Physiology of the Reproductive

System

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Functional structures of the male reproductive system
• The male reproductive system consists of:
1. Gonads (the testes) -Essential structures
Functions:
• Spermatogenesis (formation of spermatozoa)
• Endocrine function (produces male sex hormone)
– Testosterone, inhibin,
– Very small amount of estrogen
2. Accessory sex structures
2.1. Tubular structures (genital tracts). These include:
1. Epididymis: about 4 cm (6 m. long uncoiled)
• Area of storage and maturation of sperm cells.
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 Functional structures of the male reproductive…
• Stores sperm for several months
• Secrete fluid containing nutrients that is ejaculated along
with the sperm.
• Propel sperm into the vas deferens during sexual arousal by
peristaltic contraction of its smooth muscle.
 Vas deferens: connect epididymis with the ejaculatory duct.
• Storage of sperm cells
• During this time, sperm cells kept inactive by multiple
inhibitory substances in the secretions of the ducts.
 Ejaculatory duct: Connects vas deferens with the urethra in the
body of prostate gland.
The function of the genital tract is storage, maturation &
transport of sperm.
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 Functional structures of the male reproductive…
Accessory glands: provide fluid medium for sperm
II.
cells (form seminal plasma).
 The seminal vesicles: secretes fructose rich fluid
containing
• Ascorbic acid,
• Clotting proteins (induce immediate coagulation
of semen after ejaculation)
• Flavin
• Phosphorylcholine
• PGs
• Fructose has considerable nutrient value for the
ejaculated sperm until fertilizes the ovum.
• It produces 60% of the volume of the seminal plasma.
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 Functional structures of the male reproductive…
• Last to be ejaculated and serves to wash the sperm
through the ejaculatory duct and urethra.
 The prostate: produces an alkaline, milky fluid that
contains:
– Calcium, citrate ion, phosphate ion, zinc.
– Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and other proteolytic
enzymes.
• Prostate secretion makes up 30% of the seminal
plasma.
• Helps to buffer the acidity of the other seminal fluids
during ejaculation, and enhances the motility and
fertility of the sperm.
– Sperm optimally motile at the pH of the surrounding fluids
rises to about 6.0 to 6.5.
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 Functional structures of the male
reproductive…
• Clotting of semen is lysed by fibrinolysin formed from
the prostatic profibrinolysin (PSA and other proteolytic
enzymes).
 The bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands-secrete similar
fluid with that of prostate.
• Secrete mucus that lubricates the end of the penis and
the lining of the urethra → decreasing the number of
sperm damaged during ejaculation.
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 Functional structures of the male reproductive…
III. Supporting structures:
Penis -supports the urethra (contain erectile tissue corpora
cavernosa & corpus spongiosum)
• The erectile tissue is composed of numerous blood
sinuses (vascular spaces) lined by:
– Endothelial cells and surrounded by elastic connective tissue
and smooth muscle.
Scrotum-supports testes and epididymis
• Consists of loose skin and underlying thin
subcutaneous layer.
– Allow heat loss easily

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 Functional structures of the male
reproductive…
• The scrotum contains two types of muscles:-
Dartos muscle –smooth muscle
• Contraction (in response to cold ) causes the
scrotum to become tight (wrinkled in
appearance), which reduces heat loss.
Cremaster muscle- skeletal muscle
• Contraction move the testes closer to the body
• Maintenance of lower temperature (2-30C blow normal
body temperature) within the scrotum required for
normal sperm production.
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The male reproductive structures

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 Testes (male gonads)
• Structurally the testis is made up of convoluted
seminiferous tubules (90% of testicular mass) containing:

 Spermatogenic epithelium (spermatogonia-germinal

cells) that give rise to spermatozoa.
 Sertoli cells- non-germinal cells extending from the
basement membrane to the lumen of the tubule.

 Leydig cells: interstitial cells secrete testosterone

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 Testes...
Function of Sertoli cells:
1. Mechanical support and nourishement of spermatozoan
2. Secrete inhibin and estrogen (less amount) in response
FSH
3. Act as blood testis barrier
4. Secrete luminal fluid, including androgen-binding
protein that concentrate testosterone in the seminiferous
tubules (> 100 times than circulating testosterone).
5. Stimulated by testosterone and FSH to secrete
paracrine agents that stimulate sperm proliferation and
differentiation.
6. Engulf defective sperm
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 Testes...
7. During embryonic life, secrete, Müllerian inhibiting
substance (MIS), which causes the primordial
female duct system to regress.
8. Assist in descent of testes

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 Endocrine Function of the Testes
Testosterone
• Testosterone is the primary circulating androgen in the male
human.
• Testosterone is a C19 steroid with an –OH group in the 17 position.
Synthesis & secretion
• Synthesized from cholesterol or androstenedione in the Leydig
cells.
 During fetal life:-the testes are stimulated by chorionic
gonadotropin hormone to secrete testosterone.
• The effect of HCG on secretion of testosterone continue during
neonatal life.

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 Testosterone...
 After birth: up to the time of puberty (10-13yrs) no
secretion of testosterone.
 During puberty and above:-
• The secretion of testosterone is regulated by feed-back
mechanisms that operate within the hypothalamic-
pituitary-gonadal axis.
• Hypothalamic release of GnRH stimulates the anterior
pituitary to release LH.
• The LH stimulates the Leydig cells in the testes to
synthesize testosterone
Secretion of testosterone is under the control of LH.
• FSH sensitize the Leydig cells to stimulation by LH
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 Testosterone...
• Bioavailable testosterone refers to free or unbound
testosterone plus the albumin-bound fraction.
• In some target cells testosterone is converted to
dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5  -reductase.
• DHT is the active form of the hormone in prostate
gland, external genitalia, and some areas of the skin.
Metabolism
• Most of the testosterone is converted to ketosteroids
(50% to 70% in the liver) and excreted in the urine.
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 Testosterone...
Functions
1. During IUL, testosterone is responsible for the
maturation of wolffian duct structures  formation of
male internal genitalia.
2. Descending of testis (deficient production 
cryptorchidism)
3. Determines secondary sexual characteristics
 External genitalia: Penis increases in length and width.
Scrotum becomes pigmented and rugose.
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 Testosterone...
 Internal genitalia: -Seminal vesicles enlarge and secrete
seminal fluid.
– Prostate and bulbourethral glands enlarge and secrete their content.

 Voice: Larynx enlarges, vocal cords increase in length and

thickness, and voice becomes deeper.
 Changes in hair distribution
– Testosterone causes growth of hair over the pubis, on
abdomen to the umbilicus and above, on the chest, on the
face.
– Decreases the growth of hair on the top of the head
(baldness)
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 Testosterone...
 Mental: More aggressive, active attitude.
• Interest in opposite sex develops.
 Body conformation: Shoulders broaden, muscles
enlarge.
• Androgens increase the synthesis and decrease the
breakdown of protein, leading to an increase in the rate
of growth.
• Testosterone increases the total quantity of bone matrix
and causes calcium retention.
 Skin: Sebaceous gland secretion thickens and
increases (predisposing to acne).

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 Testosterone...
4. Spermatogenesis: It stimulates growth and division
spermatogonia.
5. General metabolic effect: It is a protein anabolic
hormone, increases muscle mass and bone matrix.
6. Stimulates erythropoietin secretion by the kidneys
Inhibin
• It is a peptide hormone secreted by sertoli cells in
response to FSH
• Inhibits FSH secretion

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 Estrogens
• Released in less amount by sertoli cells in response to
FSH
• Sertoli cells synthesize estrogens by aromatization of
androgens.
• In contrast to the situation in women, estrogen
production moderately increases with advancing age in
men.
• Estrogen stimulate fluid reabsorption from rete testis
and concentrate the spermatozoa.
– If this does not occur, the sperm entering the epididymis are
diluted in a large volume of fluid, and infertility results. EXAM
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Hormonal regulation of male reproduction

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 Spermatogenesis
• It is the process of formation
of mature sperm cell from
undifferentiated germ cells,
spermatogonia.
• Occurs in the seminiferous
tubules during active sexual
life under the effect of FSH
and testosterone.
– This process begins during
adolescence
• Seminiferous tubules contain
large number of germinal
epithelial cells called
spermatogonia.
• Spermatogonia continuously
proliferate and differentiate to
sperm.
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Spermatogenesis…
• The first step of
spermatogenesis is the
growth of spermatogonia
into 1o spermatocytes by
mitotic division.
• 1o spermatocytes undergo
meiotic (I) divisions to
form 20 spermatocytes
• 20 spermatocytes through
meiotic (II) division give
rise to spermatids 
mature spermatozoa
• It takes an average of 74 d
to form a mature sperm
from a primitive germ cell
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Mature sperm cell
• Mature sperm cells contain the head, neck and tail.
•Maturation occurs in the epididymis and vas deferens
requires testosterone.
•Acrosome at the head contain enzymes,
Head hyaluronidase or proteases.
• Proteases are means for effective penetration in to
Neck egg during fertilization.
Maturation
• Acrosomal development
• Cytoplasmic reduction
Tail • Flagellar growth
• Discharge of organelles
• Condensation of nucleus

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 Factors affecting spermatogenesis
A. Hormones:
 Pituitary gonadotropic hormones
FSH:-by acting on Sertoli cells maintain spermatogenesis
– Stimulates Sertoli cells to produce ABP→ concentrate testosterone
– Facilitates spermatogenesis (esp. the last stages of spermatid
maturation)
LH:-Stimulates Leydig cells to produce testosterone →
essential for growth and division of spermatogonia.
A. But exogenous administration of testosterone reduce rate of
spermatogenesis.
Inhibin:-Inhibits the release of FSH
 T3/T4: Required for the normal process of
spermatogenesis
 Prolactin -inhibits spermatogenesis by inhibiting
gonadotropes.
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 Factors affecting spermatogenesis…
 Growth hormone:-promotes early division of the
spermatogonia.
• Absence of GH (as in pituitary dwarfs),
spermatogenesis is severely deficient or absent, thus
causing infertility.
B. Temperature: an optimum testicular temperature is
34-35oC.
• In case of undescended testis (cryptorchidism), no
spermatogenesis occurs, infertility b/c BT arrests
sperm cells.
– Hot baths (43–45 °C for 30 min/d)
– Tight cloth temporarily ↓ sperm cell count

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 Seminal fluid
• Semen is the fluid ejaculated during the male sexual act.
• It is made up of spermatozoa and the seminal plasma
which is the combined secretion of the testis, epididymis
& accessory glands.
• An average volume per ejaculation is 2.5-3 ml with 108
sperms/ml.
• The volume of semen and the sperm count decrease rapidly
with repeated ejaculation.
sperm count of >20-40x106/ml are Normal
• Individuals with <20 x 106/ml are likely to be sterile.

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Seminal fluid…

Function
• Energy source Secreted by
•Vehicle for sperm • Epididymis
Seminal
(media of motility) • Seminal vesicles
plasma
• Buffering medium • Prostate
• Cowper’s gland

Its volume and composition depends on testosterone

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 Normal semen: semenalysis
• Volume: 2-5 ml
• pH: 7.35–7.50
• Colour: White-yellow
• Sperm count: 30-250 million/ml
• Sperm motility: >50% after 1 hr, >40% after 3 hrs
• Sperm morphology: >50% normal
Chemical composition
• Zn 75 µg/ml ( a marker for prostate)
• Mg 70 µg/ml
• Fructose 1.5-6.5 mg/mL markers for SV
• PGE1 & PGE2 >30-200 µg/ml
• Phosphate >100-300 µg/ml
• Citric acid >3 mg/ml
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 Male sexual act
Has 3 stages:
1. Erection:
• It is definitely a cardiovascular phenomena.
• Controlled by nerve (PaNS, pelvic branch)
• It is initiated by psychic, visual or tactile stimulations.
Mechanism:
• Parasympathetic stimulation → release nitric oxide →
dilation of penile arterioles.
– NO activates guanylyl cyclase, resulting in increased production of
cyclic GMP (cGMP), and cGMP inhibit release of intracellular
Ca2+.

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 Male sexual act...
• Entry of large volume of
blood to the arterioles
compresses the veins (block
outlets).
• The nitric oxide also relaxes
the smooth muscle fibers in
the erectile tissue →
widening of sinusoids.
• Venous occlusion → causes
blood flow in to sinusoids
of erectile tissues (corpora
cavernosa and corpus
spongiosum).
• Stiffening of erectile tissues
Erection
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 Male sexual act...
2. Orgasm: emission and ejaculation.
• It is the ejection of seminal plasma containing
spermatozoa out of the male ductile system.
• Initiated by the afferents pathways mostly from touch
receptors in the glans penis, send signal to spinal cord
produce reflex response.
• Sympathetic stimulation (T-12 to L-2 ) to the smooth
muscles of epididymis, vas deferens, prostate and
seminal vesicles result emission.
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 Male sexual act...
• Sudden filling of the urethra reflexively causes
rhythmical contraction of smooth muscles of urethra.
• Whereas, contraction of urethral sk/muscles
(bulbocavernosus ) results in ejaculation.
• As part of the reflex, the internal urethral sphincter ,
preventing urine from being expelled during
ejaculation, and semen from entering the urinary
bladder.
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 Male sexual act...
3. Resolution- reversion of erection, sympathetic
stimulation constricts arteries.
– Normally, erection is terminated by sympathetic
vasoconstrictor impulses to the penile arterioles.
• This relieves pressure on the veins supplying the
penis and allows the blood to drain through them.
• Blood leaves the erectile tissues, penis become
flaccid.
Physiological changes during male sexual act
– ↑HR ↑BF
– ↑CO ↑ABP
– ↑MR ↑Energy out put
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 Male sexual act...
– Stimulation of the CNS
– Hyperventilation
– Sympathetic stimulation Sexual flush
– Emotional excitement
– Sensation of pleasure
Problems associated with the male sexual act
• Premature ejaculation
• Impotence: failure of erection
– Hypotension
– Spinal damage
– Diabetic neuropathy
– Testicular failure
• Periapism: persistent erection
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End