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The male genital system

The male genital system

Point 2 of 6 — Lesson 3: The Human Reproductive System and GametogenesisQuestion bank: 0 questions (0 with pictures)

02 The male genital system

  • Consists of the two testes, the epididymis, the vas deferens (sperm ducts), the accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate gland, Cowper's glands) and the urethra and penis.
  • It produces sperms and male hormones that develop the male secondary sexual characters (deepening voice, stronger muscles, facial hair).
  1. The two testes. They lie outside the body, in the scrotal sac. During the last month of pregnancy (fetal life) they descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum. The scrotum is cooler than the body temperature (about 2–3 °C lower), which is suitable for spermatogenesis. If a testis fails to descend (cryptorchidism), spermatogenesis does not occur and the man is infertile (sterile) — though hormone production continues.
    • Importance of the testis: (a) production of sperms; (b) secretion of the hormone testosterone (from the interstitial cells), which causes the secondary male characters at puberty.
    • Structure: each testis is made of coiled seminiferous tubules; between them lie interstitial (Leydig) cells that secrete testosterone. Inside each tubule are Sertoli cells (which nourish the developing sperms and may have a protective function) and germ cells (primary germ cells, 2N) lining the wall, which divide and finally turn into sperms.
  2. The two epididymes. Each testis leads to a long coiled tube, the epididymis, where sperms are stored and mature, leading to the vas deferens.
  3. The two vasa deferentia. Carry sperms from the epididymis to the urethra.
  4. The seminal vesicles. Secrete an alkaline fluid with fructose that nourishes the sperms (energy for their movement).
  5. Prostate and Cowper's glands. Secrete a sugary nourishing fluid and an alkaline fluid that neutralises the acidity of the urethra (traces of urine) — a neutral medium suits sperms; the alkaline fluid passes just before the sperms. The mixture of sperms and these secretions is the semen.
  6. Penis. A spongy (erectile) organ containing the urethra, used for passing urine and semen (never at the same time).

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