MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Male reproductive system is located in the pelvis region. It Consists of – a pair of testis, glands, accessory ducts, external genitalia.

Testes-

Smooth organ situated outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch called
The scrotum helps in maintaining the low temperature of the testis which is 2-2.5O C which is below than the normal internal body temperature.
Each testisis 4 to 5 cm in length and 2 to 3 cm in width in adults.
Each testis contains about250 compartments called testicular lobules.
Each testicular lobules contain one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules, in which sperms are produced.
The wall of each seminiferous tubuleis lined by two types of cells called male germ cells (spermatogonia) and Sertoli cells.
The male germ cells undergo meiosis leading to sperm formation and Sertoli cells provide nutrition to the germ cells.
The regions outside the seminiferous tubules called interstitial spaces contain small blood vessels and interstitial cells or Leydig cells.
Leydig cells synthesize and secrete testicular hormones called androgens.

Accessory ducts-

The male accessory ducts include rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis and vas deferens.
The seminiferous tubules of the testis open into the vasa efferentia through rete testis.
The vasa efferentia leave the testis and open into epididymis located along the posterior surface of each testis.
The epididymis leads to vas deferens that ascends to the abdomen and loops over the urinary bladder.
Vas deferens receives a duct from seminal vesicle and opens into urethra as the ejaculatory duct.
The urethra originates from the urinary bladder and extends through the penis to its external opening called urethral meatus.

Accessory glands-

The male accessory glands include paired seminalvesicles, prostate gland and paired bulbourethral glands.
Accessory glands secrete seminal plasma which is rich in fructose, calcium and some enzymes
Secretion of bulbourethral gland also helps in lubricating the penis.

External genitalia-

The penis is the male external genitalia.
Some special tissues make up the penis which helps in the erection of the penis.
The enlarged end of penis called the glans penis.
Foreskin, a loose fold of tissue covers the glans penis.