ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF THE
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
DR. BEDA OLABU
LECTURE OBJECTIVES
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Functions:
1. Production, maintenance
& transport of sperms for
fertilization
2. Secretion of androgen
hormones
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Components:
• External genitalia
• Internal genitalia
MALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Components:
• Scrotum
• The penis
MALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
The scrotum:
• Thin skin that houses the
testis
• Designed to both protect
and lower testicular
temperatures
MALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
The penis:
• Male organ of
copulation
• Has 3 parts: root,
shaft and glans
STRUCTURE OF THE PENIS
The penile root:
• Anchor the penis to the
perineum
• Has the crus & the bulb
• Ischiocavernosus
• Bulbospongiosus
STRUCTURE OF THE PENIS
The penile shaft:
• For the erectile response
• Consists of erectile tissues
covered by a thick capsule –
the tunica albuginea
• Continuous with the penile root
STRUCTURE OF THE PENIS
The penile erectile tissues:
• Corpus cavernosum (paired)
• Corpus spongiosum (ventral)
• CS contains the penile urethra
STRUCTURE OF THE PENIS
The glans penis:
• Penetration during coitus
• Sexual stimulation
• Anterior dilatation of the
corpus spongiosum
• Has opening for urethra
COMMON PATHOLOGIES OF THE MALE
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
PENILE CURVATURE PENILE FRACTURE
COMMON PATHOLOGIES OF THE MALE
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
BALANITIS & PHIMOSIS HYDROCELE
COMMON PATHOLOGIES OF THE MALE
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
CHRIPTOCHIRDISM HYPOSPADIA
MALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Components:
1. Male gonad – the testis
2. Male genital duct system
3. Male sex glands
STRUCTURE OF THE TESTIS
• Covered by a thick capsule –
the tunica albuginea
• Divided into lobules by the
testicular septae
• Each testicular lobule
contains seminiferous
tubules and the intersitium
STRUCTURE OF THE TESTIS
Seminiferous tubules:
• Site of spermatogenesis
• Contain cells of Spermatogenic
series, Sertoli cells and Myoid cells
Intersitium:
• Contain interstitial cells of Leydig
• Secretion of androgen hormones
SPERMATOGENESIS
• Occurs within the seminiferous tubules of the
testis, supported by the Sertoli cells
• Begins at puberty and continues throughout life
• Takes about 2 months to form a single sperm
• Most efficient at 34° C
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Spermatogonia
Spermatocytogenesis
Primary spermatocytes
Meiosis (I and II)
Spermatids
Spermiogenesis
Spermatozoa
Spermiation
Storage
Decapacitation
Capacitation
PARTS OF A MATURE SPERM
Neck
The Tail
Middle piece Head
Principal
piece
End piece
Acrosome
MALE GENITAL DUCTS
• The path followed by sperms
from the testis to the exterior
Components:
1. Epididymis
2. Vas deferens
3. Ejaculatory duct
4. Urethra
MALE SEX GLANDS
• Secrete the seminal fluid
Components:
1. Bulbourethral glands (of
Cowper)
2. Prostate gland
3. Seminal vesicles
MALE SEXUAL RESPONSE
• Morphological change in Stages of the response:
penile length, width & firmness 1. Sexual stimulation
• Involves complex neuronal 2. Penile tumescence
mechanisms, 3. Lubrication
• The events can be described 4. Male orgasm
in stages: 5. Penile detumescence
6. Resolution
1 - STIMULATION
• Sensory stimulus – tactile or visual
• Psychic stimuli – thoughts or dreams
• Activate the parasympathetic division
of the autonomic nervous system
2 – PENILE TUMESCENCE
• Vasodilation of the penile
vasculature
• Mediated by nitric oxide
• Erectile tissues fills with blood
• Veno-occlusion occurs
• Erection is achieved
3 – LUBRICATION
• Mucus secretion from
Cowper’s glands
• Aid in the lubrication
during coitus
4 – MALE ORGASM
• Culmination of male sexual act
• Initiated when sexual stimulus becomes extremely
intense, activation the sympathetic stimulation
• Involves both emission and ejaculation
4 – MALE ORGASM
Emission: Ejaculation:
• Filling of prostatic urethra • Expulsion of semen to the
with secretions (semen) exterior
from the testis and glands • Rhythmical contractions of the
• Facilitated by contractions pelvic flow muscles
of the internal genitalia • Is a spinal reflex
• Sympathetic response
5 – PENILE DETUMESCENCE
• Sympathetic nervous system causes
penile vasoconstriction
• This leads to reduced blood flow to the
penis, hence ends the erection
6 – RESOLUTION
• Disappearance of excitement almost entirely
within 1 to 2 minutes
• Associated with a refractory period – a period
when erections or orgasms for a varied
period of time
THE EJACULATE
• Volume about 2.5-3.5 mL
Contributions from various glands:
1. Seminal vesicles (60 – 70%)
2. Prostate (20 – 30%)
3. Others (5%); 100 million sperms/mL
• Color: White, opalescent
• pH is 7.35–7.50
COMMON SPERM DISORDERS
1. Aspermia
2. Hypospermia
3. Oligospermia
4. Azoospermia
5. Teratospermia
HYPOTHALAMO-HYPOPHYSEAL-TESTICULAR AXIS
HYPOTHALAMUS
GnRH
ANTERIOR PITUITARY
FSH LH
THE TESTIS
SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES INTERSTITIAL CELLS
SPERMATOGENESIS ANDROGENS
ANDROGENS
• Male sex hormones, and are steroidal in nature
• Produced by both the interstitial cells of Leydig &
Zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex
• Include testosterone, DHT and androstenedione
FUNCTIONS OF ANDROGENS
1. Embryonic development of male genital organs
2. Spermatogenesis
3. Male libido
4. Bone and muscle mass
5. Male secondary sexual characteristics
THE END
