Human Reproduction

Reproductive System

Male Reproductive System

• It is located in the pelvic region.

• It consists of:

  • A pair of testes

  • Accessory glands and ducts

  • External genitalia

Testes

• ​Situated within the scrotum, which protects the testes and also helps in maintaining the temperature.

• Each testis is 4 to 5 cm in length, and 2 to 3 cm in width, and has about 250 compartments called testicular lobules.

• Testicular lobules have seminiferous tubules which are the sites of sperm formation.

• Seminiferous tubules are lined by two types of cells:

  • Male germ cells − They undergo meiosis to form sperms.

  • Sertoli cells − They provide nourishment to the germ cells.

• Region outside the seminiferous tubules is called the interstitial space, which contains Leydig cells (interstitial cells). The Leydig cells produce androgens.

Accessory Ducts and Glands

• Accessory ducts include:

  • Rete testis

  • Vasa efferentia

  • Epididymis

  • Vas deferens

• The seminiferous tubules open into the vasa efferentia through the rete testis.

• The vasa efferentia open into the epididymis, which leads to the vas deferens. The vas deferens opens into the urethra along with a duct from the seminal vesicle called the ejaculatory duct.

• The ejaculatory duct stores the sperms and transports them to the outside

• The urethra starts from the urinary bladder, extends through the penis and opens via the urethral meatus.

• Accessory glands include:

  • A pair of seminal vesicles

  • Prostate gland

  • A pa…