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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The male reproductive tract consists of eternal !enitals and internal or!ans" These

or!ans are located in the pelvic cavit#" The male$s reproductive s#stem %e!ins todevelop in response to testosterone durin! earl# fetal life" &ssentiall# notestosterone is produced durin! childhood" 'esumption of testosterone productionat the onset of pu%ert# stimulates !ro(th and maturation of the male$s reproductivestructures and secondar# se characteristics" Testosterone is the male se hormonesecreted %# the interstitial cells of the testes"

The primar# function of the male$s reproduction s#stem is to produce male se cells)(hich are called sperm cells" The primar# or!ans of the male$s reproduction s#stemare the t(o testes in (hich the sperm cells are formed" The other structures are theduct s#stem and the accessor# !landular structure"

The male reproductive organs.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

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Structure of the testes.

a" Testes *T(o+" The testes are t(o almond,shaped !lands (hose functions are forthe production of sperm and testosterone" The testes are suspended in the scrotalsac outside the a%dominopelvic cavit#" It is %elieved that the testes lie outside the%od# cavit# %ecause the# are ver# sensitive to heat and the hi!her temperature(ithin the %od# is unfavora%le to the production of sperm" &ach testis is enclosed %#a tou!h) (hite -%rous capsule called the tunica al%u!inea" &tension of the capsuledivides it into a lar!e num%er of lo%es" &ach lo%e contains four ti!htl# coiledseminiferous tu%ules *this is the location of actual sperm production+" Theseminiferous tu%ules empt# sperm into the testicular net(or. (here the# travel tothe epidid#mis" The epidid#mis is located outside of the testis"

%" Duct S#stem" The duct s#stem is the passa!e(a# for the sperm to eit the %od#"It contains the epidid#mis and the vas deferens" */+ &pidid#mis" The epidid#mis is acoiled tu%e a%out 01 inches lon!" It caps the superior part of the testis and runs

do(n its posterior side" It forms the -rst part of the duct s#stem and provides atemporar# stora!e site for immature sperm"

2hen the male is seuall# stimulated) the (alls of the epidid#mis contract to epelsperm into the net part of the duct s#stem" *0+ 3as deferens *ductus deferens+" Thesperm continue their 4ourne# throu!h the vas deferens" The vas deferens runsup(ards from the epidid#mis throu!h the in!uinal canal into the pelvic cavit# andarches over the %ladder *see -!ure /,5+" It is enclosed (ith %lood vessels andnerves in a connective tissue sheath) (hich is called a spermatic cord" The vasdeferens empties into the e4aculator# duct that carries the sperm throu!h theprocess to empt# into the urethra"

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c" Accessor# Glandular Structure" The accessor# !landular structure includes theseminal vesicles) prostate !land) 6o(per$s !lands) and the penis"

*/+ Seminal vesicles" The t(o seminal vesicles are pouches that store sperm" Sit#percent of 7uid volume of semen *seminal 7uid+ is produced there" The secretion isrich in su!ar *fructose+) (hich nourishes and activates the sperm passin! throu!hthe tract"

*0+ Prostate !land" The prostate !land is a sin!le !land a%out the si8e and shape ofa chestnut" It encircles the upper area of the urethra 4ust %elo( the %ladder" Itsecretes a mil.# al.aline 7uid) (hich has the role in protectin! the sperm a!ainstacid conditions of the va!ina"

*9+ 6o(per$s !lands" The co(per$s !lands are tin# pea,si8ed !lands inferior to theprostate" The# form a thic.) clear mucus) (hich drains into the urethra" The

secretion is %elieved to serve primaril# as a lu%ricant durin! seual intercourse"

*:+ Penis" The penis is a c#linder,shaped or!an located eternall# on the monspu%is) immediatel# a%ove the scrotum" It is made of erectile tissue (ith cavern,li.espaces in it" At the time of seual ecitement) %lood -lls these spaces) chan!in! thesoft) limp penis to an enlar!ed) ri!id) erect or!an" The smooth cap of the penis iscalled the !lans penis and is covered %# a fold of loose s.in that forms the headloc.fores.in" Sur!ical removal of this fores.in) called circumcision) is fre;uentl#performed" The penis also serves as part of the urinar# tract in the male"