The male reproductive system
The human male reproductive systemThe organs and tissues involved in producing offspring. contains these parts:
- glands
- sperm ducts
- urethra
- penis
- testes
Testes
The two testesThe plural form of testis, the male organ that produces sperm. (one of them is called a testis) are contained in a bag of skin called the scrotumSkin that contains the testes in the male human reproductive system.. The testes have two functions:
- to produce millions of male gameteSex cell (sperm in males and ova/eggs in females). (sex cells) called sperm cellThe male sex cell or gamete.
- to make male sex hormoneChemical messenger produced in glands and carried by the blood to specific organs in the body., which affect the way a man's body develops
Sperm duct and glands
The sperm pass through the sperm ductsTubes leading from the testes in the male human reproductive system., and mix with fluids produced by the glandAn organ or tissue that makes a substance for release, such as a hormone.. The fluids provide the sperm cells with nutrients. The mixture of sperm and fluids is called semen.
Penis and urethra
The penisThe organ in the male reproductive system that carries urine and semen to the outside of the body. has two functions:
- to pass urine out of the man's body
- to pass semen out of the man's body
The urethraTube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body. is the tube inside the penis that can carry urine or semen. A ring of muscle makes sure that there is no chance of urine and semen getting mixed up.