HISTOLOGY OF

MALE
REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
Dr G M Kibria
UPNM-2
24.4.13
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session you will be able to
1. describe & identify the different histological structure
of testis.
2. describe & identify the histological structure of
epididymis.
3. describe & identify the histological structure of
ductus deferens.
4. describe & identify the histological structure of
seminal vesicle.
5. describe & identify histological the structure of
prostate.
6. describe & identify the histological structure of penis.
TESTIS & ITS DUCT
 Tunica vaginalis
 Tunica albuginea
 Tunica vasculosa
 Lobules (250 app.)
 Seminiferous
tubule: 1-4 in each
lobule.
 Mediastinum
testis, rete testis
 Efferent ductule
(20 app)
 Epididymis
 Ductus deferens
 Tunica vaginalis: peritoneal layer.
 Tunica albuginea: thick, dense connective
capsule.
 Tunica vasculosa: inner part of the capsule is
loose connective tissue that contains blood
vessels.
 Mediastinum testis: along the posterior surface
of testis, tunica albuginea thickens & projects
inward as mediastinum testis.
 Rete testis: an anastomosing channel system
within mediastinum testis.
26-Jun-18

5
LOBULE OF THE TESTIS
 Fibrous septa from Mediastinum testis up to
tunica albuginea.
 250 (+) lobules
 Seminiferous tubules are 1-4 in each lobule:
convoluted part & straight tubule.
 Straight tubules are continuous with rete testis
in mediastinum testis.
 Connective tissue stroma in the lobule contains
interstitial (Leydig) cells, that secrete hormone.
 SEMINIFEROUS TUBULE  Lined with stratified
epithelium, known as
Lumen germinal (or seminiferous)
Adluminal
compartment epithelium.
 Two types of cell,
spermatogenic &
supporting (Sertoli) cells.
 Well defined basal lamina.
 Tunica (lamina) propria is
the peritubular, multi-
layered connective tissue.
in basal compartment
It contains 3-5 layers of
Sertoli cell: Germ cells are embedded within myoid cells & collagen
the supporting (Sertoli) cells, that provide fibres. With advance of age
support & nutrition. Tight junctions between
this layer is thicken.
the processes of Sertoli cell separate the
basal & adluminal compartments..
SPERMATOGENESIS: Nearly 74 days
 Spermatogonium
Primary
spermatocyte
Secondary
spermatocyte
Spermatid
Spermatozoa
 Spermatogonium
rests on basal
Peritubular cell: these are myoid cells
lamina & below the
(fibroblast-like) arranged in one or
junctional complex
two layers external to basal lamina. (basal compartment)
SERTOLI CELL
 Tall columnar, extend throughout the whole
thickness of wall of seminiferous tubule.
 Nuclei are elongated & pale stained.
 Apical & lateral processes surround adjacent
spermatogenic cells.
 Occluding junction makes 2 compartments: basal
& adluminal compartments.
 Extremely resistant to adverse condition, e.g.
infection, radiation.
FUNCTION OF SERTOLI CELLS
 Nutrition & supporting of the germ cells.
 Phagocytes the residual bodies & germ cells, which
fail to differentiate properly.
 Occluding junction forms the blood-testis barrier
protecting the developing sperms against blood-born
noxious agents.
 Secretion of seminiferous tubule which used for
sperm transport.
 Production of anti-müllerian hormone (promote
regression of paramesonephric or müllerian duct) &
inhibin (inhibit production of FSH by the hypophysis).
MICROSCOPIC PICTURE OF TESTIS
Tunica
albuginea

Tunica
vasculosa

Septum

Interestitial
cell of Leydig

Seminiferous
tubule
SEMINIFEROUS TUBULE

Sertoli cell

Spermatogonium

Primary
spermatocyte

Myoid cell

Leydig cell
Straight tubule, Rete testis, Efferent ductule
Seminiferous Efferent Straight tubule:
tubule Mediastinum ductule
 Lined by Sertoli
cells only.
Rete testis:
 Simple cuboidal to
low columnar cells.
 Cilia & few microvilli
are present.
Efferent ductule:
Straight Efferent
Rete testis
tubule ductule
 EFFERENT DUCTULE
 20 (+) in number
Low magnification

 Pseudostratified
columnar cells
 Group of tall cells &
short cells, give saw-
teeth appearance
 Tall cells are ciliated &
Higher magnification

short cells have

microvilli
 EPIDIDYMIS
 Head, body & tail
 Single duct highly
coiled.
 Associated with smooth
muscle, vascular
connective tissue &
fibrous connective
tissue.
Ductus epididymis
 Sperms acquire motility
during passage through
epididymis.
 DUCTUS EPIDIDYMIS Tall cell: Principal
cell
Lined by pseudostratified
 Nuclei are at basal
columnar epithelium: part.
i) Tall cells & ii) Basal cells.  Stereocilia are
Efferent ductule
Clump of sperm present.
in the lumen
 Apical part of cells
are light stained
because of
multivasicular
bodies.
 Basal cells are
stem cells.

Connective tissue
Tall cell
Smooth muscle
Basal cell Stereocilia
DUCTUS EPIDIDYMIS
 Outer to basal
lamina there is thin
layer smooth
muscle.
Gradually muscle
becomes thicker
near the terminal
part, acquire inner &
outer longitudinal,
middle circular
layers.
 Connective tissue,
surrounds the
Stereocilia muscle & binds the
Smooth muscle loops of the duct.
Connective tissue
DUCTUS DEFERENS: Three layers in the wall
(most confuse with ureter)
i) Mucosa, ii) mascularis &
iii) adventitia (or serosa)
Longitudinal layers of muscle
Circular layer
Epithelium
Adventitia
 Lumen: star shaped
Mucosa

Lining epithelium (pseudo
stratified columnar
Lamina propria epithelium). Tall cells have
stereocilia.
Lamina propria:
 Muscular layer
Smooth muscle
Middle thick circular,
Outer & inner longitudinal
layers.
 Adventitial layer: dense
connective tissue
 Ureter have thin muscle,
deferens have very thick
muscle.
AMPULLA OF DUCTUS DEFERENS
 Distal end of ductus
deferens dilates at
proximal to the union
with seminal vesicle
duct.
 Mucosa forms taller &
branched folds, very
prominent.
 Lining cells appear to
have secretory function.
 Muscle coat is thinner
than in rest of the duct.
SEMINAL VESICLE
Seminal vesicle  Accessory sex glands
 Elongated, highly folded
tubular gland.
 Secretion is whitish yellow
viscous material: Fructose,
amino acid, ascorbic acid,
prostaglandin.
 The short excretory duct
combines with the ampulla
of ductus deferens to form
ejaculatory duct.
 Provide nutrition to sperms.
SEMINAL VESICLE: Mucosa, smooth muscle, & fibous coat
 Mucosa: primary, secondary
& tertiary folding.
Branches are
Primary folding
Lamina propria interconnected with one
Secondary folding another.
Give appearance of several
irregular chambers.
Pseudostratified columnar,
non-ciliated,
Lamina propria
 Smooth muscle: inner
circular & outer longitudinal.
 Fibrous connective tissue:
(adventitia) between the
walls of adjacent folding of
seminal tubule.
 Single lumen but seems
many lumen due to
extensive folding.
SEMINAL VESICLE: Microscopic picture
PROSTATE
 Fibro-musculo-
urethra glandular organ.
Colliculus  Prostatic part of
seminalis urethra
utricle  Prostatic sinus
Prostatic sinus  Colliculs seminalis
Ducts of  Prostatic utricle( small
prostatic glands rudimentary part of
uteres)
Ejaculatory duct
 Ejaculatory duct
Fibrous tissue  30-50 tubuloalveolar
Smooth muscle glands
a) Mucosal glands
Tubuloalveolar
glands b) Submucosal glands
c) Peripheral glands
(cancer zone)
PROSTATE
 Glandular epithelium: Typically they are simple
columnar or pseudostratified, but may be also
cuboidal & squamous.
 Secretory cells are light stained in comparison
to the duct cells.
 Secrete: Fibrinolysin (liquefies seminal
fluid),citric acid.
 Corpora amylacea (prostatic concretion):
Concentric lamellated bodies of condensed
secretion in alveoli (more at old age). Later may
be calcified.
 Alveoli may be saccule-like in old person.
PROSTATE
excretory Secretory cell
Prostatic secretion Important
duct characteristic
features:
 Fibromuscular
stroma:
Smooth muscle
& fibrous tissue
 Corpora
amylacea in the
acini.
 Lumen is
irregular
Smooth Fibrous
Corpora amylacea
muscle tissue
PROSTATE: Masson’s trichrome stain

Smooth
muscle

Connective
tissue fibres
PENIS
 Three vascular erectile
Corpus
Deep artery tissue (cavernous body).
Trabeculae
cavernosa Two corpora cavernosa (of
Corpus penis) & one corpus
spongiosum spongiosum (corpus
cavernosum of urethra).
 Tunica albuginea encircle
each separately.
 Deep penile (Buck’s)
fascia, a loose connective
tissue, encircles all three
in together.
 Urethra is in corpus
spongiosum.
 Deep artery of penis in
Tunica Urethra Buck’s fascia corpus cavernosum.
albuginea Venous sinus
ERECTILE TISSUE OF CAVERNOUS BODIES

 This tissue contains large number of venous

spaces lined with endothelium.
 Venous spaces are separated by trabeculae of
collagen, elastic, smooth muscle & nerve
fibres.
