Male Reproductive System: Testicles

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Male reproductive system

• Composed of 2 main glands (testicles) in an extra-pelvic location, sperm ducts connecting the testicles to the urethra, and auxiliary glands, along with 2 bursae and a penis

Testicles

• These are glandular organs which produce sperm and male hormones
• They are normally contained in the scrotum from the 8th month of life inside the uterus, after a caudal migration from the lumbar region
• Consist of an ovoid shape flattened transversally at 4 cm x 3 cm x 2.5 cm
• Weighs between 14 and 20g
• It presents a cranial pole which sometimes carries the testicle appendix, as well as caudal pole holding the scrotal ligament
• Both faces (lateral and medial) are convex and covered by the vaginal, save for the posterior edge and 1/3 of the medial face
• Includes an inextensible conjunctival wrap: the albuginea testicle, presenting an epicentral thickening
• Consists of mediastinum testis as well as a deep face doubled w vascular tunic for thermal exchanges
• Includes parenchyma, cut into lobules as well as seminiferous tubules, a connecting stroma and interstitial endocrinocytes

Scrotum

• They are 2 sacs suspended under the pubis, separated by a median raphe, composed of 7 layers. In general, the left bursa descends lower than the right bursa
• The scrotum itself is wrinkled and pigmented, in continuity with the subcutaneous covering of the abdomen
• It is composed of the dartos, a skin muscle which wrinkles the skin
• Includes a connective tissue layer
• Consists of a muscular, a superficial fibrose, a deep fibrose coat and a serous coat
• 6 envelopes are coming from the consitutive layers of the abdominal wall
• The scrotum is in continuity with the subcutaneous covering of the abdomen, and cellulitis comes fromthe subcutaneous cellular tissue

Spermatic Pathways

• These are testicular sperm excretion ducts, transporting sperm to continue maturation and are involved in the production of seminal fluid
• They are devided into intra and extra testicular
• Intra-testicular ducts consist of the straight tubules and the rete testis that is located within the mediastinum testis
• Extra-testicular sperm ducts consist of efferent ductules, two epididymal ducts, and two vas deferens

Epididymis

• In the shape of a large comma, the epididymis is applied to the postero-superior edge of the testicle
• Made up of the head, the body and the tail
• It measure 5cm in longitude, 1 cm in width and 12mm (at the head) to 3 mm (at the tail)
• Its structure is surrounded by a connective wrap, which encloses a long epicidymal duct that recieves the efferent ductules at the head

Vas deferens

• It follows the epididymis tail and ends in the prostate via the ejaculatory duct
• Consists of a cylindrical duct (40cm long) with a 2mm diameter and a 0.5mm lumen
• It presents 5 segments: the scrotal, the funicular, the inguinal, the iliac and the pelvic

Seminal vesicles

• They are 2 oval-shaped membraneous (50mm x 5mm x 1.5mm) reservoirs, flattened and bumpy, located behind the bladder
• They are constituted of a folded tube with a base, a body with 2 segments and a narrow tail

Ejaculatory ducts

• These are 2 conduits long 25mm with a width deacreasing from 1 to 2mm (at their origin) at 0,5mm (at their ending) through the urethra that are contained in the prostate
• They end at the posterior wall of the urethra's prostatic segment at the mound, in the prostatic utricle which is the dilation of the urethra at the mouth of the verumontanum

Testicular and sperm pathway vessels and nerves

• These are 2 testicular arteries equivalent to the ovarian artery. They split into several branches and contour the peritoneal cavity
• There are 2 deferent arteries that stems from the iliacs intern, that are satellite structures of the deferent duct
• Include 2 cremasteric arteries stemming from the inferior epigastric ones
• Arteries are situation behind the deferent

Testicular veins and veins anterior to the epidermis

• They constitue the pampiniform, or anterior plexus of the spermatic cord
• The plexus is situated in front of the deferent withing the spermatic duct
• Veins from the posterior epidermis consists a posterior plexus of the spermatic cord
• The anterior plexus is more voluminous
• Has lymphatics of the lumbar nodes
• The nerves stem from the solar plexus, as well as the hypogastric plexus

Prostate

• It is a solitary gland of the male reproductive system, located under the bladder, which secretes the prostatic fluid
• Fibro-musculo-glandular in structure
• cone shape, flattened from front to back, transversally measuring 40mm in diameter, postero-anteriorly 20mm and 30mm tall
• Weighs between 20 and 25g
• Flat anterior face attaches it to the striated sphincter fibers
• Can be devided between pre and retro-seminal The veins drainage from the prostatic plexus to the internal pudendal veins and to the seminal vesicles in the bladder region

Bulbourethral glands

• There are 2 accessory glands attached to the male reproductive system, located under the prostate that pours into the posterior wall in the urethral sac

Penis

• It is the external male genital organ for copulation and a terminal organ for urination
• It is divided in 3 distinctive parts: a cylindrical body, a posterior, and an anterior extremity
• The glans is covered by an annular skin fold, the preputial with the frenum of the prepuce
• The fixation is ensured by the suspensory and fundiform ligament, as well as the cavernous bodies
• Consist of erectile organs surrounded by wraps
• Can be affected by hypospadias or epispadias
• The skin features 4 tunics: The superficial arteries are destined for the envelopes
• The deep arteries are destined to the erectile organs
• Can be affected by tumors