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Male Reproductive System MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM DR.M.SARWAR ZIA Assistant professor anatomy RMU OVERVIEW Male reproductive system consists of Testes Genital ducts Accessary sex glands penis Functions of testes:- Production of spermatozoa Secretion of testosterone Actions of testosterone Actions of dihydrotestosterone Genital ducts & accessary sex glands Testes Testes derived from three sources Intermediate mesoderm Mesodermal epithelium Primordial germ cells Decent of testes At approximately 26 weeks testes descend Gubernaculum Cryptorchidism Orchioplexy Maintenance of temperature of testes in the scrotum . Countercurrent heat exchange mechanism . Sweating . Dartos muscle . Cremaster reflex Testes Tunica albuginea Tunica vasculosa Mediastinum testes Testicular lobules (250) Seminiferous tubules Interstitial loose connective tissue Interstitial cells (Leydig) Straight tubules Rete testes Seminiferous tubules Each Seminiferous tubule is . 50 cm long (30 to 80 cm) . 150 to 250µm in diameter Seminiferous epithelium Tunica propria (peritubular tissue) Spermatogenic cells Sertoli cells Sertoli cells . Structure . Sertoli cells junctional complexes Sertoli cell to Sertoli cell junctional complexes Sertoli cell to Spermatid junction Sertoli cell to basal lamina Sertoli cells functions Provide support ,protection and nutrition to developing spermatogenic cells Exocrine and endocrine secretion . Androgen binding protein(ABP) . Inhibin . Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) Phagocytosis Establish blood testis barrier which protects the haploid male germ cells from immune system of the body Blood – testes barrier Tunica propria • Also called peritubular tissue • Multilayered connective tissue which lacks fibroblast • Composed of 3 to 5 layers of myoid cells and collagen fibrils • Excessive thickening in early life is associated with infertility Interstitial cells (Leydig) Large and polygonal Eosinophilic Contains lipid droplets Lipofuscin pigments Have all features of steroid secreting cells Secrete the testosterone Spermatogenesis A process by which spermatogonia develop into mature sperms Begins shortly before puberty Continues throughout the life Phases of spermatogenesis Spermatogonial phase Spermatocyte phase (Meiosis) Spermatid phase (spermiogenesis) Spermiogenesis A process by which spermatids undergo extensive remodeling and transform into spermatozoa Spermiogenesis include . Formation of acrosome . Condensation and elongation of nucleus . Development of flagellum . Loss of much of the cytoplasm Phases of spermiogenesis . Golgi phase . Cap phase . Acrosome phase . Maturation phase Structure of mature sperm . Mature human sperm 60µm . parts • Head 5x3x1 µm • Tail Neck (connecting piece) Middle piece 7µm Principal piece 40µm End piece 5µm Structure of mature sperm Intratesticular ducts Straight tubules Rete testes Straight tubules . Initial part is lined by sertoli cells . Main segment is lined by simple cuboidal epithelium . Outer to basal lamina is loose CT Rete testis Lined by simple cuboidal epithelium Testis (low magnification) Testis (higher magnification) Extratesticular duct system Efferent ductules Epididymis Ducts deferens Ejaculatory duct urethra Efferent ductules . About 20 in number . Derived from mesonephric tubules . Connects the rete testis with duct of epididymis . Coni vasculosae (6 to 10) . Efferent ductules are coiled about 15 to 20 cm long Efferent ductules Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium Groups nonciliated cuboidal cells alternating with ciliated columnar cells Thin circular layer of smooth muscle out side basal lamina Interspersed among the smooth muscle are elastic fibers Epididymis Crescent shaped organ Measures 7.5 cm long Location Measurements 4-6m Parts of epididymis . Head . Body . Tail Functions of Epididymis . Storage of spermatozoa . Transportation of spermatozoa towards the ducts deferens . Reabsorption of most of the fluid that leaves the testis . Spermatozoa acquire the motility in the epididymis . Phagocytosis of degenerated sperms and extra cytoplasm . Spermatozoa become more cylindrical in duct of epididymis Epididymis Lining of Duct of epididymis Principal cells Basal cells Outer to epithelium are circularly arranged smooth muscles in head and body In the tail three layers of smooth muscles Outer the smooth muscles is loose connective tissue Epididymis Ductus(Vas) deferens Longest part genital duct system Course Ampulla of vas deferens Ejaculatory duct Structure Lumen narrow longitudinally folded Pseudostratified columnar epithelium Sparse Stereocilia Lamina propria rich in elastic fibers Three muscle layers(1 to 1.5 mm) Adventitia Loose CT In ampulla mucosa shows extensive folding Muscle layer become thin Ejaculatory duct no smooth muscle (Jonquiere's) Ampulla of ductus deferens Ejaculatory ducts Accessary sex glands • Paired Seminal vesicle • Prostate gland • Paired Bulbourethral glands Seminal vesicles Paired elongated highly folded tubular exocrine glands Measurement 15 cm long Location Seminal vesicles Structure:- Mucosa . Pseudostratified columnar epithelium . Lamina propria Smooth muscles . Inner circular . Outer longitudinal Adventitia is formed by fibroelastic connective tissue Seminal vesicles Seminal vesicles Prostate Largest accessary sex gland Location Measurements 2cmx3cmx4cm Weight 20 grams Consists of 30 to 50 branched tubuloalveolar glands Arrangement . Mucosal glands 5% . Submucosal glands 25% . Main glands (Peripheral) 70% Prostate Openings of prostate glands Prostate Zones of prostate=- Transition zone Central zone Peripheral zone Clinical correlation Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) . Transition zone of prostate is involved . Is present in 50 % males above the age of 50 years . Is present in 95 % males above the age of 70 years . Leads to compression of urethra causing difficulty in micturition Prostatic cancer . Peripheral zone of prostate is involved . One of most common form of cancer in man . Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) . Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) . Normal level of PSA 4ng/ml . If level is 4 to 10 ng/ml the risk of cancer is 25% . If level is above 10 ng/ml the risk of cancer is is greater than 67% Microscopic structure of Prostate gland Compound tubuloalveolar gland lined by simple columnar or pseudostratified columnar epithelium Capsule Septa Indistinct lobes Fibromuscular stroma Corpora amylacia (prostatic concretions) Corpora amylacea (prostatic concretions) . Small spherical concretions . 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter . Contains mainly deposited glycoproteins and sulfated Glycosaminoglycans particularly keratin sulfate . Number and size increase with age . No physiological and clinical significance Bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands Paired glands 3 to 5 mm in diameter Located in urogenital diaphragm Ducts open in the initial part of penile urethra Compound tubuloalveolar gland Secretions are mucus in nature Capsule lobules Secretory acini are lined by simple columnar epithelium Septa rich in smooth muscles References • Histology A Text And Atlas Michael H Ross 5th Edition. • Basic Histology Text and Atlas by Luiz Carlos Junqueira 12th Edition • Medical histology by Liaq Hussain Siddiqui 5th Edition • Google Search results for images. .
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