Reproductive System

Anatomy & Physiology

The Reproductive System

Be Mature
Use proper anatomical terms

Reproductive FXN
Only body system not responsible for homeostasis

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Testes: produce male sperm and testosterone
Sperm: male reproductive cells that contribute X and Y chromosomes
Seminiferous tubules: produce sperm
Scrotum: pouch of skin that holds the testes. Scrotal skin lengthens
and shrinks to maintain sperm temperature
Vas deferens: tubes that transport sperm from the testes to the
ejaculatory ducts; site where vasectomy (sterilization) occurs
Semen: fluid ejaculated during sexual arousal. Made up of sperm
(from testes), fluid for sperm nutrition (from seminal vesicle), and
milky white fluid for semen odor and texture (from Prostate
gland)

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Urethra: tube that passes urine and semen out of the
body. Also the entry point in males for STDs.
Note: semen and urine do not pass through the urethra at
the same time.
Glans penis: sensitive tissue on the head of the penis with
purpose for sexual stimulation.
Epididymis: superior to each testis; tubular (5-6 m);
maturate sperm (takes 20 days for sperm to travel
through)

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Seminal Vesicles: posterior to the urinary bladder;
secrete yellowish viscous alkaline fluid containing
fructose, vitamin C, and coagulating enzymes
Prostate Gland: inferior to the urinary bladder; produces
milky white fluid which activates sperm
Bulbourethral gland: inferior to the prostate gland; thick
clear ejaculate fluid which neutralizes traces of acidic
urine in the urethra

Testes
Development begins in the embryo
Develops from the gonadal ridge at the rear
of the abdominal cavity
In the last months of fetal life, the testes
slowly begin to descend out of the
abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal
into the scrotum. This process is induced
by testosterone from the fetal testes.

Testes (contd)
Descent of the testes is usually complete
by the 7th month of gestation
Descent is complete in 98% of full term
baby boys.

Testes (contd)
In a substantial percentage of premature
male infants the testes are still within the
inguinal canal at birth
In most instances of retained testes,
descent occurs naturally before puberty or
can be encouraged with administration of
testosterone.
Cryptorchidism (hidden testis) occurs in
rare instances where a testis remains
undescended into adulthood.

Testicles location in the

scrotum
To keep sperm 2-3C cooler for their survival;
loaded with melanin for U.V. protection
Spermatogenesis is temperature sensitive and
cannot occur at normal body temperature.
A cryptorchid is,therefore, unable to produce
viable sperm
Cremaster muscle contracts to raise the scrotum
closer to the body when cold, muscle relaxes
scrotum when warm

Spermatic Cords
As each testis moves through the
body wall, the ductus deferens and
the testicular blood vessels, nerves
and lymphatic vessels accompany it
Together, these structures form the
body of the Spermatic Cord

Spermatic Cords
Paired structures extending between
the abdominopelvic cavity and testes
Each spermatic cord consists of
layers of fascia and muscle enclosing
the ductus deferens and the blood
vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels
that supply the testes

Structure of the Testis

Testes (contd)
Perform the dual role of sperm production
and testosterone secretion
About 80% of the testicular mass consists
of highly coiled seminiferous tubules site
of spermatogenesis
Leydig, or interstitial cells, lie within the
connective tissue between the seminiferous
tubules produce testosterone

Testes - Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone derived
from a cholesterol precursor molecule
Once secreted some testosterone enter
the blood and is transported to target cells
A substantial portion of the secreted
testosterone enters the lumen of the
seminiferous tubules where it influences
sperm production

Testes - Testosterone

Five Effects of Testosterone:

1. Effects on the reproductive system

before birth
2. Effects on sex-specific tissues after
birth
3. Other reproduction-related effects
4. Effects on secondary sexual
characteristics
5. Non-reproductive actions

Testes - Testosterone
Effects on the Reproductive System
Before Birth
Testosterone secretion by the fetal testes
masculinizes the reproductive tract and
external genitalia and promotes descent of the
testes into the scrotum.
Testosterone secretion ceases after birth.
The testes and remainder of the reproductive
system remain small and nonfunctional until
puberty.

Testes - Testosterone
Effects on Sex-Specific Tissues After
Birth
At puberty, the Leydig cells start secreting
testosterone again
Testosterone causes:
Testes to become enlarged and commence sperm
production
The accessory sex glands to enlarge and become
secretory
Enlargement of the penis and scrotum

Testes - Testosterone
Effects on Sex-Specific Tissues After
Birth (contd)
Ongoing testosterone secretion is essential for
spermatogenesis and for maintaining a mature
male reproductive tract throughout adulthood
Testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis
are maintained throughout life
Testicular efficiency declines after 45 to 50
years of age (there are exceptions)

Testes - Testosterone
Effects on Sex-Specific Tissues
After Birth (contd)
The gradual reduction in circulating
testosterone levels and in sperm production
(ANDROPAUSE) is usually caused by
degenerative changes associated with aging
that occur in the small testicular blood vessels
not from a decrease in stimulation of the
testes

Testes - Testosterone
Other Reproductive-Related Effects
Testosterone governs the development of
sexual libido at puberty and helps maintain the
sex drive in the adult male
In humans libido is also influenced by many
interacting social and emotional factors

Testes - Testosterone
Effects on Secondary Sexual
Characteristics

The male pattern of hair growth (eg. beard &

chest hair & in genetically predisposed men,
baldness)
A deep voice caused by enlargement of the
larynx and thickening of the vocal folds
Thick skin
The male body configuration (eg. broad
shoulders and heavy arm and leg musculature)

Testes - Testosterone
Non-Reproductive Actions
A general protein anabolic effect and
promotes bone growth
Sealing of the ends of long bones
(closing of the epiphyseal plates) ie
eventually stops bone growth
May cause aggressive behaviour?????

Testes Sperm Production

About 250 metres of seminiferous

tubules are packed within the testes
Two functionally important cell
types are present in these tubules:
1. Germ Cells in various stages of sperm
development
2. Sertoli Cells support
spermatogenesis

Testes Sperm Production

Spermatogenesis
A complex process by which undifferentiated
primordial germ cells, the Spermatogonia
(diploid) are converted to specialized
Spermatozoa (haploid)
Takes 64 days for development from a
spermatogonium to a mature sperm cell
Several hundred million sperm may reach
maturity daily

Lumen of seminiferous
tubules

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis
During embryonic
development,
primordial germ cells
enter the testes and
differentiate into
spermatogonia
Spermatogonia remain
dormant until puberty

Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia are located in the
outermost layer of the seminiferous
tubules

Spermatogenesis
At puberty hormones
stimulate
spermatogonia to
divide by mitosis
Some of the daughter
cells remain along the
periphery of the
seminiferous tubules
as spermatogonia
Other daughter cells
develop into Primary
Spermatocytes

Spermatogenesis
Each primary
spermatocyte
undergoes meiosis
I and produces two
Secondary
Spermatocytes

Spermatogenesis
Each secondary
spermatocyte
undergoes the
second meiotic
division to produce
two Spermatids.

Spermiogenesis
Spermatids become
mature Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa lose
most of their
cytoplasm and
organelles not needed
for the delivery of
genetic information

Spermiogenesis

Spermatozoa consist of :
Head
Acrosome
Midpiece
Tail

Sertoli Cells
Sustentacular cells or
Nurse cells
Lie side-by-side
forming a ring that
extends from the
outer surface of the
tubule to the lumen of
the seminiferous
tubule

https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/anat456/files/2012/
06/104_04.jpg

Functions of Sertoli Cells

1.

Maintenance of the Blood-Testis Barrier

Sertoli cells are joined by tight junctions,

forming a layer that divides the seminiferous
tubule into an outer basal compartment and
inner luminal compartment
Spermatogonia lie within the basal
compartment
Meiosis and spermiogenesis occurs within the
luminal compartment

http://www.immunopaedia.org.za/index.php?id=668

Functions of Sertoli Cells

Maintenance of the Blood-Testis Barrier
Only selected molecules pass through the
Sertoli cells, therefore, conditions in the
luminal compartment remain stable
Sertoli cells produce the fluid found in the
lumen of the seminiferous tubule. The
composition of this fluid is different from
surrounding interstitial fluid; it is high in
androgens, estrogens, potassium and amino
acids

Functions of Sertoli Cells

Maintenance of the Blood-Testis Barrier
The blood-testis barrier prevents antibodyproducing cells from detecting and attacking
developing spermatozoa
Plasma membranes of spermatozoa have
sperm-specific antigens not found on somatic
cell membranes, so they might be identified
as foreign

Functions of Sertoli Cells

2. Sertoli cells provide nutrients for
developing sperm cells.

They also engulf the cytoplasm extruded from

the spermatids during spermiogenesis. They also
destroy defective germ cells that fail to
complete spermatogenesis

Functions of Sertoli Cells

4. Secretion of seminiferous tubule fluid that
flushes sperm into the epididymis for
storage and processing.

This secretion has a high composition of

Androgen-Binding Protein (ABP) binds androgens,
mainly testosterone.
FSH stimulates ABP production

Functions of Sertoli Cells

5. Sertoli cells secrete the hormone, Inhibin,
in response to factors released by
developing spermatozoa.

Inhibin depresses the pituitary production of

Follicle-Stimulating hormone (FSH) and perhaps
hypothalamic secretion of Gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH)

Negative Feedback Effect of

Inhibin

Functions of Sertoli Cells

6. In the developing testes, Sertoli cells
secrete Mullerian-Inhibiting Factor (MIF)
MIF causes regression of the fetal Mullerian ducts
which are passageways that form the uterine
tubes and the uterus in females.
Inadequate MIF in males during fetal development
causes retention of these ducts and failure of the
testes to descend into the scrotum

Feedback Control of Testicular

Function
The testes are controlled
by Luteinizing hormone
(LH) and FollicleStimulating hormone (FSH)
LH aka Interstitial cellstimulating hormone
(ICSH) in males
LH acts on Leydig
(interstitial) cells to
regulate testosterone
secretion

Feedback Control of Testicular

Function
FSH acts on Sertoli
cells to enhance
spermatogenesis &
spermiogenesis
FSH and LH secretion
from the anterior
pituitary is stimulated
by Gonadotropinreleasing hormone
(GnRH)

Feedback Control of Testicular

Function

Testosterone has a
negative feedback effect
on LH secretion by:
1.

2.

Acting on the
hypothalamus and
decreasing GnRH
secretion and
indirectly decreasing
LH and FSH
Reducing the
responsiveness of the
LH secretory cells to
GnRH

Feedback Control of Testicular

Function
Inhibin secreted by Sertoli cells acts
on the pituitary gland to inhibit FSH
secretion

The Male Reproductive Tract

Spermatozoa produced by the testes are
physically mature but are incapable of
fertilising an oocyte.
The other parts of the male reproductive
tract are responsible for the functional
maturation, nourishment, storage, and
transport of spermatozoa

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Epididymis
Spermatozoa detach from the nurse cells
late in their development into the lumen of
the seminiferous tubules.
They are immobile
They are then swept by fluid currents
created by cilia lining the efferent ductules
into the Epididymis.

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Epididymis
A coiled tube bound to
the posterior border
of each testis
Almost 7m (23 ft) long
Parts include Head,
Body and a Tail
The tail mainly stores
sperm cells

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Epididymis
Functions
Monitors and adjusts the composition of the
fluid produced by the seminiferous tubules
It acts as a recycling centre for damaged
spermatozoa.
It stores and protects spermatozoa and
facilitates their functional maturation

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Epididymis
Spermatozoa pass through the epididymis
in about two weeks and completes its
functional maturity at that time.
Although mature spermatozoa are still
immobile.
Transport along the epididymis involves the
combination of fluid movement and
peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle in
the walls of the epididymis.

Capacitation
The process by which spermatozoa become
motile.
Spermatozoa become motile when they are
mixed with secretions of the seminal
glands and
They become capable of successful
fertilization when exposed to conditions in
the female reproductive tract.

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Ductus Deferens
40-45 cm (16-18 in) long
Begins at the tail of the
epididymis and then
ascends through the
inguinal canal
Passes posteriorly, curving
inferiorly along the lateral
surface of the urinary
bladder toward the
superior and posterior
margin of the prostate
gland

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Ductus Deferens
Spermatozoa and fluids are propelled along
the duct by peristaltic contractions of
smooth muscle lining the duct
The ductus deferens also stores
spermatozoa for several months
The spermatozoa remain in suspended
animation and have low metabolic rates

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Ejaculatory Duct
A short (2cm or less
than 1 in.) passageway
that begins at the
junction of the
ampulla and the
seminal gland
Penetrates the wall of
the prostate gland and
empties into the
urethra

The Male Reproductive Tract

The Urethra
Extends 18-20 cm
from the urinary
bladder to the tip of
the penis
It is divided into
prostatic, membranous
and spongy/penile
regions

The Accessory Glands

The fluids contributed by the seminiferous
tubules and the epididymis account for only
5 % of the volume of semen.
The remainder is from secretions of the
Seminal glands
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral gland

The Accessory Glands

The Seminal Glands
The seminal vesicles
About 15cm long
Secretions are slightly
alkaline which
neutralize the
secretions of the
prostate gland and the
vagina

The Accessory Glands

The Seminal Glands
Contributes about 60% of semen volume
Its secretions contain
Fructose easily metabolized by spermatozoa
Prostaglandins stimulates smooth muscle
contractions along the male and female
reproductive tracts
Fibrinogen forms a temporary clot in the
vagina after ejaculation

The Accessory Glands

The Seminal Glands
When mixed with secretions from the
seminal gland, the spermatozoa become
mobile. (1st step in capacitation)
Secretions from this gland are discharged
into the ejaculatory duct

The Accessory Glands

The Prostate Gland
Produces a slightly acidic solution
contributing 20-30 % of the volume of the
semen
The most prominent component is
Seminalplasmin, an antibiotic that may help
to reduce UTIs in males

The Accessory Glands

The Bulbourethral Gland
Or Cowpers Gland
Compound tubular
mucous glands of 10mm
diameter
Secrete a thick, alkaline
mucus
The secretion neutrlizes
urinary acids in the
urethra and lubricates the
glans

Semen
A typical ejaculation releases 2 5 mL of
semen
The Ejaculate typically contains:
Spermatozoa actively swimming
Seminal Fluid secretions from the seminal
glands, prostate gland, nurse cells and
epididymis and the bulbourethral glands

Semen
The Ejaculate typically contains: (contd)
Enzymes
a Protease that helps to dissolve mucous secretions
from the vagina
Seminalplasmin kills bacteria such as E. coli
A prostatic enzyme coagulates the semen within a
few minutes after ejaculation by converting
fibrinogen to fibrin
Fibrinolysin liquefies the clotted semen after 15
30 minutes

How an erection develops

Nitric oxide (NO) is released by the
parasympathetic nervous system during
arousal causing dilation of penile arteries.
Blood flow into the penile arteries
increases and becomes engorged as the
erection compresses drainage blood
vessels, thereby retarding the outward
flow of blood

Penis
Copulatory organ found anterior and external to
the abdominopelvic cavity
Corpora cavernosa is engorged with blood during
an erection
Corpora spongiosum surrounds the urethra and
expands distally to form the glans (head of penis)
Prepuce (Foreskin); can be removed (Circumcision)