is thrown into folds and highly
pigmented. The skin is sparsely covered with hair and is supplied with
sebaceous glands and sweat glands. Beneath the skin is the involuntary
muscle called Dartos muscles which forms a septum that divides the
scrotum into two compartments. Each compartment contains one testis,
epididymis and vas deferens as well as many nerves and blood vessels.
The scrotum protects the testes, as well as controls its temperature. The
Dartos muscles in the wall of the scrotum allow it to contract (tighten)
and relax, moving the testicles closer to the body for warmth and
protection or farther away from the body to cool the temperature.
DIAGRAM OF SCROTUM
INTERNAL GENITALIA
Internal genitalia are reproductive organs that are
inside the body. The male reproductive organs are as
follows:
•Testes
•Epididymis
•Vas deferens
•Seminal vesicle
•Prostate gland
TESTES (TESTICLE)
The testes are oval organs about the size of very large olives
located within the scrotal sac. Each testis is whitish in colour and
flattened from side to side measuring about 5cm in length. They
are suspended by attachment to scrotal tissue and the spermatic
cord., Originally, the testes are located in the abdomen but
descend through the inguinal canal by the end of the seventh
lunar month of feotal life. By the end of 9 th month, one or both
testes may still be within the inguinal canal with final descent
into the scrotal sac occurring in the early postnatal period. Most
men have two testes. The testes are responsible for making
testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, and for producing
TESTES CONTD……
Within the testes are coiled masses of tubes called
seminiferous tubules. These tubules are responsible for
producing the sperm cells through a process called
spermatogenesis. The testes must be in the scrotum for
spermatogenesis to occur. Each testis contain two to
three hundred lobules made up of germinal cells and
formed into convoluted seminiferous tubules which later
straightens up to become straight seminiferous tubules
on the upper pole of the testes. The straight seminiferous
tubules join to become efferent ducts which again join to
become a tortuous tube called the epididymis. The
epididymis later descends to the lower part of the testes
where becomes the ductus deferens. The ductus deferens
commences at tail end of the epididymis and passes
upward on the posterior wall of the testes leaving the
testis and scrotum to become the spermatic cord.
STRUTURE OF TESTES
Each testis is has by three layers of tissue called tunica
vaginalis, tunica albuginea, and tunica vasculosa.
The Tunica Vaginalis: This is the outermost covering
of the testis which also lines the cresmaster muscle.
The tunica vaginalis is made up of an outer parietal
layer and an inner visceral layer.
The Tunica Albuginea: This is the middle covering of
the testes made up of fibrous tissue. The tunica
Albuginea invaginates into the glandular tissue of the
testes to become the septa dividing the testes into
lobules.
The Tunica Vasculosa: This is the innermost covering
of the testis made up of network of capillaries
supported with connective tissue.
SRUCTURE CNTD………..
In each testis are 200–300 lobules, and within each lobule
are 1–4 convoluted loops of germinal epithelial cells, called
seminiferous tubules. Between the tubules are groups of
interstitial cells (of Leydig) that secrete the hormone
testosterone
after puberty. At the upper pole of the testis the
tubules combine to form a single tubule. This tubule,
about 6 m in its full length, is repeatedly folded and
tightly packed into a mass called the epididymis. It leaves
the scrotum as the deferent duct (vas deferens) in the
spermatic
cord. Blood and lymph vessels pass to the testes in
the spermatic cords.
DIAGRAM OF TESTES
FUNCTION OF TESTES
•Spermatozoa (sperm) are produced in the
seminiferous tubules of the testes, and mature as
they pass through the long and convoluted
epididymis, where they are stored.
•Leydig cell secrete androgen (testosterone).
NB: Successful spermatogenesis takes place at a
temperature about 3°C below normal body
temperature.
NUEROMUSCULAR SUPPLY
Arterial Supply: The testicular artery branches
from the abdominal aorta, just below the renal
arteries.
Venous Drainage: The testicular vein passes
into the abdominal cavity. The left vein opens
into the left renal vein and the right into the
inferior vena cava.
Lymph Drainage: This is through lymph nodes
around the aorta.
Nerve Supply:This is provided by branches from
the 10th and 11th thoracic nerves.
EPIDIDYMIS
The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that
rests on the backside of each testicle. It
carries and stores sperm cells that are
created in the testes. It’s also the job of
the epididymis to bring the sperm to
maturity.The sperm that emerge from the
testes are immature and incapable of
fertilization. During sexual arousal,
contractions force the sperm into the vas
deferens.
THE DEFERENT DUCT
This is some 45 cm long. It passes upwards
from the testis through the inguinal canal
and ascends medially towards the posterior
wall of the bladder where it is joined by the
duct from the seminal vesicle to form the
ejaculatory duct
EJACULATORY DUCTS
These ducts are formed by the
fusion of the vas deferens and the
seminal vesicles. The ejaculatory
ducts empty into the urethra.
SEMINAL VESICLES
The seminal vesicles are two small
fibromuscular pouches, 5 cm long,
lined with columnar epithelium and
lying on the posterior aspect of the
bladder (Fig. 18.16). At its lower end
each seminal vesicle opens into a
short duct, which joins with the
FUNCTIONS
The seminal vesicles contract and expel
their stored contents, seminal fluid, during
ejaculation. Seminal fluid, which forms 60%
of the volume of semen, is alkaline to
protect the sperm in the acidic environment
of the vagina, and contains fructose to fuel
the sperm during their journey through the
female reproductive tract.
PROSTATE GLAND
The prostate gland lies in the pelvic cavity in
front of the rectum and behind the
symphysis pubis, completely surrounding
the urethra as it emerges from the bladder.
It has an outer fibrous covering, enclosing
glandular tissue wrapped in smooth muscle.
The gland weighs
about 8 g in youth, but progressively
FUNCTIONS
The prostate gland secretes a thin,
milky fluid that makes up about 30% of
the volume of semen, and gives it its
milky appearance. It contains a clotting
enzyme, which thickens the semen in
the vagina, increasing the likelihood of
semen being retained close to the
BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
The bulbourethral glands, or Cowper’s glands,
are pea-sized structures located on the sides of
the urethra, just below the prostate gland. These
glands produce a clear, slippery fluid that
empties directly into the urethra. This fluid
serves to lubricate the urethra and to neutralize
any acidity that may be present due to residual
drops of urine in the urethra.
URETHRA
The male urethra provides a common pathway for
the flow of urine and semen. It is about 19–20 cm
long and consists of three parts. The prostatic
urethra originates at the urethral orifice of the
bladder and passes through the prostate gland.
The membranous urethra is the shortest and
narrowest part and extends from the prostate
gland to the bulb of the penis, after passing
through the perineal membrane. The spongiose or
penile urethra lies within the corpus spongiosum of
the penis and terminates at the external urethral
orifice in the glans penis.
PUBERTY IN THE MALE
This occurs between the ages of 10 and 14.
Luteinising hormone from the anterior lobe of
the pituitary gland stimulates the interstitial
cells of the testes to increase the production of
testosterone. Under the influence of
testosterone, sexual maturation and other
characteristic
changes take place, including:
CHARACTERISTIC CHANGE DURING
PUBERTY
Growth of muscle and bone and a marked
increase in height and weight
Enlargement of the larynx and deepening of
the voice it ‘breaks’
Growth of hair on the face, axillae, chest,
abdomen and pubis
Enlargement of the penis, scrotum and
prostate gland
Maturation of the seminiferous tubules and
production of spermatozoa
The skin thickens and becomes oilier.
MALE SEXUAL ACT
NEURONAL STIMULUS FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE
MALE SEXUAL ACT
The male sexual act is initiated mostly by
stimulating the glans penis.
The glans contains a sensitive sensory end-organ
system that transmits into the CNS sexual
sensation.
Stimulation of the sensory end-organs transmit
PSYCHIC ELEMENT OF MALE SEXUAL
STIMULATION.
Appropriate psychic stimuli can greatly
enhance the ability of a person to
perform the sexual act.
Simply thinking or dreaming of it, result
in ejaculation.
Indeed, nocturnal emissions during
dreams occur in males during some
stages of sexual life, especially during
the teens.
INTEGRATION OF THE MALE
SEXUAL ACT IN THE SPINAL
CORD.
Although psychic factors usually
play an important part in the male
sexual act and can initiate or inhibit
it,
Brain function is not needed for its
performance because genital
stimulation can cause ejaculation in
some animals and occasionally in
humans after their spinal cords
The male sexual act results from inherent
reflex mechanisms integrated in the
sacral and lumbar spinal cord, and these
mechanisms can be initiated by either
psychic stimulation or actual sexual
stimulation from the sex organs, but
usually it is a combination of both.
STAGES OF THE MALE SEXUAL ACT
Penile Erection—Role of the
Parasympathetic Nerves
The degree of erection depends on the
degree of stimulation, whether psychic or
physical.
These parasympathetic nerve fibers are
believed to release nitric oxide and/or
vasoactive intestinal peptide in addition
to acetylcholine.
Nitric oxide increased formation of cyclic
guanosine monophosphate (GMP). This
relaxes the arteries of the penis and the
trabecular meshwork of smooth muscle
fibers in the erectile tissue of the corpora
cavernosa and corpus spongiosum in the
shaft of the penis, as the vascular
smooth muscles relax, blood flow into
the penis increases, causing release of
LUBRICATION IS A PARASYMPATHETIC
FUNCTION.
During sexual stimulation, the parasympathetic
impulses, in addition to promoting erection,
cause the urethral glands and the bulbourethral
glands to secrete mucus.
However, most of the lubrication of coitus is
provided by the female sexual organs rather
than by the male.
Without satisfactory lubrication, the male sexual
act is seldom unsuccessful because unlubricated
intercourse causes grating, painful sensations
that inhibit rather than excite sexual sensations.
The reflex centers of the spinal cord begin to
emit sympathetic impulses that leave the cord
at T-12 to L-2 and pass to the genital organs
through the hypogastric and pelvic
sympathetic nerve plexuses to initiate
emission, the forerunner of ejaculation.
This entire period of emission and
ejaculation is called the MALE ORGASM.
At its termination, the male sexual
excitement disappears almost entirely
within 1 to 2 minutes and erection
ceases, a process called RESOLUTION.
Resolution is followed by REFRACTORY
PERIOD of about 10-15 mins and during
this period erection may not be possible.
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