MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Reproduction is a process of giving rise to offspring.

Male Reproductive System

CONSISTS OF
1. Testes (two)
2. several accessory glands
3. a duct system
4. A penis

TESTES

Secretes spermatozoa and testosterone , which is the male sex hormone

.Both testes remain suspended in a pouch called as scrotum which lies
outside the abdominal cavity . The temperature of scrotum is little lower
then that of normal body temperature which is essential for the production of
spermatozoa.

THE DUCT SYSTEM

It starts with vasa efferentia which arise from the testis and helps in
conducting sperm out of the testes. These becomes coiled tube behind the
testes called as epididymis , which helps in storing the sperm temporarily.
From each epididymis, a partially called vas- deferens ascends into the
abdomen, passes over the urinary bladder and receives the duct from seminal
vesicles behind the urinary bladder to form an ejaculatory duct. It then
passes through the prostate gland and open into urethra. The urethra receives
the ducts of the prostate and Cowper's glands and passes through penis to
open outside.

PENIS

It is muscular organ made up of spongy muscular tissue which is used in

mating.
ACCESSORY GLANDS

These consist of prostate, two seminal vesicles and two Cowper glands.
The prostate is present around the urethra. The seminal vesicles are present
behind the urinary bladder and their secretion enters the vas- deferens
through their ducts. The Cowper's glands are situated behind the urethra into
which their ducts open.

SEMEN is fluid mixture of spermatozoa and the secretion of the accessory

glands.

NOTE

LEYDIG CELLS secrete testosterone

Sertoli cells secrete oestrogen and androgen binding protein.

SPERMATOGENESIS

Process of formation of mature functional spermatozoa.

Spermatogenesis starts at the puberty under influence of of gonadotrophins
secreted from the anterior pituitary gland.
Seminiferous tubules consist of germinal epithelial cells which undergo first
mitotic division and forms primary spermatocyte.
The primary spermatocytes then undergo first meiotic division to form
secondary spermatocytes.
The primary spermatocytes contain 46 chromosomes, which are reduced to
23 by the meiotic division.
Secondary spermatocytes again undergo meiotic division. The cells formed
are known as spermatids, which after maturation give rise to spermatozoa.

In humans, Spermatogenesis takes about 74 days.

Spermatogenesis takes place in Sertoli cells

FEED BACK MECHANISM

HYPOTHALAMUS
↓
GNRH
Anterior pituitary

INHIBIN FSH LH interstial cell stimulating

hormone

INHIBITIRY EFFECT

Leydigs cells secrete

Testosterone inhibitory effect on anterior pit, and hypothalamus

Stimulate Spermatogenesis
SEMINAL FLUID

FEATURES
Contains products of seminiferous tubules

Sperm count -- 80 – 100 million/ml

Volume 2-3 ml
White in colour

Componenets
Fructose
Phosphoryl choline
Asdorbic acid
Flavins
Prostaglandins

Sperminine
Citric acid
Cholesterol
Fibrinolysin
Zinc
Acid phosphatase
Bicarbonate
Hyaluronidase

Fluid part of semen is mainly secreted by prostate and seminal vesicles

TESTOSTERONE

Source
It is synthesized from cholesterol
Site
Leydig cells of testis
Stimulated by LH

Mechanism of action
Converted inside the cells into dihydrotestostreone (DHT) which is more
potetnt then testosterone

ACTIONS
1. For Spermatogenesis
2. Development of secondary sexual characters and accessory sex organs
3. Anabolic effect.
i. Retention of calcium ,phosphorous, sodium ,
potassium,water
ii. Needed for growth
iii. Nitrogen retention