Anatomy and physiology of male reproductive system

The testes are two glandular organs, which secrete the semen; they are suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic cords. Testes are suspended outside the abdominal cavity in the scrotum,

Scrotum

The Scrotum is a cutaneous pouch which contains the testes and parts of the spermatic cords (The spermatic cord is composed of arteries, veins, lymphatics, nerves, and the excretory duct of the testis. These structures are connected together by areolar tissue,).
It is divided on its surface into two lateral portions by a ridge or raph.(Sushruta explains raphe' as "seevani" or a stitch like ridge. He has cautioned not to injure it with surgical instruments )Of these two lateral portions the left hangs lower than the right, to correspond with the greater length of the left spermatic cord. The Testes (two egg-shaped structures) remain in the Scrotum, outside the body, where the temperature is about 3 degrees C Cooler than the body internal temperature (27 degrees C. Sperm development in the Testes Requires the Lower Temperature.) The testis is composed primarily of seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells. Seminiferous tubules are packed closely together. There are approximately 500 tubules in each testis. The cells within the seminiferous tubules are germ cells an sertoli cells. The germ cells mature into spermatozoa or sperms. The Sertoli cells serve as supporting cells for developing germ cells. Leydig cells are very important cells that are present in the interstitial space outside the seminiferous tubule. These cells produce testosterone which stimulate the germ cell maturation. The complex process involved in production of sperms from germ cells is known as spermatogenesis. Spermatozoa or sperms are first produced at puberty and spermatogenic activity is maintained into old age. Millions of sperms are produced each day. The mature sperms are released into the lumen of seminiferous tubule. The sperms pass into epididymis. (Lying upon the lateral edge of this posterior border is a long, narrow, fiattened body, named the epididymis.), The canal of the epididymis is continued into the vasdeferens which rise up over the brim of the pelvis and passes down to the prostate gland at the base of the urinary bladder. It joins the seminal vesicles to form the ejaculatory ducts. Epididymis serves as sperm conduit and sperm reservoir where sperm acquire motility and fertilizing capacity. Just prior to ejaculation, the testes are brought close to the abdomen and fluid is rapidly transported through the vas deferens to the ejaculatory duct and subsequently into the urethra.(The urethra passes through the penis and opens to the outside.)

ormones that influence in sperm production

Males begin to produce Sperm during Puberty. At this time, the male hormone (Androgen) testosterone produced by testes, stimulate the sperm production. The pituitary gland releases FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). These hormones stimulate the testes to make Testosterone , the male sex hormone. The whole male body responds to testosterone. Hence sushruta has said "yatha payasi sarpistu goodashchekshow raso yatha shareereshu tatha shukram nrinaam vidyaadhbishagwara" This means " the shukra ( the element which helps in reproduction) is present all over the body . This can be explained with the following examples.

1. 2.

The ghee is present in milk in an invisible form. This is extracted from milk using many processes. The sugar is present all over the sugarcane. It is extracted by subjecting the sugarcane to number of processes.

Same way shukra is present all over the body. But the cream of shukra (semen) comes out of the body only during the process of ejaculation. But this process of ejaculation needs a joyful union of mind and body. Hence the ayurveda therapy to increase libido, semen and erection involves a step which rejuvenates and nourishes the whole body and mind. The testosterone produces secondary sexual characteristics in male like deep voice, beard, body hair etc. The FSH and testosterone stimulate the sperm production and development.

Male Reproductive System Definitions for Teachers Use Penis The male external sex organ. Semen and urine are discharged from the penis. It is made up of spongy material that fills up with extra blood (becomes erect) when sexually aroused. There is no bone in the penis.

 The penis continues to grow as does the rest of the body. Size varies from person to person. Scrotum The sac that holds the testicles. The testicles have to be kept at a certain temperature just below body temperature in order to produce healthy sperm. The scrotum pulls the testicles closer to the body if it is cold and lowers away from the body if it is hot. Anus The opening at the end of the digestive tract where feces leaves the body. It is not part of the reproductive system, but is part of the digestive system. Testicles The male sex glands. They are held in the scrotum. They are on the outside of the body so that they can stay cooler than body temperature for healthy sperm production. It is normal for one to hang lower. This is a very sensitive area. It is important to protect the testicles during contact sports, etc. Vas Deferens This is a narrow tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. Seminal Vesicles Two small pouches behind the bladder that produce and store seminal fluid. This fluid mixes with sperm and other fluid to produce semen. Anatomy and Physiology: Page 5 of 29 Copyright 2009 Alberta Health Services www.teachingsexualhealth.ca Urethra Urine and semen pass through this tube to the outside of the body. Urine and semen cannot come out at the same time. There are two branches to the urethra, one from the bladder and the other from the vas deferens. When the penis is ready to release semen, a valve blocks off the branch to the bladder so urine cannot escape. It is similar to the difference between swallowing and breathing. Air goes to the lungs and food or liquid goes to the stomach even though both substances pass through the esophagus. Bladder The sac that holds the urine produced by the kidney. It is not part of the reproductive system, but the urinary system. Sperm The male reproductive cell. These cells are very small (over 300 million in 5 ml of semen). Millions are made every day in the testicles. PHYSIOLOGY OF MALE REPRODUCTION Proper understanding of male reproductive physiology and related pathology requires appreciation of the anatomy and development of the male genital and ductal system, physiology of the testis, hormonal control oi the testis, as well as the processes involved in deposition of the seminal fluid within the female genital tract. Anatomy The male genital tract is depicted below, and has several main components. In essence, the testis produces sperm, which pass through a series of ducts and are finally expelled via the urethra together with seminal plasma produced by the accessory sexual organs. The testis The testis descends from a retroperitoneal position through the inguinal canal to take its place in the scrotum during the eighth fetal month. Reasons for its unusually vulnerable position are uncertain, but may well be due to the lower temperature required for spermatogenesis. A countercurrent vascular heat exchange system is present to promote cooler temperatures. Seminiferous tubules comprise 95% of testicular volume, and are devoted to the production of spermatozoa. Each tubule is 30-70 cm long and 200-300 um in diameter. There are approximately 500 tubules per testis. The tubules are divided by fibrous septae, and surrounded by the tough tunica albuginea. Interstitial tissue located between the seminiferous tubules is comprised of connective tissue, blood vessels, lymphatics, and Leydig cells which produce testosterone.

Sperm produced by the seminiferous tubules pass out of the testis into the ductal system, beginning with the rete testis and on into the epididymis. The epididymis is a single convoluted duct approximately 20m long, and is divided into caput (head), corpus (body), and cauda (tail), which then continues as the vas deferens. Sperm in the vas deferens is joined by seminal vesicle secretions as they pass through the prostate via the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra. DEVELOPMENT The gonad at eight weeks is undifferentiated, but under the influence of the Y chromosome a complex series of events occur which result in development of the male reproductive system. Testosterone production causes maturation of the Wolffian ducts into the male genital duct system (epididymis, vas, seminal vesicles). At the same time, testicular production of Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) causes degeneration of the Mullerian ducts, which in the female Physiology of the Male Reproductive System form the uterus and Fallopian tubes. Conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase causes masculinization of the external genital system such as the scrotum and penis. Testicular Function The testes have two main functions in the adult, and an additional one in the developing fetus. In the adult, the testis acts as an exocrine organ, with the production and secretion of sperm. It also acts as an endocrine organ by its production and secretion of testosterone into the blood. The additional fetal function has already been noted, namely the secretion of MIS to cause regression of female structures. Sperm production occurs within the seminiferous tubules, and is the result of complex local events as well as distant regulatory signals. Under the control of local testosterone production by the Leydig cells, the Sertoli cells within the seminiferous tubules provide an appropriate environment for the development of immature germ cells into mature spermatozoa. Sertoli cells The seminiferous tubules are comprised entirely of Sertoli cells and germ cells. Sertoli cells are tall columnar cells with numerous branches which envelop all the differentiating germ cells from basement membrane to the tubule lumen. Tight junctions between Sertoli cells create a blood-testis barrier, and separate the germinal epithelium into basal and adluminal compartments. Only the most immature germ cells are present in the basal compartment, with more advanced germ cells enjoying a specialized micro-environment within the adluminal compartment. A single Sertoli cell may envelop 10-20 developing germ cells. Sertoli cell functions include: support and nutrition of germ cells; release of mature germ cells into the lumen; translocation of developing germ cells in an adluminal direction; secretion of androgen binding protein, transferrin, inhibin; cell-cell communication via gap junctions to coordinate spermatogenesis; blood-testis barrier. Physiology of the Male Reproductive System Germ Cells Germ cells begin as spermatogonia, which are the stem cells lining the basementlayer of the seminiferous tubule. They are small, rounded, mitotically active cells which are sensitive to chemotherapy or radiation. Type A spermatogonia develop into Type B spermatogonia, which subsequently become primary spermatocytes during the first meiotic prophase. Primary spermatocytes go through a series of stages (preleptotene, leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene) which are identified on the basis of cellular size and increasing nuclear condensation. Secondary spermatocytes result from the first reduction division. They are diploid, in contrast to the primary spermatocytes which are tetraploid. The second meiotic prophase is very short (1 day) so secondary spermatocytes are not readily visible in tissue sections. Spermatids result from the second reduction division and are therefore haploid. They are numerous, and are found near the tubule lumen. Spermatids may be in many stages of differentiation, but cells in any one cluster are always synchronized. Spermatozoa The morphologically mature spermatozoon is released into the tubule lumen. It is a highly polarized cell, approximately 60um long in the human. The head consists of the condensed

nucleus, the acrosome, and associated membrane structures. The tail consists of a neck, middle piece containing a sheath of mitochondria, the principal piece, and an end piece. A "9+2" axoneme extends from the neck to the end piece. The entire tail is covered by the plasma membrane. See Infertility in the Male. p. 108, Lipshultz, L. I. & Howards, S. S. (eds). Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. Leydig Cells Leydig cells lie in the testicular interstitium between the seminiferous tubules, and seem primarily involved in the production of testosterone for local and distant purposes. Distant effects of testosterone include masculinization of external and internal reproductive tissues (alone or via its metabolite DHT), pubertal changes of deepening voice, facial hair pattern, etc., and CNS actions affecting libido and sexual behavior. Local effects appear directed to stimulate and support Sertoli cell function in providing the proper environment for developing germ cells. Testosterone is bound to androgen-binding protein secreted by the Sertoli cell in the testis, and in the circulation is bound to a high affinity plasma globulin (testosterone binding globulin). Physiology of the Male Reproductive System See Fawcett, D. W.: Perspect. Biol. Med., Winter. 1979 Semen Semen is the suspension of spermatozoa in a fluid medium termed the seminal plasma. The seminal plasma is a product of several accessory reproductive organs, primarily the seminal vesicles and prostate, although contributions are made as well by the bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands), urethral glands (glands of Littre), the rete testis, the epididymides, and the vasa deferentia and ampullae. The seminiferous tubules drain into the mediastinum testis posteriorly, and coalesce into a small number of channels termed the tubuli recti, which then form the labrynthine rete testis. The tubuli recti and rete testis are lined by simple cuboidal epithelium. Ninety percent of testicular fluid secretion is produced by these structures, and this fluid promotes sperm movement from testis to epididymis. The 8-12 efferent ducts transport sperm and fluid from the rete testis to epididymis. Epithelium is simple columnar, and has both ciliated and non-ciliated absorptive cells. Fluid absorption rather than secretion occurs here. Epididymis The epididymis is a single convoluted duct 20 m in length. It is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Stereo cilia are present, and are specialized microvilli rather than true cilia. The epididymis has several functions. 1 - Sperm conduit. Epididymal passage takes about 12 days in man, with sperm propelled by spontaneous rhythmic contractions of the duct. 2. Fluid resorption. In the ram, about 99% of fluid entering caput is resorbed during epididymal passage. 3.Sperm reservoir. The cauda is a major site of sperm storage. 4. Sperm maturation. Fertilizing ability of sperm improves from caput to corpus to cauda. Motility improves as well. The acquisition of fertilizing ability may be due to an epididymis-specific maturation process, or may reflect a time requirement for maturation during epididymal transit. Physiology of the Male Reproductive System Vas Deferens The epididymis continues as the vas deferens, which is a single straight duct lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with stereo cilia. The vas is 35-45 cm long, transporting sperm through the upper scrotum and inguinal canal, behind the base of the bladder to form the dilated ampullae of the vas and then join the seminal vesicles to form the ejaculatory ducts traversing the prostate gland. The vas has a thick muscular wall with inner and outer longitudinal fibers sandwiching a middle circular layer. The vas provides rapid transport of sperm during ejaculation. Seminal vesicles Elongated saccular organs with an irregular branching lumen. Pseudostratified epithelium. Seminal vesicle fluid notable for high fructose and prostaglandin content. Prostate Weighs about 20 grams, with multiple excretory glands which empty into the urethra.

A normal human ejaculate has a volume of 2-5 cc and contains 150-200 million sperm. The hypothalamic pituitary-gonadal axis control of spermatogenesis The germinal epithelium requires high levels of testosterone, supplied by the Leydig cells, but this is not sufficient. There must also be adequate stimulation of the Sertoli cells by the pituitary peptide hormone follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH binding to Sertoli cell receptors stimulates cAMP and protein kinases which lead to increased protein synthesis. Testosterone production by the Leydig cells is also under the regulation of another pituitary polypeptide hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH). LH does not seem to have any effects on seminiferous cells directly. The release of LH and FSH from the pituitary is under regulation of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), also known as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), a hypothalamic peptide hormone. LHRH is released in pulses averaging every70-90 minutes, and has a short half-life of 2-5 minutes. Variations in pulse frequency may be responsible for regulating the relative release of FSH or LH from the pituitary. Feedback control mechanisms play an important role in male reproductive physiology. Testosterone inhibits the release of LH from the pituitary and LHRH from the hypothalamus. Estradiol is derived from peripheral conversion of testosterone via the enzyme aromatase, and is a more potent inhibitor of both LH and FSH secretion than testosterone. FSH secretion is down-regulated by a Sertoli cell product termed inhibin. Castration results in a progressive increase of both LH and FSH serum levels since there is no negative feedback.