Changes

==Testicular Architecture==

==Testicular Architecture==

*'''Scrotum '''

'''Scrotum '''

**Skin - Contains many sweat glands, thermosensitive receptors and sympathetic nerves.

*Skin - Contains many sweat glands, thermosensitive receptors and sympathetic nerves.

**Tunica Dartos - Smooth muscle layer found below the skin of the scrotum. Smooth muscle tone controlled by Androgens released in response to temperature changes detected by sensory nerves within the scrotal skin. The tunica dartos is responsible for holding the testes close to the body during cold temperatures, as it can maintain sustained contraction, and letting the testes lower in hot weather, increasing the surface area for heat loss from the skin.

*Tunica Dartos - Smooth muscle layer found below the skin of the scrotum. Smooth muscle tone controlled by Androgens released in response to temperature changes detected by sensory nerves within the scrotal skin. The tunica dartos is responsible for holding the testes close to the body during cold temperatures, as it can maintain sustained contraction, and letting the testes lower in hot weather, increasing the surface area for heat loss from the skin.

**Scrotal fascia

*Scrotal fascia

**Parietal Vaginal Tunic - The first peritoneam layer taken into the scrotum by the peritoneum fusion with the gubernaculum during testicular descent.

*Parietal Vaginal Tunic - The first peritoneam layer taken into the scrotum by the peritoneum fusion with the gubernaculum during testicular descent.

*'''Vaginal Cavity''' - A potential space

'''Vaginal Cavity''' - A potential space

*'''Testicular Capsule'''

'''Testicular Capsule'''

**Visceral Vaginal Tunic - The second peritoneum layer within the scrotum. This layer is closely applied to the Tunica Albuginea.

*Visceral Vaginal Tunic - The second peritoneum layer within the scrotum. This layer is closely applied to the Tunica Albuginea.

**Tunica Albuginea - A connective tissue layer containing some smooth muscle fibres. The Tunica Albuginea sends projections from the capsules into the testicular parenchyma that join up with the mediastinum of the testis forming lobules. Contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle fibres within the Tunica Albuginea in response to Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine results in a pumping action facilitating the flow of spermatozoa through the tubules of the testes.

*Tunica Albuginea - A connective tissue layer containing some smooth muscle fibres. The Tunica Albuginea sends projections from the capsules into the testicular parenchyma that join up with the mediastinum of the testis forming lobules. Contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle fibres within the Tunica Albuginea in response to Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine results in a pumping action facilitating the flow of spermatozoa through the tubules of the testes.

*'''Testicular Parenchyma'''

'''Testicular Parenchyma'''

**Interstitial Leydig cells - Produce the androgen testosterone important for supporting spermatogenesis.

*Interstitial Leydig cells - Produce the androgen testosterone important for supporting spermatogenesis.

**Cappilaries, Lymphatic vessels, connective tissue.

*Cappilaries, Lymphatic vessels, connective tissue.

*'''Tubular Compartment'''

'''Tubular Compartment'''

**Seminipherous Tubules - Make up highly convoluted tubule network within the teste parenchyma. These seminipherous tubules connect to Rete tubules. The Seminipherous epithelium making up the tubules can be devided into two compartments seperated by junctional complexes between the somatic Sertoli cells within the epithelium:

*Seminipherous Tubules - Make up highly convoluted tubule network within the teste parenchyma. These seminipherous tubules connect to Rete tubules. The Seminipherous epithelium making up the tubules can be devided into two compartments seperated by junctional complexes between the somatic Sertoli cells within the epithelium:

***Basal Compartment - containing spermatogonia, proliferating germ cells.

**Basal Compartment - containing spermatogonia, proliferating germ cells.

***Adluminal Compartment - Containing Spermatocytes, Spermatids and spermatozoa

**Adluminal Compartment - Containing Spermatocytes, Spermatids and spermatozoa

The Sertoli cells are much larger than the developing germ cells and span the basement membrane to the lumen of the seminipherous tubules. Their function is provide support to developing germ cells and form the Blood-testis barrier. Each sertoli cells can only support a maximum number of developing germ cells. Therefore, the number of sertoli cells within a testis determine the sperm production capabilities of that individual.

The Sertoli cells are much larger than the developing germ cells and span the basement membrane to the lumen of the seminipherous tubules. Their function is provide support to developing germ cells and form the Blood-testis barrier. Each sertoli cells can only support a maximum number of developing germ cells. Therefore, the number of sertoli cells within a testis determine the sperm production capabilities of that individual.

**Peritubular cells - contractile cells surrounding the seminipherous tubules

*Peritubular cells - contractile cells surrounding the seminipherous tubules

==Comparative Testicular Architecture==

==Comparative Testicular Architecture==