Male Reproductive System

Histology Department
Medical Faculty
 Introduction
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
INCLUDES :
1. TESTESSPERM
PRODUCTION VIA
MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS
2. GENITAL DUCTS (including
EPIDIDYMIS STORAGE
OF SPERM & PENIS)
3. ACCESORY GLANDS-TO
SUPPORT & TRANSPORT
SPERM :
SEMINAL VESSICLE
PROSTATE
BULBOURETHRAL
GLANDS
 Tubulus Seminiferus & Ducts of
Testes the testis
 Testes
VASCULATURE IS CRITICAL TO FUNCTION
SPERM PRODUCTION
ERECTION & TRANSMISSION OF
SPERM
TEMPERATURE REGULATION-MUST
BE BELOW 37C
CONNECTIVE TISSUE SYSTEM
TUNICA VAGINALIS (OUTER), T.
ALBUGINEA (MIDDLE) & T.
VASCULOSA (INNER)
MEDIASTINUM TESTES = CONNECTIVE
TISSUE TO PROTECT BLOOD VESSELS,
LYMPHATICS & GENITAL DUCTS
LOBULES CONTAIN THE
SEMINIFEROUS FOR SPERM
PRODUCTION
THESE LOBULES TERMINATE IN
TUBULI RECTI TO RETE TESTIS
Low Magnification of the entire
testis

TA Tunica Albuginea
E Epididymis
RT Rete Testis
 Testes In Mens Life
Neonate /Newborn Puberty /post Puberty
Tubulus Seminiferus In
Reproductive Age
Tubulus Seminiferus
1. DIFFERENT SPERMATOGENIC CELLS ARE
INTERSPERSED WITH EPITHELIAL CELLS
(SERTOLI) AT SPECIFIC SITES GOVERNED BY
SPECIFIC INTERCELULAR CONNECTIONS
2. DEVELOPS IN CYCLES74 DAYS TO
MATURATION
TUNICA PROPRIA CONTAINS MYOID
CELLS WHICH ARE SMOOTH MUSCLE
LIKE AND USED FOR CONTRACTION OF
PERISTALTIC TO MOVE SPERM
3. SERTOLI CELLS
TALL COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
SUPPORT (NURSE) CELLS FOR SPERM
EXTENSIVE RER, GOLGI, LIPID,
GLYCOGEN & INCLUSIONS INDICATE
HIGH METABOLIC ACTIVITY
SPECIFIC CELL-CELL INTERACTIONS IN
UNIQUE TIGHT JUNCTIONS
ALSO A CELL-SPERMATOCYTE
JUNCTION=DESMOSOMAL LIKE
Tubulus Seminiferus
4. CELL-CELL ESTABLISH THE BASAL AND
LUMINAL COMPARTMENTS
SPERMATOGONIA & PRIMARY
Tubulus
SPERMATOCYTE CONFINED TO BASAL
LAYER BY TIGHT JUNCTION Seminiferus
WITH MEIOSIS & SPERMATOGENESIS
MOVEMENT UPWORDS TOWARDS
THE LUMINAL SURFACE
5. INDICATES NURSE CELL FUNCTION AS IN
OTHER SYSTEMS
6. BASAL LAMINAE DEFINES BLOOD-TESTES
BARRIER & BLOCKS CERTAIN
MOLECULES SUCH AS IgGs BUT OTHERS
OK
7. LEYDIG CELLS
LARGE ACIDOPHILIC (HARD TO SEE)
WITH INCLUSIONS OF LIPID AND
CRYSTALS OF REINKE
STEROID SECRETING PROFILE FOR
TESTOSTERONE
IN OLD AGE MAY RESEMBLE
FIBROBLASTS
 forms the blood-testis barrier
Secrete two hormones - inhibin and
activin - which provide positive and
negative feedback on FSH secretion
from the pituitary
Interstitial tissue
Leydig cells located in the
interstitial tissue between the
convoluted seminiferous
tubules
constitute the endocrine
component of the testis.
synthesize and secrete
testosterone.
occur in clusters, which are
variable in size and richly
supplied by capillaries.
Tubulus seminiferus
SPERMATOGENESIS
 SPERMATOGENESIS 3 PHASES
A. SPERMATOGONIAL
1. STEM CELLS DIVIDE
2. COMMITTED POPULATION
OF CELLS TO BE
SPERMATOGONIA
3. HISTOLOGICALLY DEFINED
BY APPEARANCE OF NUCLEI
AND STAIN AFFINITY
B. SPERMATOCYTE=MEIOSIS
1.REDUCTION DIVISION
AFTER MITOSIS TO NUCLEI
2.TIME OF CROSS OVER
C. SPERMATID = SPERMIOGENESIS
1. AFTER 2nd MEIOTIC DIVISION
GOES TO 4 PHASES
A. GOLGI PHASE-PROACROSOMAL
GRANULE TO FORM ACROSOMAL
VESICLE NEAR NUCLEAR
MEMBRANE; MOVEMENT OF
CENTRIOLES
B. CAP PHASE-FORMATION OF
ACROSOMAL CAP IN TIGHT
ASSOC. WITH MEMRANE
C. ACROSOMAL PHASE-
REORIENTATION, CONDENSATION
OF NUCLEUS AND MT FOR
MACHETTE CYLINDER
D. MATURE SPERM
1. HEAD AND TAIL REGION
2. ACROSOMAL REACTION-RECOGNITION AND
DIGESTION
3. SPERM ARE SECRETED IN FLUID FROM SERTOLI
CELLS AND ARE NON-MOTILE AT THIS TIME
4. HIGH CONCENTRATION OF TESTOSTERONE
NECESSARY FOR MATURATION IN LUMEN
5. DUCTS OF TESTES
A. TUBULI RECTI=STRAIGHT TUBE TO RETE TESTES OF
MEDIASTINUM
B. SIMPLE EPITHELIUM WITH APICAL CILIA
Males gametes
 Seminiferous Tubules

Sperm

Sperm

Spermatids

Primary Spermatocytes
 Sperm
Seminiferous
Tubule

Primary
spermatocytes

Spermatids

Arrow sertoli
cell
 SEM of a seminiferous tubule

Sg, spermatogonia; Sc, spermatocytes; Se, Sertoli cells; Ta, sperm tails
 TEM of developing sperm head

AC acrosome; PM plasma membrane

 TEM of developing sperm midpiece

Mi mitochondria; He head; Cp centriole; Cf/Pf microtubules of flagellum

TEM of crossections through sperm tails

Note the 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules

SEM of a mature sperm cell
 Sperm leave testis though efferent ductules
Lined by simple columnar epithelium
Cilia and smooth muscle in wall help move
sperm along
Sperm mature in epididymus (20 days)
Head of epididymus contains the efferent
ductules which empty into duct of the
epididymus
Sperm gain ability to swim
Sperm can be stored in epididymus for several
months
Normal VS Abnormal Tubulus Seminiferus
Normal VS Abnormal Tubulus Seminiferus
Ducts of the Testis
Ducts of the
Testis
 Low magnification The entire testis

Epididymis

Rete Testis

Seminiferous
tubules
 Low magnification of Rete Testis

Ductili Efferentes
Ductuli Efferentes
 DUCTUS EPIDIDYMIS
MATURATION OF SPERM
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED
EPITHELIUM WITH STEREO
CILIA THAT CONTAINS
PRINCIPAL CELLS AND BASAL
CELLS
Duct of epididymis:
highly coiled 6m long duct (pic
left is multiple coils of same
duct)
Sperm are ejaculated from the
epididymus Not directly
from the testes
Note pseudostratified
columnar epithelium
Ductuli Efferentes Ductus Epididymis
Ductus Epididymis
DUCTUS DEFERENS
(VAS DEFERENS)
DUCTUS DEFERENS
(VAS DEFERENS)
Ductus (vas) deferens:
PSEUDOSTRATIFIED
EPITHELIUM WITH LOTS OF
MUCOSAL INFOLDING
note thick layers of smooth
muscle
Vas deferens* (or ductus
deferens) 45cm (18)
Stores and transports sperm
during ejaculation
Runs superiorly from
scrotum within spermatic
cord, through inguinal canal
and enters pelvis
Ductus Defferens
Normal VS Abnormal
Ductuli Efferentes
MALE ACCESSORY SEX GLANDS
Seminal vesicles
On posterior bladder
Secrete fluids & substances which constitute 60% of semen
Their ducts join vas deferens
Bulbourethral glands
Secrete mucus during sexual excitement & ejaculation
(lubricant)
The Prostate
Size & shape of a chestnut
Encircles 1st part of urethra
3 types of glands
Contribute to semen (milky fluid and enzymes)
PSA measured as indicator of prostate cancer (prostate specific
antigen)
Fibromuscular stroma
Seminal Vesicle
Prostate
Cowpers Gland

MALE ACCESSORY SEX

GLANDS
 SEMINAL
VESICLES
The seminal vesicles
develop from the vas
deferens.
Their histological
organisation resembles to
some extent that of the vas
deferens
PAIRED TUBULAR GLANDS
IN MUSCULAR AND
FIBROUS COAT
SECRETES VISCUS FLUID
FOR SPERM METABOLISM
(FRUCTOSE), AMINO ACID,
ASCORBATE (ANTIOXIDANT)
AND PROSTAGLANDINS
Low magnification of the entire Seminal Vesicle
 Seminal Vesicle

Smooth Muscle
Seminal Vesicles
The structure of the epithelium is variable appearing columnar or
pseudostratified columnar (columnar cells and basal cells)
Epithelial lining of the Seminal Vesicle
 PROSTATE
GLAND
LARGE TUBULO
ALVEOLAR GLAND
PROXIMAL TO URETHRA
MUCOSAL LAYER
SUBMUCOSAL
LAYERGLANDS
CANCER RISK-BENIGN
HYPERTHROPHY
Prostate Gland
Normal
Prostatic
acinus
 Prostat Secretions
A characteristic feature of the
prostate is the appearance of
corpora amylacea in the
secretory alveoli.
They are rounded eosinophilic
bodies.
Their average diameter is
about 0.25 mm (up to 2 mm).
Their number increases with
age - in particular past 50.
They may undergo
calcification
Prostat secretions
Prostat secretions
Prostatic Neoplasm
Normal Prostat VS Prostatic Carcinoma
 BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
(COWPERS GLANDS)

SIMPLE MUCUS SECRETING

SECRETES GALACTOSE, GALACTOSAMINE &
SIALIC ACID
MAJOR PORTION OF PRESEMINAL FLUID
SEMEN=ALL PRODUCTS OF SECRETION FOR
LUBRICATION, NUTRITION AND ENHANCEMENT
OF FERTILIZATION
 PENIS
Male external genitalia
Scrotum
Penis
CARRIES BOTH URINE & SPERM
ERECTILE TISSUE 2 DORSAL MASSES
CORPORA CAVERNOSA & 1 VENTRAL
CORPORA SPONGIOSUM
CT= TUNICA ALBUGINEA
AUTONOMIC ACTIVITY CONTROLS
BLOOD FLOW INTO CORPORA
CAVERNOSA & AV SHUNT
(CONSTRICTION)
PARASYMPATHETIC INITIATES
THE ERECTION
SYMPATHETIC RESPONSIBLE
FOR EJACULATION
 Penis: 3 parts
Root (attached)
Free shaft or body
Enlarged tip called glans penis
Skin of penis is loose
Prepuce or foreskin
Cuff around glans
Removed if circumcision
Cross section Of penis
Urethra (called spongy or penile urethra here)
3 erectile bodies (parasympathetic stimulation during sexual excitation
causes engorgement with blood allowing erection):
Corpus spongiosum
Pair of corpora cavernosa
Vessels and nerves
Ejaculation caused by sympathetic nerves
Contraction of smooth muscle of ducts and penis
Cross Section of Penis
Transverse section of the penis
The Penis
Penile Neoplasm
Parents were concerned about their 16- C
year-old son for the following reasons: he D
had no deepening of his voice, scanty
pubic and axillary hair growth, absence of
beard and mustache growth, small penis,
poor muscular development, and
psychosocial immaturity. B
Laboratory evaluation indicated the
following:
Serum testosterone 100 ng/dL E
Sperm count 10 million /mL
semen
A
Which structure produce
testosterone in this child? F
SPERMATOZOA PRODUCTION IS IN?

A
B
C