Male Genital System Overview

Male Genital System

• Primary Sex Organs:
  • Testes (2): Produce sperm and testosterone.
  • Oval in shape
  • Located: In the scrotal sac outside the abdominal cavity, requiring lower temperatures for sperm production.
• Secondary Sex Organs:
  • Duct System: Includes the epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra.
  • Accessory Glands: Consist of the seminal vesicle, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.

Testis

• Structure: Divided into 200 lobules by septa.
  • Each lobule: Contains 1–3 seminiferous tubules.
  • Each tubule: Contains germinal cells (produce sperm) and Sertoli cells (support cells for sperm nutrition).
• Testicular stroma: Contains interstitial cells of Leydig, which secrete testosterone.
• Vasa efferentia: Small tubules connecting the testis to the epididymis.
• Covered by:
  • Tunica albuginea: Strong fibrous capsule.
  • Tunica vaginalis: Serous sac.

Epididymis

• Shape: Comma-shaped mass.
• Structure: Highly coiled single duct of 6 meters long.
  • Head: Connected to the testis by vasa efferentia.
  • Body: Lies on the posterior surface of the testis.
  • Tail: Continues as the vas deferens.
• Function: Storage and maturation of sperm.

Vas Deferens

• Location: Begins at the tail of the epididymis and ends by joining the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct.
• Function: Conveys sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

Ejaculatory Ducts

• Formation: Union of the vas deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicle.
• Termination: Opens into the prostatic urethra.

Male Urethra

• Shape and Length: S-shaped and 20 cm long.
• Parts:
  • Prostatic Urethra: Widest part.
  • Membranous Urethra: Narrowest and shortest part.
  • Penile Urethra: Longest part.

Accessory Glands

• Seminal Vesicles (2):
  • Location: On the urinary bladder base.
  • Seminal Vesicle Duct: Joins the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct.
  • Function: Secretes seminal fluid for sperm nutrition.
• Prostate (1):
  • Shape: Inverted pyramid.
  • Location: Below the neck of the bladder.
  • Traversed by: Prostatic urethra and ejaculatory ducts.
  • Function: Secretes seminal fluid for sperm nutrition.
• Bulbourethral (Cowper's) Glands (2):
  • Shape: Two pin-head glands.
  • Location: Beside the membranous urethra, its duct opens into the penile urethra.

Female Genital System

• Primary Sex Organ:
  • Ovaries (2): Produce ova (eggs) and secrete the female sex hormones progesterone and estrogen.
  • Shape: Almond-shaped gland.
  • Location: In the pelvis, lateral to the uterus.
• Secondary Sex Organs:
  • Duct System: Includes the fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina.
• External Genital Organs:
  • Vulva (includes clitoris, labia majora, and labia minora).

Ovary

• Function: Production of ova and secretion of progesterone and estrogen.

Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes

• Location: Between the ovary and the uterus.
• Length: About 10 cm.
• Parts:
  • Infundibulum: Lies close to the ovary and has fimbria (finger-like projections).
  • Ampulla: Widest part of the tube, site of fertilization.
  • Isthmus: The narrowest part of the tube.
  • Intra-mural part: Lies in the wall of the uterus.
• Functions:
  • Carry oocytes from the ovaries.
  • Carry sperm from the uterus.
  • Site of fertilization.
  • Carry the zygote to the uterine cavity.

Uterus

• Shape: Pear-shaped, thick-walled, muscular organ.
• Location: In the pelvic cavity.
• Parts:
  • Fundus: Lies above the entrance of the uterine tubes.
  • Body: The part below the entrance of the uterine tubes, main triangular part.
  • Cervix: Lower cylindrical part, forms the lower 1/3 of the uterus.