Male Reproductive System - Scrotum and Testes | NEET | BIOLOGY

Male Reproductive System - Scrotum and Testes

Male reproductive system comprises of scrotum , a pair of testis , vasa efferentia , epididymes , vasa deferentia , ejaculatory ducts , urethra , penis and certain glands .

Scrotum

It is a pouch or pigmented sac consisting of loose skin , muscles and connective tissue that hangs from the root , i.e. , attached portion of the penis . A septum divides the scrotum into two sacs . Each of these sacs contain one testis .

The scrotum remains connected with the abdomen or pelvic cavity by two inguinal canals on each side of the scrotal septum .

Scrotum acts as a thermoregulator and maintains testes at a temperature 2 ° C lower than the body which is optimal for sperm production.

Testes

There is a pair of testes that are suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic cords . The testes develop in the abdominal cavity just below the kidneys during early fetal life and then they descend into the scrotum .

A fibrous cord that extends from the caudal end of the testis to the scrotal wall is called gubernaculum .

Testis is surrounded by three layers.

( i ) Tunica vaginalis - Serous covering of testis ,( ii ) Tunica albuginea - A layer made of fibrous or collagenous connective tissue . ( iii ) Tunica vasculosa - Delicate , loose connective tissues lining testicular lobules , has rich supply of blood capillaries

Each testis has around 250 compartments called testicular lobules each of which contains several sperm producing coiled tubules called seminiferous tubules .

The lining of seminiferous tubules called germinal epithelium has two types of cells , spermatogenic cells and supporting cells or Sertoli cells .

In between the seminiferous tubules , in the connective tissue , there are present small groups of rounded endocrine celis , called interstitial or Leydig's cells .

Under the influence of luteinising hormone ( LH ) or interstitial cell stimulating hormone ( ICSH ) , Leydig's cells produce androgens e.g. , testosterone

Testes perform two functions : ( a ) production of sperms and ( b ) secretion of male sex hormones.

MANISH MEVADA

M.Sc, M.Phil, B.Ed