The Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system produces sperms and male sex hormones, and delivers sperms into the female genital tract. This page covers the reproductive events in humans, the testes, seminiferous tubules, and Sertoli and Leydig cells. It then explains the accessory ducts, the penis and the accessory glands. It follows the NCERT Class 12 chapter Human Reproduction. NEET often asks the path of sperms through the ducts, the roles of Sertoli and Leydig cells, and the contents of seminal plasma in the male reproductive system.
- ★ Must learn Humans are sexually reproducing and viviparous; the reproductive events occur after puberty.
- Events in order: gametogenesis → insemination → fertilisation → implantation → gestation → parturition.
- ★ Must learn The testes lie outside the abdomen in the scrotum, which keeps them 2-2.5 °C below body temperature for spermatogenesis.
- Each testis has about 250 testicular lobules; each lobule has 1-3 highly coiled seminiferous tubules.
- ★ Must learn Sertoli cells nourish the germ cells; Leydig (interstitial) cells secrete androgens.
- ★ Must learn Duct path: seminiferous tubules → rete testis → vasa efferentia → epididymis → vas deferens → ejaculatory duct → urethra → urethral meatus.
- Ejaculatory duct: formed where the vas deferens receives the duct of the seminal vesicle.
- Accessory glands: paired seminal vesicles, one prostate and paired bulbourethral glands.
- ★ Must learn Seminal plasma is rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes.
- The glans penis is covered by the foreskin; bulbourethral secretion also lubricates the penis.
1. Reproductive Events in Humans
- Humans are sexually reproducing: a new individual forms from the fusion of a male and a female gamete.
- Humans are viviparous: the young develop inside the mother and are born alive.
- ★ Exam imp All the reproductive events occur after puberty.
The reproductive events follow this order:
- Gametogenesis: formation of gametes, sperms in males and the ovum in females.
- Insemination: transfer of sperms into the female genital tract.
- Fertilisation: fusion of the male and female gametes, forming a zygote.
- Implantation: formation and development of the blastocyst and its attachment to the uterine wall.
- Gestation: embryonic development.
- Parturition: delivery of the baby.
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- Sperm formation continues even in old men.
- Formation of the ovum ceases around the age of fifty years.
2. The Male Reproductive System: Overview
- The male reproductive system lies in the pelvis region.
- It has four groups of parts: primary sex organs, accessory ducts, accessory glands and external genitalia.
| Part | Members |
|---|---|
| Primary sex organs | A pair of testes |
| Accessory ducts | Rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis, vas deferens |
| Accessory glands | Paired seminal vesicles, a prostate, paired bulbourethral glands |
| External genitalia | Penis |
3. Testes
3.1 Position and size
- The testes lie outside the abdominal cavity, within a pouch called the scrotum.
- ★ Exam imp The scrotum keeps the testes at a low temperature: 2-2.5 °C lower than the normal internal body temperature.
- This lower temperature is necessary for spermatogenesis (sperm formation).
- In adults, each testis is oval, about 4-5 cm long and about 2-3 cm wide.
- Each testis is covered by a dense covering.
3.2 Testicular lobules and seminiferous tubules
- ★ Exam imp Each testis has about 250 compartments called testicular lobules.
- Each lobule contains one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules.
- Seminiferous tubules: the tubules in which sperms are produced.
3.3 Cells of the seminiferous tubule
- Each seminiferous tubule is lined on its inside by two types of cells: male germ cells and Sertoli cells.
| Cell | Location | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Male germ cells (spermatogonia) | Lining of the seminiferous tubule | Undergo meiotic divisions that finally lead to sperm formation |
| Sertoli cells | Lining of the seminiferous tubule | Provide nutrition to the germ cells |
| Interstitial cells or Leydig cells | Interstitial spaces, outside the tubules | Synthesise and secrete androgens (testicular hormones) |
- Interstitial spaces: the regions outside the seminiferous tubules.
- They contain small blood vessels and interstitial cells (Leydig cells).
- ★ Exam imp Androgens: the testicular (male) hormones made by Leydig cells.
- Other immunologically competent cells are also present in the interstitial spaces.
- Inside the tubule, in its lining
- Nourish the germ cells
- Sperm heads stay embedded in them before release
- Outside the tubules, in the interstitial spaces
- Also called interstitial cells
- Synthesise and secrete androgens
How many testicular lobules does each testis have?
Where exactly are sperms produced?
Which cells of the testis secrete androgens?
Which cells provide nutrition to the male germ cells?
4. Male Accessory Ducts
- The male sex accessory ducts are: rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis and vas deferens.
- ★ Exam imp Together they store and transport sperms from the testis to the outside through the urethra.
Path of sperms from the testis to the outside (Figures 1 and 2):
- The seminiferous tubules open into the vasa efferentia through the rete testis.
- The vasa efferentia leave the testis and open into the epididymis.
- The epididymis lies along the posterior surface of each testis and leads to the vas deferens.
- The vas deferens ascends to the abdomen and loops over the urinary bladder.
- It receives a duct from the seminal vesicle and opens into the urethra as the ejaculatory duct.
- The urethra starts from the urinary bladder and runs through the penis to its external opening, the urethral meatus.
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5. Penis: The Male External Genitalia
- The penis is the male external genitalia.
- It is made of special tissue that helps in its erection, to facilitate insemination.
- Glans penis: the enlarged end of the penis.
- Foreskin: the loose fold of skin that covers the glans penis.
6. Male Accessory Glands
| Gland | Number | Point to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Seminal vesicles | Paired (2) | Its duct joins the vas deferens to form the ejaculatory duct |
| Prostate | Single (1) | Surrounds the start of the urethra below the urinary bladder |
| Bulbourethral glands | Paired (2) | Secretion also helps in lubrication of the penis |
- ★ Exam imp The secretions of these glands form the seminal plasma.
- Seminal plasma is rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes.
- Semen: the seminal plasma together with the sperms.
Gland count: 2 seminal vesicles + 1 prostate + 2 bulbourethral glands = 5 glands, of 3 kinds.
Which male accessory gland is single?
Name three substances seminal plasma is rich in.
Which gland's secretion also lubricates the penis?
7. Exam Essentials
Pairs to Match
| Structure | Feature or role |
|---|---|
| Scrotum | Keeps the testes 2-2.5 °C below body temperature |
| Testicular lobules | About 250 compartments in each testis |
| Seminiferous tubules | Site of sperm production; 1-3 per lobule |
| Spermatogonia | Male germ cells lining the seminiferous tubule |
| Sertoli cells | Provide nutrition to the germ cells |
| Leydig (interstitial) cells | Synthesise and secrete androgens |
| Interstitial spaces | Small blood vessels, Leydig cells and immunologically competent cells |
| Rete testis | Links the seminiferous tubules to the vasa efferentia |
| Epididymis | Along the posterior surface of each testis |
| Vas deferens | Ascends to the abdomen and loops over the urinary bladder |
| Ejaculatory duct | Vas deferens joined by the duct of the seminal vesicle |
| Urethral meatus | External opening of the urethra |
| Foreskin | Loose fold of skin covering the glans penis |
| Seminal plasma | Fructose, calcium and certain enzymes |
| Bulbourethral glands | Secretion also lubricates the penis |
- Unlike the ovaries, the testes lie outside the abdominal cavity.
- Sperm formation continues even in old men, but ovum formation ceases around fifty years.
- Reproductive events occur after puberty, but oogenesis begins before birth, in the fetal ovary.
- The prostate is single; the seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands are paired.
- Leydig cells are not part of the tubule lining; they lie in the interstitial spaces.
- Sertoli cells do not secrete androgens; they provide nutrition.
- The urethra is not a duct of the testis; it starts from the urinary bladder and is shared by the urinary and reproductive paths.
Numbers to Remember
- Temperature of the testes: 2-2.5 °C below the normal internal body temperature.
- Adult testis: about 4-5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.
- Testicular lobules per testis: about 250.
- Seminiferous tubules per lobule: 1-3.
- Types of cells lining a seminiferous tubule: 2 (spermatogonia and Sertoli cells).
- Male sex accessory ducts: 4 (rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis, vas deferens).
- Accessory glands: 3 kinds, 5 glands (2 + 1 + 2).
- Age at which ovum formation ceases in women: around 50 years.
8. Quick Revision
- Humans: sexually reproducing and viviparous; reproductive events begin after puberty.
- Events: gametogenesis → insemination → fertilisation → implantation → gestation → parturition.
- Sperm formation continues in old men; ovum formation stops around fifty.
- Male system in the pelvis: testes, accessory ducts, accessory glands, external genitalia.
- Testes in the scrotum, 2-2.5 °C cooler than the body; adult testis 4-5 cm by 2-3 cm; dense covering.
- About 250 testicular lobules per testis, each with 1-3 highly coiled seminiferous tubules.
- Tubule lining: spermatogonia (form sperms by meiosis) and Sertoli cells (nutrition).
- Interstitial spaces: blood vessels, Leydig cells (androgens), immunologically competent cells.
- Ducts: rete testis → vasa efferentia → epididymis (posterior surface) → vas deferens (loops over bladder).
- Vas deferens + seminal vesicle duct = ejaculatory duct → urethra → urethral meatus.
- Penis: erectile tissue for insemination; glans penis covered by the foreskin.
- Glands: paired seminal vesicles, single prostate, paired bulbourethral glands.
- Seminal plasma: fructose, calcium, certain enzymes; bulbourethral secretion also lubricates the penis.
9. Solved Examples
List I: A. Sertoli cells, B. Leydig cells, C. Scrotum, D. Bulbourethral glands
List II: I. Secrete androgens, II. Lubrication of the penis, III. Nutrition to germ cells, IV. Low temperature of the testes
Choose the correct answer:
(A) A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
(B) A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
(C) A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV
(D) A-IV, B-I, C-III, D-II
Answer: (A). Sertoli cells nourish the germ cells (III); Leydig cells secrete androgens (I); the scrotum keeps the testes cooler (IV); bulbourethral secretion lubricates the penis (II).
A. Each testis has about 250 testicular lobules.
B. Each lobule contains five to ten seminiferous tubules.
C. Leydig cells line the inside of the seminiferous tubules.
D. The scrotum keeps the testes 2-2.5 °C below the internal body temperature.
E. Immunologically competent cells are present in the interstitial spaces.
Choose the correct answer:
(A) A, B and D only
(B) A, D and E only
(C) B, C and E only
(D) A, C, D and E only
Answer: (B). B is wrong: a lobule has one to three tubules. C is wrong: Leydig cells lie outside the tubules, in the interstitial spaces. A, D and E are correct.
A. Epididymis
B. Rete testis
C. Vas deferens
D. Vasa efferentia
E. Ejaculatory duct
Choose the correct answer:
(A) B, D, A, C, E
(B) D, B, A, C, E
(C) B, A, D, C, E
(D) B, D, C, A, E
Answer: (A). Seminiferous tubules → rete testis (B) → vasa efferentia (D) → epididymis (A) → vas deferens (C) → ejaculatory duct (E) → urethra.
(A) The seminal vesicles are paired
(B) The prostate is paired
(C) Their secretions form the seminal plasma
(D) The bulbourethral secretion also lubricates the penis
Answer: (B). The prostate is a single gland; the seminal vesicles and the bulbourethral glands are paired.
Statement II: The urethra originates from the testis and opens at the urethral meatus.
(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
(B) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
(C) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
(D) Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
Answer: (B). Statement II is wrong: the urethra originates from the urinary bladder and runs through the penis to the urethral meatus.
(A) Glucose, sodium and hormones
(B) Fructose, calcium and certain enzymes
(C) Fructose, androgens and mucus
(D) Lactose, calcium and antibodies
Answer: (B). The secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral glands form seminal plasma rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes.
10. Practice Questions
- Match List I with List II.
List I: A. Epididymis, B. Vas deferens, C. Glans penis, D. Interstitial spaces
List II: I. Covered by the foreskin, II. Posterior surface of the testis, III. Leydig cells, IV. Loops over the urinary bladder
Choose the correct answer:
(A) A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I
(B) A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III
(C) A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
(D) A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-IIIAnswer: (C). Epididymis-II, vas deferens-IV, glans penis-I, interstitial spaces-III. - Read the statements.
A. Humans are oviparous.
B. Reproductive events in humans occur after puberty.
C. Sperm formation stops in men at about fifty years.
D. The testes are covered by a dense covering.
E. The penis has special tissue that helps in erection.
Choose the correct answer:
(A) B, D and E only
(B) A, B and D only
(C) B, C and E only
(D) A, C and D onlyAnswer: (A). Humans are viviparous (A wrong); sperm formation continues even in old men (C wrong). - Arrange in order, from the inside of the testis to the outside of the body: A. Urethra, B. Seminiferous tubule, C. Epididymis, D. Urethral meatus, E. Vas deferens.
(A) B, C, E, A, D
(B) B, E, C, A, D
(C) C, B, E, A, D
(D) B, C, A, E, DAnswer: (A). Seminiferous tubule → epididymis → vas deferens → urethra → urethral meatus. - Which cells are present in the interstitial spaces of the testis but NOT in the lining of the seminiferous tubule?
(A) Spermatogonia
(B) Sertoli cells
(C) Leydig cells
(D) SpermatozoaAnswer: (C). Leydig cells lie outside the tubules, with small blood vessels and immunologically competent cells. - Fill in the blanks: (a) Humans reproduce ____ (asexually/sexually). (b) Humans are ____ (oviparous, viviparous, ovoviviparous).Answer: (a) Sexually. (b) Viviparous.
- Draw a labelled diagram of the male reproductive system.Answer: Label the testis in the scrotum, epididymis, vas deferens looping over the urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct, prostate, bulbourethral gland, urethra, penis, glans penis and foreskin; in the opened testis, the testicular lobules, rete testis and vasa efferentia (Figures 1 and 2).
- Describe the structure of a seminiferous tubule.Answer: A highly coiled tubule, one to three in each testicular lobule, lined on its inside by male germ cells (spermatogonia) and Sertoli cells. The germ cells form sperms by meiosis; Sertoli cells nourish them. Outside the tubules lie the interstitial spaces with blood vessels and Leydig cells (Figure 3).
- What are the major components of seminal plasma?Answer: Secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral glands, rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes.
- What are the major functions of the male accessory ducts and glands?Answer: The ducts (rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis, vas deferens) store and transport sperms to the outside through the urethra. The glands secrete seminal plasma; the bulbourethral secretion also lubricates the penis. Secretions of the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles and prostate are essential for the maturation and motility of sperms, and androgens maintain the functions of the ducts and glands.
- True or false? Correct the false ones. (a) Androgens are produced by Sertoli cells. (b) Spermatozoa get nutrition from Sertoli cells. (c) Leydig cells are found in the ovary. (d) Leydig cells synthesise androgens.Answer: (a) False: androgens are produced by Leydig cells. (b) True. (c) False: Leydig cells are found in the testis, in the interstitial spaces. (d) True.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing that Sertoli cells secrete androgens. Correct: Leydig (interstitial) cells secrete androgens; Sertoli cells provide nutrition.
- Placing Leydig cells inside the seminiferous tubule. Correct: they lie in the interstitial spaces outside the tubules.
- Saying the testes are kept warmer than the body. Correct: they are kept 2-2.5 °C cooler.
- Putting the vasa efferentia before the rete testis. Correct: seminiferous tubules → rete testis → vasa efferentia.
- Saying the epididymis lies on the front of the testis. Correct: it lies along the posterior surface.
- Calling the prostate a paired gland. Correct: the prostate is single; seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands are paired.
- Forming the ejaculatory duct from the prostate. Correct: the vas deferens receives the duct of the seminal vesicle.
- Writing that each lobule has many tubules. Correct: each lobule has one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the testes located outside the abdominal cavity?
The testes lie in the scrotum, outside the abdominal cavity, because spermatogenesis needs a lower temperature. The scrotum keeps the testes about 2 to 2.5 degrees Celsius below the normal internal body temperature. A testis kept at body temperature cannot carry out sperm formation normally.
What is the difference between Sertoli cells and Leydig cells?
Sertoli cells line the inside of the seminiferous tubules along with the male germ cells and provide nutrition to the germ cells. Leydig cells, also called interstitial cells, lie outside the tubules in the interstitial spaces and synthesise and secrete androgens, the male hormones.
What is the path of sperms from the testis to the outside?
Sperms move from the seminiferous tubules through the rete testis and vasa efferentia into the epididymis. The epididymis leads to the vas deferens, which loops over the urinary bladder and, after receiving the seminal vesicle duct, opens into the urethra as the ejaculatory duct. The urethra opens at the urethral meatus.
What is seminal plasma made of?
Seminal plasma is formed by the secretions of the male accessory glands: the paired seminal vesicles, the single prostate and the paired bulbourethral glands. It is rich in fructose, calcium and certain enzymes. Seminal plasma together with the sperms forms semen.
How many testicular lobules and seminiferous tubules does a testis have?
Each human testis has about 250 compartments called testicular lobules. Each lobule contains one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules, in which the sperms are produced. NEET often uses these two numbers in statement questions, so learn them exactly.
How is the ejaculatory duct formed?
The vas deferens ascends from the epididymis into the abdomen and loops over the urinary bladder. Here it receives a duct from the seminal vesicle. The joined duct, called the ejaculatory duct, opens into the urethra. It is not formed by the prostate.
What is the function of the bulbourethral glands?
The paired bulbourethral glands add their secretion to the seminal plasma, together with the seminal vesicles and the prostate. Their secretion also helps in the lubrication of the penis. They are the only male accessory glands linked with this lubricating role.
Which points of the male reproductive system are most important for NEET?
Learn the scrotal temperature of 2 to 2.5 degrees below body temperature, about 250 lobules with one to three tubules each, the roles of Sertoli and Leydig cells, the exact order of the ducts, the formation of the ejaculatory duct, and the contents of seminal plasma.
Previous year questions on The Male Reproductive System
3 questions from past papers, each with a step-by-step solution.
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