Q.Give an account of human male reproductive system.
You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The human male reproductive system comprises the testes (sperm- and testosterone-producing organs), a series of accessory ducts, three sets of accessory glands that form seminal fluid, and the external genitalia (penis and scrotum).
The human male reproductive system is located in the pelvic region and consists of the following parts:
1. Testes: A pair of oval, primary reproductive organs (male gonads) located outside the abdominal cavity in a pouch called the scrotum, which keeps the testes at a slightly lower temperature (about 2-2.5 degC below body temperature) essential for normal sperm formation. Each testis is composed of about 250 compartments called testicular lobules, each containing 1-3 highly coiled seminiferous tubules where sperm are produced (spermatogenesis). The seminiferous tubules are lined by:
- Spermatogonia (male germ cells) that give rise to sperm.
- Sertoli cells, which provide nutrition to the developing germ cells. The region outside the seminiferous tubules (interstitial spaces) contains small blood vessels and Leydig cells (interstitial cells), which synthesise and secrete the male hormone testosterone, responsible for the regulation of spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characteristics.
2. Accessory ducts: Include the rete testis (a network of tubules within the testis), vasa efferentia (fine tubules leaving the testis), epididymis (a highly coiled tube where sperm are stored and undergo further maturation), and vas deferens (a long muscular tube that ascends from the epididymis, loops over the urinary bladder, and joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct). The ejaculatory duct opens into the urethra, which originates from the urinary bladder and extends through the penis to the outside as the common passage for both sperm and urine.
3. Accessory glands: These secrete fluids that combine with sperm to form the semen:
- A pair of seminal vesicles - contribute a fluid rich in fructose (nourishing sperm) and other substances, forming the bulk of the seminal fluid.
- A single prostate gland - secretes a milky, slightly alkaline fluid that helps in sperm activation and coagulation/liquefaction of semen. …
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.