Seminiferous Tubules
Seminiferous Tubules are located in the testicles, the two oval-shaped organs on either side of a male’s penis. There are around 800 seminiferous tubules in each testicle, and this is where meiosis and subsequent development of spermatozoa occurs. In a mature adult male, each of these tubules creates thousands of sperm every second.
The tubules are tightly looped throughout the testes, and are incredibly long: perhaps as much as a mile between the two testes! Their tissue is lined with Sertoli Cells, a specialized cell type that is responsible for creating new sperm. They do so by secreting a protein that increases the concentration of testosterone inside the seminiferous tubules.
There are two distinct types of seminiferous tubules:
It is important to note that sperm are not entirely complete in their maturation upon leaving the seminiferous tubules, and will undergo further maturation in the epididymis, such as developing the tails that give them their motility.
The tubules are tightly looped throughout the testes, and are incredibly long: perhaps as much as a mile between the two testes! Their tissue is lined with Sertoli Cells, a specialized cell type that is responsible for creating new sperm. They do so by secreting a protein that increases the concentration of testosterone inside the seminiferous tubules.
There are two distinct types of seminiferous tubules:
- Convoluted - located on the sides of the testes, where sperm cells are produced
- Straight - short canals that transport sperm cells to the rete testis, a network of small tubes in the testicle that helps move the sperm cells from the testicle to the epididymis
It is important to note that sperm are not entirely complete in their maturation upon leaving the seminiferous tubules, and will undergo further maturation in the epididymis, such as developing the tails that give them their motility.
Nuts & Bolts: Seminiferous Tubules
To learn more, please visit our series of posts about male reproduction and contraception:
Looking for Something?
Welcome to your comprehensive resource on the future of male contraception! We have packed this site with vital information, and to help you find exactly what you need, we've created a detailed guide. Please use the Table of Contents on our homepage to easily navigate to the research, news, or resources that interest you most. This will ensure you can explore all of our important content with ease. You can access the Table of Contents by clicking on the button below: