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.