MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Testis, excretory genital ducts, accessory genital glands, and penisSpermato- and spermiogenesis

Composition of the sperm (ejaculate)

Testis Greek - orchis

tunica albuginea mediastinum testisseptula testis

lobuli testis 200 – 250

2-4 seminiferous tubules + interstitial tissue with LEYDIG´s cells

scrotum

Septa testis

• TestisGross Anatomy:

The paired male gonads are the site of sperm production and located outside the body cavity within the scrotum.

Each testis is an egg-shaped organ measuring 4-5 cm in lenght and 3 cm across. The left testis is somewhat larger than the right one. Each testis has an superior and an inferior pole, medial/ lateral surface and anterior and posterior border. The testis lies oblique in the scrotum. Investing the testis is a thick collagen capsule in the form of tunica albuginea.

Tunica vaginalis(viceral/parietal layers) – Internal spermatic fascia – cremasteric fascia – external spermatic fascia – Dartos fascia(septum testis/ raphe of scrotum) – Wrinkeld skin.

Seminiferous tubule:membrana propria, basal lamina and germinal epithelium

adluminal

compartment

basal

Spermatogenesis

spematocytogenesis

meiosis

spermiogenesis

Development from the spermatogonium to fully differentiated spermatozoon lasts 64 –74 days in avarrage

SSpermiogenepermiogenesissis

Structure and origin of gametesgametes = generative (germ or sex) cellsin comparison with somatic cells, gametes are highly specialized and contain only half the usual number of chromosomesthe sperm or spermatozoon (the male germ cell)the ovum or egg cell (the female germ cell)human gametes similar to gametes of another species substantially differ each other in size, structure, motility, and viability

The sperm, spermatozoonis a motile cell that is cca 60 m long

a head, a neck (connecting piece) and a tailthe head has a flattened pyriform shape and measures approximately 4 m in length, consists of the

sperm plasma membrane, condensed nucleus and acrosomal cap covering the anterior two-thirds of the nucleusthe acrosomal cap derives from the Golgi apparatus and contains hydrolytic enzymes (hyaluronidase, acrosin, neuraminidase)

the neck (= connecting piece) is very short sperm section composed of segmented columns, proximal centriole, and a part of distal centriole that serves as basal body of the axoneme of tail

the tail - cca 55 m in length

middle piece – about 5 to 9 m in length, 1-2 m in diameter, consists ofthe axoneme that is insertedin the distal centriole located in the neck, is surrounded by 9 outer dense fibers (dense columns) and externally to them by a mitochondrial sheath

principal piece - 40-45 m in lengthis narrower than the middle piececontains the axoneme, 9 outer dense fibers and fibrous sheath

end piececca 5-10 m in length, consists of the axoneme and associated cytoplasm only

the neck and all pieces of the tail are covered with a membrane that is continuous with the plasma membrane of the head

Tubuli recti

Rete testis

both are lined with simple flat to columnar epithelium

It has an own CT capsule

Epididymis Epididymis 7.5 cm in length, elongated shape (head, body and tail) ductuli efferentes testis + ductus epididymidis 10-20 4-6 m

Ductuli efferentes: columnar epithelium, basement membrane and thin lamina propria

Ductus epididymidis: psudostratied epithelim, basement membrane and lamina propria with smooth muscle cells

Ductus deferens

mucous coat

muscular coat adventitia

Ductus deferens 40 cm long

2–3 mm thick tubular organ

Same epithelium as in the respiratory region in the nose:

”SUGAR IN NOSE”TEST!!!!

Funiculus spermaticus Contents of spermatic cord:

•3 Arteries: testicular artery, deferential artery, cremasteric artery

•3 Vessels: vas deferens, pampiniform plexus, lymphatic vessels

•3 Coverings: Internal spermatic, cremasteric, external spermatic fascia.

•Nerves: cremaster, genital branch ;genitofemoral nerve + sympathetic

Accessory genital glands

Accessory genital glands : seminal vesicles

Accessory genital glands : prostata

Penis

Penis