Workbook Activity #21: Male Reproductive System

General Objective
To know the histological structures of the major components of the male reproductive
system.
Specific Objectives
1. To describe the microanatomy of the testis and epididymis.
2. To identify cells of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubule: Sertoli cells,
spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa.
3. To know the structure of the ductus deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate gland and
penis.
Learning Activities
Examine the following virtual slides, identify, draw and label the following structures and
note their function.
Virtual
Tissue Structure Function Drawing
Slides

Testis Testis Seminiferous The testes' primary function is

(epididymis), tubules to produce testosterone.
primate Testosterone is a steroid
Basement
hormone that regulates male
membrane
sexual differentiation. The
Testis (LS), Leydig testes' second function is to
cat (interstitial) produce sperm. Sperm
cells develop within the network of
seminiferous tubules that
make up the majority of the
Testis,
Sertoli cells testicles.
human
Spermatogonia
Spermatocytes
Spermatids

Mediastinum

Rete Testis

Efferent
tubules

Epididymis
Stereocilia
 Question: What are stereocilia and what is their function in the epididymis ?

 Stereocilia are essentially long microvilli, finger like extensions that aid epithelial cells
in fluid reabsorption and nutrient secretion. The function of the epididymal stereocilia
is associated with the reabsorption of some of the fluid that enters the epididymis from
the testes. Furthermore, they aid in the secretion of a liquid known as "ependymal
liquor," which is one of the liquid components of sperm.

Virtual
Tissue Structure Function Drawing
Slides

Vas Vas Epithelium In preparation for

deferens, Deferens ejaculation, the vas
human Lamina deferens transports
propria mature sperm to the
Muscle urethra, the tube that
layers transports urine or
sperm to the outside of
Adventitia the body.

Seminal Seminal Seminal vesicular

vesicle, ox vesicle secretion is necessary
Epithelium
for sperm coagulation,
Lamina motility, and the stability
propria of sperm chromatin, as
well as the suppression
Muscle of immune activity in the
layers female reproductive
Adventitia tract. Finally, the function
of the seminal vesicle is
critical for fertility.

Prostate Prostate Capsule The most important

gland, dog Gland function of the prostate is
Prostatic
and Prostate the production of a fluid
urethra
gland, that, along with sperm
primate Epithelium cells from the testicles
and fluids from other
Prostatic glands, forms semen.
concretions
Ejaculatory
ducts

1
Penis Penis Tunica The human penis has a
(neonatal, albuginea reproductive function
TS), human and urinary function. It
Corpus
contains the urethra,
cavernosum
which allows for the
Corpus passage of urine. It also
spongiosum has erectile and
ejaculatory functions
Urethra which make it possible
Mucous for males to engage in
glands of sexual intercourse.
Littre

Helicine
arteries
Nerve
fascicles
Pacinian
corpuscles
Dorsal
blood
vessels
Hair follicles
Sebaceous
glands

Sperm Head, mid The primary function of

Smear piece and sperm is to transmit the
tail biological information
required to create a new
organism.
The nucleus is contained
in the head, which is
surrounded by an
acrosome, which
contains enzymes used
Sperm,
for egg penetration.
human
The neck and middle
piece serve to connect
the two ends of the
sperm cell.
The tail, also known as
the flagellum, is a long
structure that allows
sperm motility through a
slithering, snake-like
movement.