Human male reproductive system:
Human male reproductive system consists of testes (primary sex organs), scrotum, vas deferens, urethra, penis and accessory glands.
1. Testes: A pair of testes lies outside the abdominal cavity of the male. These testes are the male gonads, which produce male gametes (sperms) and male sex hormone (Testosterone). Along the inner side of each testis lies a mass of coiled tubules called epididymis. The Sertoli cells of the testes provide nourishment to the developing sperms.
2. Scrotum: The scrotum is a loose pouch-like sac of skin which is divided internally into right and left scrotal sacs by muscular partition. The two testes lie in the respective scrotal sacs. It also contains many nerves and blood vessels. The scrotum acts as a thermoregulator organ and provides an optimum temperature for the formation of sperms. The sperms develop at a temperature of 1-3⁰C lower than the normal body temperature.
3. Vas deferens:
It is a straight tube which carries the sperms to the seminal vesicles. The sperms are stored in the seminal plasma of seminal vesicle, which is rich in fructose, calcium and enzymes. Fructose is a source of energy for the sperm. The vas deferens along with seminal vesicles opens into ejaculatory duct which expels the sperm and its secretions from seminal vesicles into the urethra.
4. Urethra:
It is contained inside the penis and conveys the sperms from the vas deferens which pass through the urethral opening. The accessory glands associated with the male reproductive system consist of seminal vesicles, prostate gland and Cowper’s glands. The secretions of these glands form seminal fluid and mixes with the sperm to form semen. This fluid provides nutrition and helps in the transport of sperms.
Male reproductive system