Male Reproductive System
ஆண் இனப்பெருக்க மண்டலம்
Sperm do not go from testis straight to the vas deferens. The order is seminiferous tubules → rete testis → vasa efferentia → epididymis → vas deferens → ejaculatory duct → urethra. One swapped step and the option is wrong.
The idea
The male reproductive system lies in the pelvis and has a pair of testes, accessory ducts, accessory glands and external genitalia. The testes sit outside the abdomen in the scrotum, which keeps them 2-2.5 °C below body temperature for spermatogenesis. Each testis has about 250 lobules, each with one to three seminiferous tubules lined by spermatogonia and Sertoli cells; Leydig (interstitial) cells between the tubules secrete androgens. Sperm pass from the seminiferous tubules to the rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis and vas deferens, which joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct opening into the urethra. Seminal vesicles, the prostate and paired bulbourethral glands form the seminal plasma, rich in fructose, calcium and some enzymes; bulbourethral secretions also lubricate the penis.
Why it matters
Sperm must be made at a lower temperature, matured, stored and then delivered in a nourishing fluid — the ducts and glands do exactly these jobs in sequence.
NEET lens
NEET tests the duct sequence (seminiferous tubules → rete testis → vasa efferentia → epididymis → vas deferens → ejaculatory duct → urethra), the scrotal temperature (2-2.5 °C lower), the numbers (about 250 lobules, 1-3 tubules each) and which glands are paired (seminal vesicles, bulbourethral) versus single (prostate). Vas deferens receives the duct of the seminal vesicle.
Clinical significance
If the testes fail to descend into the scrotum (cryptorchidism), the higher abdominal temperature stops sperm production and causes infertility. Vasectomy, a permanent male contraceptive method, cuts and ties the vas deferens so sperm cannot reach the urethra.
Introduction
The male reproductive system makes sperm and male hormones and delivers sperm into the female tract. It consists of the testes, accessory ducts, accessory glands and external genitalia.
Core concept
Testes: in the scrotum (2-2.5 °C below body temperature); oval, about 4-5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide; about 250 testicular lobules per testis, each with 1-3 highly coiled seminiferous tubules. Tubule lining: spermatogonia (male germ cells) and Sertoli cells (nourish germ cells). Interstitial spaces: Leydig cells (secrete androgens) plus immunocompetent cells. Ducts: seminiferous tubules → rete testis → vasa efferentia → epididymis (along the back of each testis) → vas deferens (ascends into the abdomen, loops over the urinary bladder, receives the duct from the seminal vesicle) → ejaculatory duct → urethra → urethral meatus. Glands: paired seminal vesicles, one prostate, paired bulbourethral glands — secretions form seminal plasma (fructose, calcium, enzymes); bulbourethral secretion lubricates the penis. Penis: special erectile tissue; enlarged end = glans penis, covered by foreskin.
Go deeper
The urethra runs from the urinary bladder through the penis — it carries both urine and semen. The epididymis stores sperm and lets them mature. Semen = sperm + seminal plasma.
From Class 10
In Class 10 you learnt that the testes make sperm and testosterone, and the vas deferens carries sperm. NEET adds the exact path and the role of each gland.