Male Reproductive System and Anatomical Structures

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Table of Contents

Male and Female Reproductive Systems: Similarities
Anatomical Structures
Physiological Mechanisms
Physical Assessment
Cellular Anatomy
Physiology
Male Sex Hormones
Changes in the Male Reproductive System
References

Male and Female Reproductive Systems: Similarities

Male and female reproductive systems have several similarities including the fact that most of the reproductive organs are developed from similar embryonic tissue that make these organs homologous (penis and clitoris).
Male gonads are testes, and female gonads are ovaries. Tunica albuginea is a connective tissue capsule (Krstic 2012).
Maturation of reproductive organs becomes functional during puberty.
In male and female reproductive systems, gametes are produced from gonads by means of meiosis (four sex cells) and mitosis (two identical daughter cells).
Both systems respond to FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). In the male reproductive system, FSH produces sperm, and LH produces testosterone that helps to promote spermatogenesis.

Anatomical Structures

External Genitalia:

There are two testes are responsible for the production of sperm and testosterone.
The epididymis is the structure that connects a testis with a vas deferens.
The scrotum is a skin-covered fibro-muscular sac where male testes are located (McCance & Huether, 2015).
The penis is the sexual organ that delivers sperm and eliminates urine. It consists of the urethra, two corpora cavernosa, and the corpus spongiosum (McCance & Huether, 2015). It fills with blood, and the erection and/or ejaculation may take place.

Internal Genitalia:

Ducts – vas deferens (a tube where sperm is carried from the epididymis to the ejaculation duct), the ejaculation duct opens and expels sperm to the urethra), and the urethra (a muscular tube that passes through the prostate gland).
Glands – the prostate (produces fluid to create semen), the seminal vesicles (produce a source of energy for ejaculation, fructose, and promote muscle contraction by means of secrete prostaglandins), and two Cowper glands (produce an alkaline fluid to lubricate urethra and neutralize urine acid).

Physiological Mechanisms

Spermatogenesis

This process starts at the puberty period and lasts during a men’s life (Sengupta, 2011). Its essence lies in the production of sperm and takes place in two organs, the testicles, and epididymis. Spermatogonia cells undergo a mitotic division process and become primary spermatocytes. Primary permatocytes undergo meiosis and result in secondary spermatocytes. The second round of meiosis leads to the creation of spermatids.

Fertilization

This process of combination of sperm and egg cell results in the production of a fertilized zygote.

Production of semen

Semen is the result of the combination of fluids and sperm. It is a milky liquid that is ejected from the male penis during the process of ejaculation.

Physical Assessment

It is hard to give a definite and constant numbers that can be associated with the male reproductive system because the size and weight usually depend on the weight of a person. Some men are eager to change their physical characteristics to correspond with the norms. Still, even each country may have different standards to strive for (Veale et al., 2015).

Cellular Anatomy

Each compound of the male reproductive system has its function. A number of seminiferous tubules are in each testicle that promotes the development of the process of the production of male reproductive cells, spermatozoa, takes place. Ducts and glands produce the secretions that help to transport spermatozoa to the next level with the help of smooth muscle contractions. As soon as spermatozoa pass through spermatogenesis, it leaves the organism through penis in a form of sperm.

Physiology

Every organ in the male reproductive system performs its function that makes the work of the whole organism possible. There are four main functions the male reproductive system completes:

Hormone regulation: LH and FSH are the main hormones that control male reproduction.

Sperm production and transportation: sperm is the main reproductive cell that can be found in the system under consideration. Its production and transportation are the two important processes that touch upon different cells of the organism.

Erection: a number of psychological, vascular, and neural factors may cause sexual stimulation and lead to the changes of penis length.

Ejaculation: this is the process when sperm moves through the urethra and leaves the organism.

Male Sex Hormones

Sex hormones promote the majority of changes in a male body. They define such process as puberty and the production of sperm.

In testes, the adrenal glands are responsible for the production of testosterone and androgens. As a rule, the production process is constant.

Androgens perform a number of physiological actions that promote growth and development of organs and secondary sex characteristics. Fetal differentiation also depends on the quality of androgens produced.

Testosterone has an impact on the nervous and skeletal tissues (McCance & Huether, 2015). It also influences the growth of musculature and the increase of libido (a kind of sex drive for men).

Changes in the Male Reproductive System

Puberty is the stage of male development that begins at the age 9 and may last till the age 16.

Testosterone production is increased in the testes;
Enlargement of testes and the scrotum may be observed;
The length of penis is changed;
Public hair appears;
The scrotal skin may darken;
Spermatogenesis begins.

The changes caused with aging is also the concern that has to be discussed. Though the reproductive capacities of men last longer than women do, there is also a possibility of andropause (that is similar to female menopause). The main characteristics are:

Testosterone deficiency;
Hypogonadism;
Erectile dysfunctions;
Prostate gland disorder.

It may happen that some chronic disorders, harmful habits, or the frequent use of medication may influence the quality and duration of changes in the male reproductive system.

References

Krstic, R.V. (2012). Illustrated encyclopedia of human histology. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media.

McCance, K.L. & Huether, S.E. (2015). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Sengupta, P. (2011). A scientific review of age determination for a laboratory rat: How old is it in comparison with human age? Biomedicine International, 2, 81-89.

Veale, D., Miles, S. Read, J., Troglia, A., Carmona, L., Fiorito, C., Wells, H., Wylie, K., & Muir, G. (2015). Phenomenology of men with body dysmorphic disorder concerning penis size compared to men anxious about their penis size and to men without concerns: A cohort study. Body Image, 13, 53-61.