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Reproductive L2

The male reproductive system consists of testes, duct system, and associated glands. The testes produce sperm and testosterone. The duct system transports sperm from the testes to the outside. Associated glands like the seminal vesicles and prostate secrete fluids that nourish and activate sperm. Spermatogenesis is the process where sperm are produced over 74 days, requiring temperatures lower than body temperature. Hormones like testosterone and FSH control sperm production. Semen contains the final sperm and secretions that are ejaculated during orgasm. Male infertility can result from low sperm counts, abnormal sperm, or immotile sperm.

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Abdikadir Xaad
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24 views

Reproductive L2

The male reproductive system consists of testes, duct system, and associated glands. The testes produce sperm and testosterone. The duct system transports sperm from the testes to the outside. Associated glands like the seminal vesicles and prostate secrete fluids that nourish and activate sperm. Spermatogenesis is the process where sperm are produced over 74 days, requiring temperatures lower than body temperature. Hormones like testosterone and FSH control sperm production. Semen contains the final sperm and secretions that are ejaculated during orgasm. Male infertility can result from low sperm counts, abnormal sperm, or immotile sperm.

Uploaded by

Abdikadir Xaad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Function of the Male

Reproductive System
Structure:
The male reproductive system consists of the following organs:
The testes:
• Hang outside the abdominal cavity of the male and lie with in
the scrotum.
• The testes are made up of:
1. Seminiferous tubules:
loops of convoluted tubules, its wall lined by
- primitive germ cells – produce sperms
- Sertoli cells – have many functions.
2. Interstitial cells of Leydig:
Leydig:
cells between the tubules
containing lipid granules
secrete testosterone.
The duct system:
Epididymis:
- Narrow tightly coiled tube connect the testes to the vas deferens.
- Stores sperm
Vas deferens:
30 cm muscular duct connect epididymis to ejaculatory duct
Ejaculatory duct:
2 cm ducts formed by the union of seminal vesicle and vas deferens
Urethra:
- Narrow tube connect urinary
bladder to outside
- Transport semen to outside
Associated glands:
1. Seminal Vesicles:
- Secrete about 70% of clear, alkaline seminal fluid, with
fructose, ATP, PGs, protein & mucus.
- for normal sperm nutrition & function

2. Prostate:
• Exocrine gland that surround the urethra just below the
urinary bladder.
• Secretes 30% of milky, slightly alkaline seminal fluid
contain prostate specific antigen (PSA).
• PSA hydrolyzes the sperm motility inhibitor in semen.
3. Bulbourethral gland: (Cowper's gland)
- Are 2 small exocrine glands open into urethra.
- Produce clear viscous fluid which helps to:
flush the urethra from any residual urine and
to lubricate it for passage of sperm.
Function of sertoli cells:
• Physical sport of germ cells
• Formation of blood–testis barrier
• Maintenance of fluid composition in the lumen of
seminiferous tubules.
• Release of mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS)
• Release of androgen binding protein
• Release of inhibin (causes inhibition of FSH)
• Conversion of androgen to estrogen
Spermatogenesis:
- Is process of sperm production
- Starts at puberty and continues throughout the life of males
Stages:
 One spermatogonium gives about 512 spermatids.
 The formation of a mature sperm from a primitive germ
cell in humans spans approximately 74 days.
 It requires a temperature lower than that of the interior
of the body (32°C) which achieved by:
- Location of testes out side of abdominal cavity.
- Countercurrent system between spermatic arteries &
veins.
Endocrine control of spermatogenesis:
Testosterone: is essential for the germ-cells division resulting
in the spermatid
LH: act on the leydig cells to release testosterone
FSH:
- act on sertoli cells to release:
1. androgen binding protein:
which maintains the high androgen content within the
seminiferous tubules.
2. inhibin:
which control FSH release by negative feedback.
- FSH also causes maturation of sperm.
Semen:
- The fluid that is ejaculated at the time of orgasm.
- The semen contains sperm and the secretions of the
seminal vesicles, Prostate & Cowper’s glands.
- An average volume per ejaculate is 2.5–3.5 mL.
- Each milliliter of semen normally contains about
100 million sperm.
Male infertility
Associated with:
- Reduction in sperm production
- presence of many morphologically abnormal sperm
- Immotile spermatozoa

- Sperm move at a speed of about 3 mm/min through the


female genital tract.

- Sperm reach the uterine tubes 30-60 min after copulation.

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