Male

Reproductive
System
Chona H. Araga,
MD, FPSA

- consists of the testes, genital

ducts,
accessory genital glands
(seminal vesicles, prostate gland and
bulbourethral glands) and
the
penis.
FUNCTIONS:
is to produce spermatozoa
(sperm),
testosterone and
seminal fluid which
transports and nourishes the
sperm as
they pass through the
excretory ducts.

I. Testes
- are sites where spermatogenesis
occurs and the sex hormone,
testosterone, is produced.
A. Testicular coat.
1. Tunica vaginalis
is a serous sac derived from
the peritoneum.
- partially covers the
anterior and lateral
surfaces
of each testis.

2. Tunica albuginea

 is a thick, fibrous connective

tissue capsule of
the testis.
- thickened posteriorly to form
the mediastinum
testis from
which incomplete connective septa
arise to divide the organ into
approximately 250
compartments ( lobuli testis ).

3. Tunica vasculosa

- part of the tunica albuginea and

is lined by a highly vascular layer
of connective tissue.

B. Lobuli testis
- pyramidal-shaped compartments
which are
separated by incomplete
septa that can intercommunicate.
- contain one to four
seminiferous tubules each.
- these tubules are embedded
in a meshwork of loose connective
tissue containing blood and lymphatic
vessels, nerves and interstitial cells
of Leydig.

C. Interstitial cells of Leydig

- round to polygonal cells located in
the
interstitial regions between
seminiferous tubules.
CONTAINS:
- a large central nucleus
- numerous mitochondria
- well developed golgi complex
- many lipid droplets
- The lipid droplets contain
cholesterol esters which are
precursors of testosterone.
- are richly supplied with
capillaries and lymphatic vessels.
- will mature and begin to secrete
during puberty.

D. Seminiferous tubules
- 30-70 cm. long with a diameter
of 150- 250um.
- enveloped by a fibrous connective
tissue
tunic composed of several
layers of fibroblast.
- form tortuous pathways through
the testicular lobules and then
narrow into short, straight segments,
the tubuli recti,
which connect with
the rete testis.
- epithelium consists of four to
eight layers and
contain
spermatogenic cells (from which the
germ cells eventually develop) and
sertoli cell.

1. Sertoli cells
pale oval nucleus with
indentations
and a large nucleolus.
- well developed smooth
endoplasmic
reticulum,
- some rough
endoplasmic reticulum,
- abundant mitochondria
and lysosomes,
- extensive golgi

complex.
- possess receptors for
follicle-stimulating
hormones on their
plasma membrane.

Functions of
Sertoli cells
- form zonula occludens with
adjacent sertoli cells

- these junctions are

responsible for the bloodtestis barrier which
support, protect and
nourish the spermatogenic
cells.

- phagocytose excess

cytoplasm discarded by
maturing spermatids.

- synthesize androgenbinding protein under the

influence of FSH.
- secrete inhibin, a
hormone that inhibit the
synthesis and release of
FSH.

Functions of
Sertoli cells

Synthesis of mullerian
inhibitory
factor/substance
during embryonic stage

Secretion of fructoserich fluid

Synthesis of testicular
transferrin

Histology of Male Reproductive System

2. Spermatogenic
cells
- a. Spermatogonia

- diploid germ cells located

to the basal lamina of the
seminiferous tubules.

a1. Pale type A

spermatogonia
- possess a palestaining

nucleus, spherical
mitochondria, a small golgi
complex, and abundant
free ribosomes.

- mitotically active and give

rise either to
more of the same type A
or to type B
spermatogonia.

a2. Dark type A

spermatogonia
- represent mitotically
inactive cells
with dark nuclei.
- have the potential to
resume
mitosis and produce
pale type A

cells.

a3. Type B
spermatogonia
- undergo mitosis and

give rise

to primary
spermatocytes.

b. Spermatocytes
b1. Primary spermatocytes
- large diploid cells with 4N DNA.
- undergo the first meiotic division
to form secondary spermatocytes.

b2. Secondary spermatocytes

- haploid cells with 2N DNA.

- quickly undergo the second
meiotic division, without the
intervening S phase, to form
spermatids.

c. Spermatids
- small haploid cells containing only
1N DNA.
- located near the lumen of the
seminiferous tubule.
- have a nucleus that often display
regions of
condensed chromatin

d. Spermatozoon
- has the following parts;
1. head
- flattened and houses a
dense,
homogenous nucleus
containing 23
chromosomes.
- with acrosome which
contains
hydrolytic enzymes
that assist the
sperm in
penetrating the corona radiata

and zona pellucida

of the oocyte.
- Release of these enzymes
is termed
acrosomal reaction.

2. Tail of the spermatozoon

- has the following portions;
1. Neck

- houses the centrioles and the

connecting
piece
2. Middle piece

 extends from the neck to the

annulus.
contains the axoneme
3. Principal piece
extends from the annulus to
the end
piece
4. End piece
consists of the axoneme and
the
surrounding plasma
membrane.

e. Spermatogenesis
- does not occur
simultaneously or
synchronously in all
seminiferous tubules but rather
in cycle of sequences of
the
seminiferous epithelium.
- characterized by the
daughter cells remaining
connected to each other via
intercellular bridges.

f. Spermiogenesis

- a unique process of
cytodifferentiation
whereby spermatids
are transformed into
spermatozoa which are
released into the lumen
of the seminiferous
tubules.

Four phases of
Spermiogenesis:

1. Golgi phase

- - formation of an acrosomal granule

enclosed within an acrosomal vesicle

to the anterior end of the nuclear
envelope
- migration of the centrioles
forming the flagellar axoneme.
- the centrioles then migrate back
toward the nucleus to assist in
forming the connecting piece
associated with the tail.

2. Cap phase

- characterized by
expansion of the
acrosomal vesicles over
much of the nucleus
forming the acrosomal cap.

3. Acrosomal phase

- nucleus becomes condensed,

flattened, and located in the
head region.
- mitochondria aggregate
around the proximal portion of
the flagellum which develops
into the middle piece of the
tail.

4. Maturation
phase

- characterized by the loss of

excess cytoplasm and of the
intercellular bridges
connecting spermatids in to
syncytium.
- is complete when the nonmotile
spermatozoa are released in
the lumen of the seminiferous
tubule.

II. GENITAL
DUCTS
- A. Intratesticular ducts

- 1. Tubuli recti
- 2. Rete testis
- 3. Ductuli efferentes

- B. Extratesticular ducts
- 1. Ductus epididymidis
- 2. Ductus (vas) deferens
- 3. Ejaculatory duct

INTRATESTICUL
AR DUCTS
1. Tubuli recti

- short, straight tubules

lined by a simple cuboidal
epithelium with microvilli
and a single flagellum.
- Contain Sertoli cells and no
germinal epithelium

2. Rete testis
- a labyrinthine plexus of
anastomosing channels lined by
a simple cuboidal epithelium.

- many of the cells possess a

single luminal flagellum.

3. Ductuli
efferentes
-

- 10-20 tubules leading from the rete

testis to the ductus epididymidis.

- have thin circular layer of smooth muscle

underlying the basal lamina of the
epithelium.

- lined by a simple epithelium composed of

alternating clusters of nonciliated cuboidal
and ciliated columnar cells giving it a
scalloped appearance

- reabsorb fluid from the semen

B. Extratesticular
ducts
1. Ductus
epididymidis
- together with the ductuli

efferentes constitutes the

epididymis.

- surrounded by circular layers of

smooth muscle which undergo

peristaltic contractions that convey
the sperm toward the ductus
deferens.

- lined by a pseudostratified

columnar epithelium with

stereocilia which is supported by a
basal lamina.

Cells of Ductus
Epididymis:
-

a. Basal cells
- round and appear undifferentiated.
- serve as precursors of the principal cells.

b. Principal cells
- columnar in shape
- possess non-motile stereocilia (long,
irregular microvilli) on their luminal
surface.
- contain in their cytoplasm endoplasmic
reticulum, a large golgi complex, lysosomes
and many apically located pinocytic and
coated vesicles

- secrete glycerophosphocholine which

probably inhibits capacitation

2. Ductus (vas) deferens

- has a thick muscular wall
with inner and outer layers
of longitudinally oriented
smooth muscle which are
separated from one another
by a middle circular layer.
- has a narrow, irregular
lumen lined by a
pseudostratified columnar
epithelium similar to that of
the ductus epididymis.

3. Ejaculatory duct

- straight continuation of
the ductus deferens
beyond where it receives
the duct of the seminal
vesicle.
- lacks a muscular wall.
- enters the prostate
gland and terminates in a
slit on the colliculus
seminalis in the prostatic
urethra.

Male urethra
- 20 cm long

- serves as terminal duct of

both urinary and
reproductive systems
1. Prostatic 3 - 4 cm; lined
with transitional epithelium
2. Membranous 1 cm; lined
by stratified or
pseudostratified columnar
- striated muscles of urogenital
and pelvic diaphragms form
the external urethral
sphincter
3. Penile 15 cm; lined by
pseudostratified except at
distal end, lined by stratified
squamous; pierces corpus
spongiosum

- ducts of Cowpers gland and

Littres gland empties into the
penile urethra

III. ACCESSORY GENITAL

GLANDS
A. Seminal vesicles
B. Prostate gland
C. Bulbourethral glands

Prostate &
Seminal Vesicle

SEMINAL
VESICLE
- - The seminal vesicle is
shown to the left. Once
again, it is a coiled,
sacculated tubular
structure that is surrounded
by a smooth muscle coat
(bracket). Generally, this
smooth muscle contains
inner circular and outer
longitudinal layers.

Seminal Vesicle

- 1. Epithelium
- pseudostratified columnar
tissue whose height varies
with testosterone levels.
- lines the extensively folded
mucosa.

- contains many yellow

lipochrome pigment granules
and secretory granules, a large
golgi complex, many
mitochondria and an
abundant rough endoplasmic
reticulum.

2. Lamina propria
- consists of
fibroelastic connective
tissue

3. Muscular layer
- inner circular and
outer longitudinal layer
of smooth muscle.
4. Adventitia
- composed of
fibroelastic connective
tissue.

Secretory product of
seminal vesicles
- a yellow, viscous fluid
containing

substances that activate

sperm
(e.g., fructose) which is
the
energy source for sperm
motility).
- Secretion also contain
clotting protein
responsible for coagulation
of semen after ejaculation
- constitutes about 70% of
the human ejaculate.

B. Prostate gland
- surrounds the urethra as it
exits the
urinary bladder.
- consists of 30-50 discrete
branched
tubuloalveolar glands which
empty their
contents, via excretory
ducts, into the

prostatic urethra.
- arranged in three concentric
layers around
the urethra.
- covered by a fibroelastic
capsule that
contains smooth muscle.
- septa from the capsule
penetrate the gland and
divide it into lobes.

Prostate Gland

1. Epithelium
- simple or
pseudostratified columnar.
- lines the individual
glands making up
the prostate.
- composed of cells that
contain
abundant rough
endoplasmic

reticulum, a welldeveloped Golgi complex,

numerous lysosomes and
many secretory
granules.
2. Submucosa
3. Main gland

Corpora Amylacea

- concretions composed
of glycoprotein which
may become calcified.
- their numbers
increase with age.

Prostate Gland
M- Smooth muscle
LP Lamina propria
CA- Corpora amylacea

E- Simple columnar to
Pseudostrat columnar

The prostate has 3

zones:
- 1. transition zone
-5%
- surrounds prostatic urethra
- the site of BPH
- 2. central zone
- occupies 25% of the glands
volume

- 3. peripheral zone
- 75% of the glands volume
which is the major site of
prostate cancer

Prostatic secretion
- a whitish, thin fluid
containing proteolytic
enzymes, citric acid,
acid phosphatase and
lipids.
- regulated by
dihydrotestosterone.
- PSA responsible for
seminal fluid liquefaction

Bulbourethral (Cowpers)
glands
- located adjacent to
the membranous
urethra.

- empty their secretion

into the lumen of the
membranous urethra to
lubricate it.
- lined by a simple
cuboidal or columnar
epithelium.
- surrounded by a
fibroelastic capsule
containing smooth and
skeletal muscle.

IV. PENIS
A. Corpora Cavernosa
- paired masses of erectile tissue
that contain irregular vascular spaces
lined by a continuous layer of
endothelial cells.
- these spaces are separated from
each other by trabeculae of
connective tissue and smooth muscle.
- the vascular spaces decrease in
size towards the periphery of the
corpora cavernosa.
- during erection, the vascular
spaces become engorged with blood
due to parasympathetic impulses
which constrict arteriovenous shunts
and dilate the helicine arteries.

B. Corpus spongiosum
- a single mass of erectile
tissue that contains vascular
spaces of uniform size
throughout.
- has trabeculae that contain
more elastic fibers and less
smooth muscle than those of
the corpora cavernosa.

Tunica albunigea
- a thick fibrous connective
sheath that surrounds the
paired corpora cavernosa and
the corpus spongiosa.
- arrangement of dense
collagen bundles permits
extension of the penis during
erection.

Glans penis
- the dilated distal end of the
corpus spongiosum.
- contains dense connective
tissue and longitudinal muscle
fibers.
- covered by the prepuce
which is lined by stratified
squamous nonkeratinized
epithelium and is covered by
skin.

Glands of Littre
- mucus-secreting glands
present through the length of
the penile urethra.

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