Age features of male genital organs
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The egg before the puberty period (13-15 years) grows slowly, and then its development sharply accelerates. In the newborn, the length of the testicle is 10 mm, the mass is 0.2 g. By the age of 14, the length of the testicle increases 2-2.5 times (up to 20-25 mm), and the mass reaches 2 g. At 18-20 years, the length of the testicle is 38-40 mm, and the mass increases to 20 g. At adulthood (22 years and later), the size and weight of the testicle increase insignificantly, and after 60 years somewhat decrease. In all age periods, the right testicle is larger and heavier than the left and is located above it.
Adherence of the testicle is relatively large. The length of the epididymis in the newborn is 20 mm, the mass is 0.12 g. During the first 10 years, the epididymis grows slowly, then its growth accelerates.
The pendant of the testicle, the appendage of the testicle and the appendage of the epididymis in the newborn are relatively large, grow to 8-10 years, and then gradually undergo a reverse development.
In the newborn, the convoluted and straight seminal tubules, as well as the tubules of the testicle network, do not have a lumen that appears to the period of puberty. In adolescence, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules is doubled, in adult men it is increased 3-fold compared with the diameter of the seminiferous tubules in newborns.
By the time of birth, the testicles must descend into the scrotum. However, if the testicles are lowered in the newborn, they may be in the inguinal canal (retroperitoneal). In these cases, the testicles descend into the scrotum later, with the right testicle located higher than the left testicle.
The diameter of the spermatic cord in a newborn is 4.0-4.5 mm. The vas deferens very thin, the longitudinal muscular layer in its wall is absent (appears by 5 years). The muscle that lifts the testicle is weakly developed. Until the age of 14, the spermatic cord and its constituents grow slowly, and then their growth accelerates. The thickness of the spermatic cord in a 15-year-old is approximately 6 mm, the diameter of the vas deferens is 1.6 mm.
Seminal vesicles in the newborn are weakly developed, the length of the vesicle is 1 mm, the cavity is very small. Until 12-14 years, seminal vesicles grow slowly, during adolescence (13-15 years) their growth accelerates, the size and cavity increase noticeably. With age, the position of seminal vesicles changes. In a newborn, they are located high due to the high position of the bladder, on all sides covered with a peritoneum. By the age of 2, the vesicles go down and turn out to be lying retroperitoneally. The peritoneum is due only to their apexes. The vas deferens in the newborn are short (8-12 mm long).
In the newborn and infants (up to 1 year), the prostate globose, since the right and left lobes are not yet expressed. The gland is located high, to the touch soft, glandular tissue is not developed. Accelerated growth of the gland is observed after 10 years. By adolescence, parts appear and the gland acquires a form characteristic of the gland of an adult. During this period, the inner opening of the male urethra as it were shifted to the anterior-upper edge of the prostate gland. The prosthetic gland parenchyma develops rapidly during adolescence. At this time, the prosthetic ducts are formed and the gland acquires a form characteristic of the gland of an adult male. By the age of 20-25 the prostate gland is fully developed. In 30-50% of men older than 55-60 years there is an increase in the prostate gland, mainly its isthmus (hypertrophy of the prostate). The weight of the gland in a newborn is 0.82 g, in 1.5 years 1.5 g, in the second childhood (8-12 years) 1.9 g, and in adolescence (13-16 years) 8, 8th
Bulbourethral glands in the newborn are poorly developed, their epithelium and capsule are poorly differentiated.
The length of the penis in a newborn is 2.0-2.5 cm, the foreskin is long, completely closes the glans penis. The penis grows slowly until the puberty, and then its growth accelerates.
The scrotum of the newborn is small, its skin is wrinkled due to the presence of a well-developed fleshy shell. Intensive growth of the scrotum is observed during puberty.
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