Animal Reproduction Dr. Green
ANSC 318
Lecture 1: Male Reproduction (12/5)
Testicles
●Development:
○Develop in the area of the kidney, intra-abdominal.
○Remain there until the animal reaches puberty.
○Exception: Horses have testicles already in the scrotum at birth.
●Movement to Scrotum :
○Necessary to produce sperm, as body temperature in the abdomen is too high.
○Hormones released during embryological development cause the Gubernaculum testis to pull the testicle down through:
■Vaginal process (an out pocket of the peritoneum)
■Inguinal ring
■Internal inguinal canal
■External inguinal canal
■Into the scrotum.
●Inguinal Canal Muscles :
○Internal abdominal oblique
○External abdominal oblique
○Transverse abdominis
●Anatomy Surrounding Testicles :
○Vaginal tunic (peritoneum surrounding testicles in the scrotum):
■Parietal
■Visceral
○Tunica albuginea: Skin layer covering the testicles.
○Dartos muscle: Regulates testicle temperature.
○Cremaster muscle: Raises and lowers the testicles.
○Spermatic cord components:
■Tunica vaginalis
■Cremaster muscle
■Veins
■Arteries
■Nerves
■Gubernaculum testis
■Vas deferens
●Cells and Structures :
○Sertoli cells: Provide nutrition for testicles.
○Leydig cells: Produce hormones for testicles.
○Seminiferous tubules: Where sperm is formed.
○Rete testis: Sperm moves here from seminiferous tubules.
○Epididymis: Storage and maturation of sperm.
○Vas deferens: Tube that attaches to the urethra.
○Ampulla: Funnel-like structure attaching to the urethra (in some animals).
●Accessory Organs :
ANSC 318
Lecture 1: Male Reproduction (12/5)
Testicles
●Development:
○Develop in the area of the kidney, intra-abdominal.
○Remain there until the animal reaches puberty.
○Exception: Horses have testicles already in the scrotum at birth.
●Movement to Scrotum :
○Necessary to produce sperm, as body temperature in the abdomen is too high.
○Hormones released during embryological development cause the Gubernaculum testis to pull the testicle down through:
■Vaginal process (an out pocket of the peritoneum)
■Inguinal ring
■Internal inguinal canal
■External inguinal canal
■Into the scrotum.
●Inguinal Canal Muscles :
○Internal abdominal oblique
○External abdominal oblique
○Transverse abdominis
●Anatomy Surrounding Testicles :
○Vaginal tunic (peritoneum surrounding testicles in the scrotum):
■Parietal
■Visceral
○Tunica albuginea: Skin layer covering the testicles.
○Dartos muscle: Regulates testicle temperature.
○Cremaster muscle: Raises and lowers the testicles.
○Spermatic cord components:
■Tunica vaginalis
■Cremaster muscle
■Veins
■Arteries
■Nerves
■Gubernaculum testis
■Vas deferens
●Cells and Structures :
○Sertoli cells: Provide nutrition for testicles.
○Leydig cells: Produce hormones for testicles.
○Seminiferous tubules: Where sperm is formed.
○Rete testis: Sperm moves here from seminiferous tubules.
○Epididymis: Storage and maturation of sperm.
○Vas deferens: Tube that attaches to the urethra.
○Ampulla: Funnel-like structure attaching to the urethra (in some animals).
●Accessory Organs :
