The male reproductive system has two main functions: production of male gametes (spermatozoa) and synthesis/secretion of androgenic hormones. It includes gonads that produce gametes and hormones, ducts that transport gametes, and accessory glands that secrete fluids. The main components are a pair of testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and urethra. The testes produce sperm and testosterone, which support male sexual differentiation and function. Sperm mature as they move from the testes to the epididymis to the vas deferens. Accessory glands including the seminal vesicles and prostate add fluids to form semen, which

1. MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM :
Anatomy and Physiology
Luluk Hermawati
Sari Setyaningsih
Biologi Kedokteran-FKUI

2. Male reproductive system
Has 2 functions To ensure survival of
the species :
 production, nourishment and storage
of male gametes (spermatozoa)
 Synthesis and secretion of
androgenic hormones, necessary for
male sexual differentiation and
function

3. • Include:
•Reproductive organs called gonads
that produce gametes (reproductive
cells) and hormones
•Ducts that transport gametes
•Accessory glands and organs that
secrete fluids

4. • Consists of:
•A pair of testes
•A network of excretory ducts
• epididymis
• vas deferens
• ejaculatory ducts
•Seminal vesicles
•Prostate
•Urethra
•Penis

6. • Sexual differentiation in mammalian embryo depends
on Y chromosome
• SRY (sex-determining region Y) gene in Y chromosome
 testis-determining factor (TDF) : important for testis
development and male phenotype
• In this gonad development also involve the
Antimullerian hormone (AMH)

7. Testis
• Central to male reproductive system
• Arises from primitive gonad on the medial surface of
embryonic mesonephros (genital ridge)
• Primitive/primordial germ cells (PGC), appear in 4th
week of fetal development, within yolk sac; then
migrate to genital ridge  forming ‘sex cord’
• Primitive sex cord mature and proliferative to form
testis and rete testis

8. • Testes / testicles
(Gonads)
• Produce sperm
(Spermatogenesis)
• Sperm production
begins at puberty and
continues throughout the
life of a male

9. • Testes / testicles
(Gonads)
• Produce testosterone
• Hair patterns and voice
changes
• Development of the male
accessory organs
(prostate, seminal vesicles
etc.)
• Stimulates the effect of
protein building in the body
that is responsible for the
greater muscle
development and strength
of the male

10. Anatomy of Testis
• Morphologically, each testis is encapsulated by tunica
albugenia, that thickness at the mediastinum region
• From mediastinum, fibrous septa project into the testis
and divide it into 250 to 300 lobules.
• Each lobule contains 1 to 4 seminiferous tubules
• The seminiferous tubule are lined by Sertoli cells (first
described 1865 by Enrico Sertoli) which support the
proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial cells.
• Sertoli cell: predominant cell type of seminiferous tubules
until puberty, and 10% in adult testis.

12. Histology of Testis
(cross sectional)

13. • Sertoli cells serve:
- nurturing source for spematogenesis
- tight junction between its cell that will create blood testis
barrier :
* to provide immunologically privileged and highly
protected environment for developing germ cells
* to preserve of adhesions between Sertoli cells
* to maintain optimal microenvironment for germ cell
development through its highly permeability
- Elimination of residual bodies or phagocytosis excess
discarded by spermatid at the end of spermatogenesis
- secretion of fluid rich in protein and ion into tubular
lumen

14. • Sertoli cells serve (continued)
- facilitation of the release of mature spermatids into the
lumen of the seminiferous tubule by actin-mediated
contraction (spermiation)
Sertoli cell-secreted proteins
 Androgen binding protein (ABP) that binds with high
affinity to testosteron (produced by Leydig cell) and to
dihydrotestosteron.
ABP function similar to SHBG, but in testis; to maintain
androgen level within seminiferous tubule and epididiymis
 100 proteins, such as:
* transferin for iron transport
* ceruloplasmin for copper transport

15. * SPARC (secreted protein that is acidic and rich in cystein)
* retinol and retinoic acid-binding protein
* insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein
- Proteases, such as:
* plasminogen activator ( a serine protease)
* cathepsin L ( a cystein protease)
* metaloprotease
Function: to control proteolysis in spermiation, detachment
of residual bodies, germ cell migration across blood-testis
barrier, remodeling of germ cells
- anti proteases
* inhibitor metaloprotease and alpha-macroglobulin
- hormones:
inhibin, etc  for regulation of spermatogenesis

16. • Duct System
•Epididymis
•Sperm
mature in
epididymis

17. Epididymis
 A single, highly coiled tube (4 to 6 m in length),
surrounded by connective tissue and blood
vessels, and lined with columnar epithelium.
 The surface of the epithelium covered by
stereocilia (absorb fluid), ciliated cells, to
contribute transportation of testicular fluid and
sperm
 for sperm maturation, transport, concentration
and storage.

18. A. Caput
B. Corpus
C.Cauda
D.Vas
Deferens
Epididymis

19. Epididymis
 The epithelium secrete epididymal fluid that is
control by androgen
 Sperm transit through caput is rapid supported
also by testicular fluid, but at the time this fluid
will be absorbed during the journey in epididymis
 55 % to 65 % of the epididymal sperm are stored in
cauda segment, in 3 to 13 days.
 Specific protein secreted into the lumen play a role
in maintaining sperm in quiescent state

20. • Duct System
•Vas Deferens
• Transports
mature
sperm to the
urethra

21. Vas Deferens
 Mature sperm pass from the cauda epididymis
into vas deferens as a very dense packed mass.
 This transport is no longer, propelled by
hydrostatic force, by the contractive muscular
activity of the vas deferens

22. • Seminal vesicles
• Attached to vas
deferens
• Produce a sugar-
rich fluid (fructose)
that provides
energy to sperm

24. Seminal vesicles
o its epithelial cells have large Golgi with secretory
granules, and they contribute to 50% to 70% of the
seminal fluid contained fructose  regulated by
androgen
o Posses 5 alpha-reductase activity, which convert
testosterone to dihydrotestosterone; contain
LH/hCG receptors
o Contains exclusively protein , semenogelin that
responsible for coagulation of the seminal fluid

25. Bulbourethral (Cowper)
gland
The bulbourethral glands
consist of several lobules
containing tubuloalveolar
secretory units.
The secretion, containing
abundant galactose and a
moderate amount of sialic
acid, is discharged into the
penile urethra  lubrication
function and precedes the
emission of semen along the

26. • Prostate Gland
•Makes fluid

27. Prostate
 Largerst accessory gland, consisting of 30 to 50
branched tubuloalveolar glands.
 The prostatic lumen is rich in glycoprotein and
calcium deposit.
 The secretion acidic and contais prostate-specific
acid phosphatase, prostate-specific antigen (PSA),
amylase and fibrolysin.
 PSA is important in the liquefaction of the
ejaculate.

28. • Urethra
• Tube that
carries urine
from the
bladder to
outside of the
body
• Also carries
semen out of
the body

29. The urethra in the male is 20 cm long and
has three segments:
1.The prostate urethra, which receives
products transported by the ejaculatory
ducts and the ducts of the prostate glands.
2.The membranous urethra, the shortest
segment.
3.The penile urethra, which receives the
ducts of the bulbourethral glands
Urethra

33. • Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH),
also called LH
• Testosterone
• Inhibin

34. Hypothalamus



GnRH
Anterior pituitary
FSH LH
Sertoli cells Leydig cells
Inhibin Spermatogenesis Testosterone
Testis
Negative
feedback
Negative
feedback

35. Sperm
Maturation &
Development
(maturation: 62-72 days)

36. Inhibin
Acts on anterior pituitary
Inhibits FSH production
Testosterone
Acts on hypothalamus
Inhibits GnRH production
Hormonal Control of
Spermatogenesis

37. • muscle and bone growth
• facial and pubic hair growth
• thickening of vocal cords
• growth of pharyngeal cartilage
• hair follicle effects
• stimulates sebaceous glands

39. The male genital system comprises the organs
that are involved in the development,
maturation, transport and deposition of the
male gametes.
It consist of:
• Testes
• Epididymis
• Deferent duct
• Urethra
• Accessory glands
• Penis
• Scrotum

40. Testes
 The testis, or male gonads,
are paired organs, which are
elongated oval shape.
 The surface of the testis is
invested by a dense fibrous
capsule(albugineous tunic).
 The testis in bull hangs
vertically in the scrotum, and
horizontally in the horse

41. • In a few species, such as the
elephant, the testes remain
within the abdomen throughout
life and spermatogenesis
occurs at this temperature.
• Many small mammals such as
rodents exhibit periodic
changes in which the testes
descend into the scrotum
during the breeding seasons,
after which they return to the
abdomen.

42. Epididymis
• The epididymis is a compact, flat, elongated
structure closely attached to one side of the
testicle.
• It is divided into three regions, the head, body
and tail. The many tubules entered the head of
the epididymis from the testicle unite to form a
single tubule some 130 to 160 feet in length. This
tubule is convoluted and packed into the 6- to 8-
inch epididymis.
• major functions occur in the epididymis :
transport of the developing sperm cells from the
testicle to the vas deferens; the maturation of the
developing spermatozoa

43. Deferent duct
• The deferent duct is the direct
continuation of the duct of the
epididymis and passes along the
medial border of the testis. It ascends
within the spermatic cord and enters
the abdominal cavity through the
inguinal canal

47. Dog reproductive system

48. Rodent reproductive
system

49. Accessory genital glands
• The accessory genital glands are located along
the pelvic portion of the urethra. their presence
varies between the species and can include all or
some of the following:
1. Ampullary gland
2. Vesicular gland
3. Prostate gland
4. Bulbourethral gland
• The bull and stallion possess the full set of
accessory glands. The boar has vesicular,
prostate and bulbourethral glands. In the cat, the
ampullar, prostate and bulbourethral glands are
present, while only the ampullar and prostate
glands are present in the the dog.

54. Prostate gland
• It is present in all
domestic mammals. In
some it consists of two
parts, one diffusely
spread within the wall of
the pelvic urethra, the
other a compact body
located external to the
urethra.
• The horse has only the
compact part, the small
ruminants, only the
disseminated part

55. Penis
• The penis is the male
copulatory organ. It is
suspended between the
thighs on the ventral surface
of the trunck with its free
extremity pointing towards
the umbilicus in all domestic
animals except the cat.
• The penis is composed of
three parts:
Root of the penis
Body of the penis
Glans of the penis

56. • BULL  Free extremity of penis is capped
by small glans, which assymetrical and
slighty spiralled.
• BOAR  Free end of the penis is twisted
around its longitudinal axis, similar to
corkscrew, and is capped by a small glans
• STALLION  The glans resembles a
mushroom with corona being the widest
part. Behind the corona the glans is
consticted to form the neck of the glans.

58. Scrotum
• The scrotum is located between the thigh in the
bull and stallion, while it is located the perineal
region below the anus in the pig.
• The scrotum is a cuteneous fibromuscular sac
and bottle shaped in the bull. It contains the
testes, epididymis, and lower part of the
spermatic cords.
• The wall of the scrotum can be divided into some
layers:
Skin
Dartos coat
External spermatic fascia
Cremaster
Internal spermatic fascia

59. Scrotum in
bull and pig

60. • The reproductive tracts of
male echidnas and platypus
are similar to those of
placental mammals.
• One exception is that male
monotremes have no
scrotum; their testes are
within the abdominal cavity
near the kidneys.
• The tract leads from the
testes to the epididymis to the
vas deferens, which join the
urethra just before the
ureters.

61. • A pair of bulbouretheral glands
and small prostate glands
produce seminal fluid.
• The urethra ends in the penis,
which is located in a prepupital
sack in the urogenital sinus
when not erect.
• The males possess a set a
poison spurs on their back
legs, which were once thought
to hold the female during
copulation, but this idea has
been disproven since they
would effectively kill the
female

62. • The vasa deferentia pass the ureters laterally
and posteriorly to join the anterior end of the
urethra.
• There are no vesiculae seminales, but the
epididymes are large. The prostate is larger than
that of placentals. It forms a single body,
• The urethral bulb, which is enclosed in a sheath
containing mainly transverse muscle fibres.
• There are two or three pairs of Cowper's glands
which communicate with the urethra by a
common duct on each side.