Reproductive System (Male)

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Reproductive System (Male)

The primary function of the male reproductive system is to form sperm, the male reproductive cells, and deliver them to the female. Unlike the reproductive structures of females, the male reproductive structures are located outside of the pelvis. This external location keeps the temperature of sperm slightly below body temperature, which is necessary for their healthy development and survival.

Testis

Beginning at puberty, sperm is produced in the testes (testicles), a pair of glands located in a pouch called the scrotum. From each testis, sperm migrate to a long, coiled tube known as the epididymis, where they are stored for one to three weeks until they mature.

Penis

When a man becomes sexually aroused, spongy tissue in the penis fills with blood and the organ becomes erect. Sperm leave the scrotum and travel along a long vessel known as the vas deferens. Fluid produced by the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland mixes with sperm to produce semen. During ejaculation, semen containing 200 million to 300 million sperm propels from the body through the urethra in the penis.

Urinary System

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Urinary system

The urinary system eliminates waste products from the body and helps regulate the body’s water and chemical balance. The organs of the urinary system include two oval-shaped kidneys, each with a long, slender tube, called the ureter, that connects to the bladder. Another tubular vessel, the urethra, extends from the bladder to an opening out of the body.

Kidney

The kidneys are the major excretory organs of the body. As the body’s blood flows through the kidneys, microscopic tubules called nephrons remove urea, salts, and other poisonous waste products formed during metabolism. The kidneys produce urine to carry away these waste products.

Nephrons also selectively absorb proteins, salts, sugar, calcium, and other nutrients. The kidneys return these life-sustaining substances to the bloodstream to maintain a healthy blood composition. The kidneys also secrete hormones that regulate body functions such as blood pressure and the production of red blood cells.

Bladder

Urine is produced in the kidneys and travels through the ureters to the bladder, a muscular sac that stores the urine. When the bladder is full, nerves signal the bladder to contract and expel urine from the body through the urethra.