What are men's testicles for?

The testicles are part of the male reproductive structure. However, in real life, many people lack knowledge about physical health. For example, what are the testicles for? For men, what roles do the testicles play in their physical development? If a man's testicles are diseased, what effects will it have on the body? Based on this, let us understand the internal structure of the testicles and the characteristics of adult testicles.

The internal structure of the testis is wrapped by a layer of tough tissue on the outside, called the white membrane, which protects the testis. The white membrane thickens and extends inward, dividing the testis into many small chambers, which are called testicular septa and testicular lobules. Normal men generally have 200 to 300 lobules, which are filled with testicular parenchyma, where sperm is produced, called seminiferous tubules. If a small piece of testicular parenchyma is cut and placed under a microscope for observation, it can be seen that the seminiferous tubules are thin tubes.

In adults, the diameter of each seminiferous tubule is 150-250 microns, and the length of each is 30-70 centimeters, with the longest reaching 150 centimeters. There are about 300-1000 seminiferous tubules in a testis, with a total length of 200-300 meters. Obviously, the base of sperm production in the testis is quite large. The seminiferous tubules in each testicular lobule merge into 2-3 straight seminiferous tubules to form the rete testis, which then merge into 15-20 testicular efferent ductules that communicate with the epididymis. Sperm enter the epididymis through this channel to mature. The seminiferous tubules are the base for sperm production. Why do such tiny tubes have such magical abilities? It is really hard to understand. There are quite complex subtle changes in cell biology and biochemistry. To this day, scientists are still painstakingly exploring its origin. Nonetheless, the basic process of sperm production is now familiar.

The seminiferous tubules are also called seminiferous tubules. They are lined with spermatogenic epithelium and have a basement membrane on the outside. They are composed of two types of cells with different structures and functions. One type is spermatogenic cells at different stages of development, which gradually develop into sperm. The other type is supporting cells. Since spermatogenic cells are attached to them, they support and protect the spermatogenic cells. They also absorb nutrients (including oxygen) supplied to them from the body and supply them to spermatogenic cells, allowing them to develop into sperm. Hence, they are named supporting cells. The tissue between the seminiferous tubules is loose and is called the interstitium. It contains abundant blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The interstitium is a necessary place for supplying nutrients from the human body to the seminiferous tubules. In addition, there is another type of cell that has the function of secreting male hormones, called interstitial cells. Although this type of cell is small, it has amazing functions. The androgens it secretes are distributed throughout the body, maintaining male sexual characteristics and male sexual function. At the same time, it has an important role in promoting spermatogenic cells to develop into sperm and promoting the body's synthesis and metabolism.

After sperm is produced by the testis, it develops and matures in the epididymis and is stored in the epididymis and the proximal segment of the vas deferens. It usually takes 74 days for sperm to be produced in the testis and 16 days for it to mature in the epididymis, which takes a total of about 3 months. Sperm usually survives in the reproductive tract for 28 days. If it is stored for too long, it will decay and lose its vitality. The testicles of men begin to produce sperm at around the age of 14. When they reach sexual maturity at the age of 16 to 17, they will experience spermatogenesis. After the age of 40, the ability to produce sperm gradually weakens.