male reproductive histology

1. QAP10403
Dr. Mohanad R. Alwan

2. Components
 Scrotum
 Testes
 Duct system
 Penis
 Accessory
glands
24.1

3. Testes – gross anatomy
 ~4 cm long, 2.5 cm wide
 Tunica vaginalis
 Tunica albuginea (capsule)
 Septa
– 250-300 lobules
– Seminiferous tubules
 Epididymis
24.3

4. Seminiferous tubules
 Spermatogenic cells
 Spermatogenesis begins at puberty
 ~400 million sperm/day
24.3b

5.  Seminiferous tubules: stratified epithelium
are located in the testes, and are the specific
location of meiosis, and the subsequent
creation of gametes, namely spermatozoa.
 The epithelium of the tubule consists of
sustentacular or Sertoli cells, which are tall,
columnar type cells that line the tubule.
 In between the Sertoli cells are
spermatogenic cells, which differentiate
through meiosis to sperm cells.

7. Hormones
 Spermatogenesis controlled by
– FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) from
pituitary
– Testosterone from Leydig (interstitial) cells
of testes
– secretions from Sertoli cells

8. Sustentacular (Sertoli) cells
 Nurse cells
 Extend from basal lamina to lumen
 Connected to each other by tight
junctions
 Nourish spermatogenic cells
 Transport spermatogenic cells
 Phagocytize excess cytoplasm
 Secretions regulate spermatogenesis
24.4c

9. Interstitial
(Leydig) cells
 Secretes
testosterone
 Controlled by LH
from pituitary
24.3b

10. Ducts
 Epididymis
 Ductus deferens
 Ejaculatory duct
 (urethra)
24.1

11. Epididymis
 Located in scrotum
 Between seminiferous
tubules and vas
deferens
 ~6 m long
24.3a

12. Epididymis
 Pseudostratified
columnar epithelium
– With stereocilia (long
microvilli)
– Smooth muscle
– Sperm mature and
stored
24.6a

13. Ductus (vas) deferens
 From scrotum to
pelvis
 Forms ejaculatory
duct with seminal
vesicle duct
 Empties into
prostatic urethra
 Thick muscularis
 Propels sperm during
ejaculation
24.1

14. Ductus deferens
 Microscopic anatomy
 Pseudostratified
epithelium
 Lamina propria
 Muscularis
– Inner longitudinal
– Middle circular
– Outer longitudinal
24.6b

15. Accessory Glands
 Seminal vesicle
– 60% of semen
– Fructose to nourish sperm
24.1

16. The seminal vesicle it is a coiled, sacculated tubular structure
that is surrounded by a smooth muscle coat (bracket).
Generally, this smooth muscle contains inner circular and outer
longitudinal layers.
 The highly folded mucosa of the seminal vesicle is illustrated
below, lined with high cuboidal to low columnar epithelium. One
may also find some variable pseudostratified columnar
epithelium.
24.1

17. LOBES OF THE PROSTATE
 Anatomically, prostate are divided
into 5 lobes :
1) One anterior lobe
2) One posterior lobe
3) One median or middle lobe
4) Two lateral lobes

18. PROSTATE GLAND
LOBES
• 1 anterior lobe
• 1 posterior lobe
• 1 median lobe
• 2 lateral lobes
Anatomically
divide
Prostatic urethra &
ejaculatory duct

19. Fig. : Cross section of the prostate
CENTRAL ZONE
PERIPHERAL
ZONE
• account for
25% to 75% of
glandular
tissues
• duct of the
glands mainly
open into
prostatic
sinuses
• surrounded
by peripheral
zone
• duct of the
glands open
into prostatic
sinuses and
colliculus
seminalis
BackBack

20. Mucosal
glands
Submucosal glands
Main/Principal
glands
Fig. : Cross section of the
prostate

21. Mucosal glands
• inner periurethral
glands
• lies in the mucosal
layer of the urethra
• open directly into
the urethra
• situated in the
middle lobe
Fig. : Cross section of the prostate

23. interstitial
cells-
testosterone

24. sperm
production
in the
seminferous
tubules

25. sperm
storage
in the
epididymis

26. transport
in the
vas
deferens

27. ampulla -
storage

28. fluid from
the
seminal
vessicles
ejaculatory
duct

29. fluid from
the
prostate
gland

30. cowper’s
gland

31. ejaculatio
Spinal reflex
triggers nerve
impulses to
ducts, glands,
muscles of
reproductive
system.