MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Dr Imran Amjad
BsPT, DPT, PGD
Mphil Physiology, PhD*
Assistant Professor
 Objectives

At the end of this session, all trainees will be able

to understand the following:
• Description of physiological anatomy of male and
female reproductive organs.
• Physiology of Testosterone.
• Functions of Testosterone.

• Mechanism of action of Testosterone.

 REPRODUCTION

• Definition:

Reproduction depends upon the union of

male and female gametes ,each with half set
of chromosomes ,to form a new individual
with full set of chromosomes.
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• Male reproduction system consist of Gonads
called TESTIS and Reproductive tract for
transport , housing and nourishing of Male
Gametes called SPERMS.
TESTES
• Testis are suspended outside the abdominal
cavity in a skin covered sac called
SCROTUM ,which lie in angle between the
legs.

• Semen is the vehicle for the transport of

sperms produced by accessory sex glands.
 STRUCTURE OF TESTIS

• Each testis is composed of 900 coiled tubules,

seminiferous tubules.
• Each seminiferous tubule is one meter long,
forms sperms which than empty into
EPIDIDYMIS.
 EPIDIDYMIS

• Epididymis, coiled tube,6 metre long , leads

to vas deferens.
• After the sperm have been in the epididymis
for some 18 to 24 hours, they develop the
capability of motility, even though several
inhibitory proteins in the epididymal fluid still
prevent final motility until after ejaculation.
 VAS DEFERENS

• It carries sperms from epididymis to the

prostate gland and enlarges to form ampulla,
immediately before it enters the body of
prostate gland.
 FUNCTION OF TESTIS

• Sperm production

• Testosterone production

• Blood testis barrier:

Prevent entry of sperms into the blood ,

preventing immune reaction.
 ACCESSORY SEX GLANDS

• Seminal vesicle
• Prostate gland
• Bulbourethral glands
SEMINAL VESICLE
• Tortuous loculated tube ,lined with secretory
epithelium, located on each side of prostate.
• Each seminal vesicle empties into ejaculatory
duct, shortly after vas deferens empties
sperms into its ampulla.
 Secretes mucoid material, it add bulk to the ejaculated
semen.
Mucoid material contain:
• Fructose----nutrition
• Citric acid
• Nutrients
• Prostaglandins----aid in fertilization
• Fibrinogen.
 Role of prostaglandins in fertilization

React with cervical mucus to make it more

receptive to sperm movement.

Causing reverse peristaltic contractions in the

uterus and fallopian tubes to move the sperm
forward.
PROSTATE GLAND
 Male accessory gland

• Secretes thin milky fluid, it contain:

Calcium
Citrate ion
Phosphate ion
Clotting enzyme
Profibrinolysin
• Clotting enzyme from the prostatic fluid causes
the fibrinogen of the seminal vesicle fluid to
form a weak fibrin coagulum that holds the
semen in the deeper regions of the vagina
where the uterine cervix lies.
• The coagulum then dissolves during the next
15 to 30 minutes because of lysis by
fibrinolysin formed from the prostatic
profibrinolysin.
• In the early minutes after ejaculation, the
sperm remain relatively immobile, possibly
because of the viscosity of the coagulum. As
the coagulum dissolves, the sperm
simultaneously become highly motile.
• Capsule of prostrate gland contracts during the
process of emission emptying semen into
ejaculatory duct which empty into internal urethra.
• Its secretions add to bulk of semen.

• Alkaline nature-----aids in fertilization.

• A slightly alkaline characteristic of the
prostatic fluid may be quite important for
successful fertilization of the ovum.
• Because the fluid of the vas deferens is
relatively acidic owing to the presence of citric
acid and metabolic end products of the sperm
and, consequently, helps to inhibit sperm
fertility.
• Also, the vaginal secretions of the female are
acidic (pH of 3.5 to 4.0). Sperm do not become
optimally motile until the pH of the
surrounding fluids rises to about 6.0 to 6.5.
• Consequently, it is probable that the slightly
alkaline prostatic fluid helps to neutralize the
acidity of the other seminal fluids during
ejaculation, and thus enhances the motility
and fertility of the sperm.
 BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS

• Bilateral glands located near the tip of

urethra.
• In addition there are minute glands located
along the entire length of urethra.
• All secrete mucous.
MALE SEX HORMONES
 ANDROGENS

• Any steroid hormone that has masculinizing

effects.
• Example: Male sex hormones.
• Chemistry: synthesized from cholesterol or
acetyl coenzyme A.
• Sites: Testes & adrenal glands in males.
 MALE SEX HORMONES

• Testosterone

• Dihydrotestosterone

• Androstenedione
STRUCTURE OF TESTOSTERONE
TESTOSTERONE
• It is the main male sex hormone.
• Its active form is Dihydrotestosterone.
• Secreted from interstitial cells of leyding. These cells
are located in the interstities of testis, form about 20%
of mass of adult testis. These cells are present in testis
at time of birth during first few months of life & at
puberty.
Other hormones secreted from testes are:
• Dihydrotestosterone

• Androstenedione
STIMULATION FOR
PRODUCTION
• Fetal life:

Chorionic gonadotropin from placenta

stimulates fetal testes to produce moderate
quantities of Testosterone through out the
entire period of fetal development & for 10 or
more weeks after birth.
• There after no Testosterone is produced until
about 10 -13 year of age, when its production
is increased under effect of pituitary
gonadotropic hormones at the onset of
puberty. It lasts about throughout most of
life. Secretion decreases by 50 years of age.
METABOLISM OF
TESTOSTERONE
• Circulates in blood bounded with plasma albumin
(loosely bound) & sex hormone binding globulin
(tightly bound).
• Only 3% is in non-bound form.
• Most of this bounded form fixes with the target tissue
like prostate gland in adult male, external genitalia of
male fetus & converted to active form.
 DEGRADATION & EXCRETION OF
TESTOSTERONE

• The unfixed form goes to liver & converted

into Androsterone &
Dehydroepiandrosterone , where are
conjugated as glucuronides or sulfates.
• Excreted into gut by way of liver bile or into
urine from kidney.
FUNCTIONS OF TESTOSTERONE
1. MASCULINIZING HORMONE

2. FUNCTIONS DURING FETAL LIFE:

• DESCENT OF TESTIS: occurs at about 2-
3months of gestation when fetal testes
start producing reasonable amount of
Testosterone.
• DEVELOPMENT OF MALE BODY CHARACTERISTICS:

Starts elaborating at about 7th week of embryonic

life, is responsible for the development of male
body characteristics including formation of external
genitalia & male sex accessory glands ,suppresses
formation of female genital organs.
FUNCTIONS DURING ADULT LIFE
DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SEXUAL
CHARACTERISTICS:
After puberty increasing amounts cause 8
fold increase in size of testes & external
genitalia
 DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY SEXUAL
CHARACTERISTICS:

Features which differentiate males from females:

1. DISTRIBUTION OF BODY HAIR: growth of hair over
pubis, over linea alba ,face, chest, back.

2. BALDNESS: decreased hair growth on top of head.

Requires genetic background.
3. EFFECT ON VOICE: due to hypertrophy of vocal cords,
enlargement of larynx.

4. INCREASED THICKNESS OF SKIN & DEVELOPMENT OF

ACNE: increased thickness over the entire body &
increase ruggedness of subcutaneous tissue. Increase
secretions of sebaceous glands of face-acne. Later skin
adapts to Testosterone.
 5. INCREASE PROTEIN FORMATION &
MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT:

50% increase in muscle mass over that in

female, increase deposition of proteins in
skin, larynx etc.

Synthetic androgens are used by athletes.

 6. INCREASE BONE MATRIX & CAUSES
CALCIUM RETENTON

Bones become stronger due to deposition of

calcium salts. Testosterone increases total
quantity of bone matrix & causes calcium
retention.
Increased bone matrix results from general
protein anabolic function & increased salt
deposition due to increased proteins.
Specific effects of Testosterone on pelvis:
1. Narrows pelvic outlet.
2. Lengthen it.
3. Funnel like shape.

4. Greatly increased strength of pelvis for load

bearing.
• It is used to treat osteoporosis in older men.

• It causes epiphysis of long bone to unite with

shaft at early age, so despite rapidity of
growth.
• It prevents the person from growing as tall
as he would be if Testosterone had not been
secreted.
• In normal male final adult height is less than
that occurs in male castrated before puberty.
7. INCREASE BASAL METABOLISM:

Increases rate of metabolism to 5-10% above

if testis were not present.
Its because of anabolic effect of testosterone,
increased proteins i-e enzymes, increasing
activities of all cells.
8. EFFECT ON RBCs: Average man has 700,000
more RBCs than average woman due to
increased metabolic rate.

9. EFFECT ON ELECTROLYTE & WATER BALANCE:

Increases sodium reabsorption in DCT.
• Many steroid hormones can increase the
reabsorption of sodium in the distal tubules of the
kidneys.
• Testosterone also has such an effect, but only to a
minor degree in comparison with the adrenal
mineralocorticoids.
• Nevertheless, after puberty, the blood and
extracellular fluid volumes of the male in relation to
body weight increase as much as 5 to 10 per cent.
 BASIC INTRACELLULAR
MECHANISM OF TESTOSTERONE
 In cell Testosterone
Dihydrotestosterone.

Binds to cytoplasmic receptor protein

Bind with nuclear protein & induces DNA-RNA
transcription
 RNA Polymerase become activated
Protein synthesis.
Increase quantity of DNA & increase in number
of cells.
 PUBERTY

Puberty is the physiological transition from

childhood to reproductive maturity and is
associated with
• A growth spurt
• The development of secondary sexual

characteristics
• Initiation of the onset of puberty has long
been a mystery. But it has now been
determined that during childhood the
hypothalamus simply does not secrete
significant amounts of GnRH. One of the
reasons for this is that, during childhood, the
slightest secretion of any sex steroid
hormones exerts a strong inhibitory effect on
hypothalamic secretion of GnRH.
Leptin might be the cause of the GnRH rise.
Leptin has receptors in the hypothalamus
which synthesizes GnRH. Individuals who are
deficient in leptin fail to initiate puberty. The
levels of leptin increase with the onset of
puberty, and then decline to adult levels when
puberty is completed.
• Neurokinin B might play a role in regulating
the secretion of Kisspeptin, a compound
responsible for triggering direct release
of GnRH as well as indirect release
of LH and FSH.
 STAGES OF PUBERTY

• GROWTH SPURT 8 - 14 yrs

• BREAST GROWTH 8 – 13 yrs

• PUBIC HAIR 9 - 13 yrs

• AXILLARY HAIR 9- 15 yrs

• MENSTRUATION 10 - 16 yrs
 Puberty and Testosterone

• Puberty
Age at which individuals become capable of sexual
reproduction
• Before puberty small amounts of Testosterone inhibit GnRH
release.
• During puberty Testosterone does not completely suppress
GnRH release, resulting in increased FSH ,LH, and
Testosterone.
Tanner Staging – Males
 Male Sexual Behavior and
Male Sex Act

• Male sexual behavior

Testosterone required to initiate and maintain.
• Male sex act
Complex series of reflexes that result in erection of
penis, secretion of mucus into urethra, emission,
ejaculation.
Sensations result in orgasm associated with
ejaculation and then resolution.
 Neural Control of Erection

• Stimulation
– Tactile or psychological
– Parasympathetic
• Erection due to vasodilation of blood vessels

– Sympathetic
• Causes erection, emission, ejaculation
 Puberty and Menstrual Cycle

Puberty:
• Begins with menarche or first episode of
menstrual bleeding
• Begins when GnRH levels increase
Tanner Staging – Females
  Thelarche

• The first physical sign of puberty in girls is

usually a firm, tender lump under the center
of the areola of one or both breasts,
occurring on average at about 10.5 years of
age.
  Pubarche

• Pubic hair is often the second noticeable

change in puberty, usually within a few
months of thelarche. It is referred to
as pubarche.
 Adrenarche 
• Adrenarche is an early sexual
maturation stage in humans typically occurs at
around 6 to 8 years of age.
• During adrenarche the adrenal
cortex secretes increased levels of androgens,
but without increased cortisol levels.
 Menarche
• Menarche is first episode of menstrual bleeding
• The age at menarche is cheifly controlled by
genetic factors
• A critical body weight (47.8kg) must be reached
by a girl to achieved menarche.
• More important than total weight is the shift in
body composition to a greater percent fat (from
16 to 23.5%).
 Menopause
• Menopause is an event that typically occurs in
women in midlife, during their late 40s or
early 50s, and it signals the end of
the fertile phase of a woman's life
 Puberty and Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual Cycle
• About 28 days long
• Phases
• Menses
• Proliferative phase
• Secretory phase
• Menses

Amenorrhea: Absence of a menstrual cycle

Menopause: Cessation of menstrual cycles
 Female Sexual Behavior
and Sex Act

• Female sexual behavior

Depends on hormones
• Androgens and steroids

Depends on psychological factors

 Female Sexual Behavior
and Sex Act

• Female sex act

Parasympathetic stimulation
• Blood engorgement in clitoris and around vaginal opening
• Erect nipples
• Mucouslike fluid extruded into vagina and through wall

Orgasm not necessary for fertilization to occur

 Effects of Aging
• Male • Female
– Decrease in size and – Menopause
weight of testes
– Decrease in sperm
– Decrease in size of
production uterus and vaginal
– Prostate gland enlarges wall thins
and increase in cancer – Age related
– Impotence is age- increase in breast,
related uterine, ovarian
– Decrease in sexual cancer
activity
 References
• Guyton and Hall. Text book of Medical
physiology.11th edition. Ch 80:Page 973-984.
• Lauralee Sherwood.Human physiology.7th
edition.Ch 20: 741-764.
• Jaypee.Text book of physiology. Edition 5th.ch
74:page 437- 460.
• Google images retrieved at 25/7/2013