ORGANS:

Testis
Duct systems

- epididymis, ductus deferens,

ejaculatory ducts & uretha
Accessory sex glands
- seminal vesicles, prostate &
bulbourethral glands
Supporting structures
- scrotum & penis

TESTIS:
Size: 5 cm long &

2.5 cm diameter
Weight: 10-15 gm
Location:
Near kidneys &
posterior portion of the abdomen
Begin descent into the scrotum through
inguinal canals 7th month pregnancy
Layers of membrane covering testes:
a) Tunica vaginalis serous membrane
b) Tunica albuginea dense irregular
connective tissue, extends inwards forming
septa that divides into lobules that contains
200-300 seminiferous tubules

HISTOLOGY
OF TESTIS

Seminiferous tubules
Coiled tubules
2 types of cells:

a) Spermatogenic cells
- develop from primordial germ cells
(yolk sac) & enter testes during
5th week development
- remains during childhood & begin produce sperm during
puberty
- spermatogenesis & spermiogenesis occur
b) Sertoli cells
- extend from membrane basement to tubule lumen
- tight junction blood-testis barrier
- support & protect spermatogenic cells
- produce fluid for sperm transport, secrete inhibin hormone &
mediate effects of testosterone & FSH

Seminiferous tubules
Leydig cells:

- between seminiferous
tubules
- secrete testosterone
(androgen)
development of
masculine
characteristics & libido

EPIDIDYMIS
Size: 4 cm long
Consists of tightly coiled

ductus epididymis
3 parts:
a) Head superior
b) Body midportion
c) Tail inferior

Pseudostratified

columnar with stereocilia

Site of sperm maturation
stores sperm until
ejaculate

HISTOLOGY OF EPIDIDYMIS

DUCTUS DEFERENS
Vas deferens
Size: 45 cm long
Ascends along posterior of

epididymis, passes through

inguinal canal, enters pelvic
cavity, loops over ureter &
passes over the side &
down the posterior surface
of the urinary bladder
Pseudostratified columnar
epithelium & areolar
connective tissue
Conveys sperms during
sexual activity
Store sperm until
ejeculation

SPERMATIC CORD
Supporting structure

ascends out of scrotum

Consists of vas deferens,
testicular arteries &
veins, autonomic nerves,
lymphatic vessels &
cremaster muscle

EJACULATORY DUCTS
Size: 2 cm long
Union ducts of seminal

vesicle & ampulla of

vas deferens
Form superior to base
of prostate & pass
inferiorly & anteriorly
through prostate
Eject sperm with
seminal vesicles
secretions before
release semen into
urethra

URETHRA
Size: 2-3 cm long
Shared terminal duct of

reproductive & urinary

systems passage for
semen & urine
Passes through
prostate, descend
inferiorly into the
membranos urethra passes through corpus
spongiosum of the
penis (spongy urethra)

SEMINAL VESICLES
Size: 5 cm long
Location:

- posterior to the base of

urinary bladder
- anterior to the rectum
Secretes (60% of semen
volume):
a) Alkaline neutralize acidic
environment in the female
reproductive tract
b) Fructose ATP production
c) Prostaglandins sperm
motility & viability, stimulate
muscle contractions within
female reproductive tract
d) Clotting proteins semen
coagulation

HISTOLOGY OF SEMINAL
VESICLES

PROSTATE
Single, size of golf ball
Location:

- inferior to urinary bladder

- surrounds prostatic urethra
Slowly increases size from
birth to puberty
Secretes (25% semen
volume):
a) Citric acid ATP production
b) Proteolytic enzymes
break down clotting proteins
c) Acid phosphate
d) Seminalplasmin antibiotic
that destroy bacteria

BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
Cowpers glands
Location:

- inferior to the prostate

- side of membranous
urethra
- ducts open to into
spongy urethra
Secretes:
a) Alkaline fluid
b) Mucus lubricate
end of penis & lining of
urethra

SCROTUM
Single pouch

separated by raphe
Internal: Scrotum
septum divides into
2 sacs where each
contain testis
Septum- smooth
muscle fibers
(dartos muscle)
Skeletal muscle of
scrotum- cremaster
muscle

PENIS
Contains urethra, passageway of

semen ejaculation & excretion of

urinary
Shape: cylinder
3 parts:
a) Root
- consists of bulb of penis,
expanded base of corpus
spongiosum penis & crura of the
penis
b) Body
- consists of 3 cylinder tissues:
i) tunica albuginea
ii) corpus cavernosa penis
iii) corpus spongiosum penis
c) Glans
- consists of prepuce (foreskin)
- terminal opening external
urethral orifice

SPERMATOGENESIS
Process -65-75 days
2 types of spermatogonia:
a) Spermatogonia A
-mitoticly active
-give rise to spermatogonia B
b) Spermatogonia B
-undergo meiotic division
-primary spermatocyte
Meiosis start after puberty

After complete process

sperm enter lumina tubule &
then move to epididymis to store & become functionally mature

SPERM

ABNORMAL
SPERMATOGENES
IS ABNORMAL
SPERM
Nondisjunction will cause error in cell division
FORMATION
22 autosomes & XY chromosomes
22 autosomes & no chromosomes

SEMEN
Mixture of sperm & seminal fluid
WHO GUIDELINE - normal range

Volume: 2.0 5.0 ml

Count: 20 x 106/ml
Total count: 40 x 106/ml
Motility: 50% rapid & slow
progression
Morphology: 50%
pH: 7.2-8.0
Liquefy: < 60 minutes