Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system is one part of the human reproductive system. Male reproductive organs are entirely located within the pelvis, both inside and outside.

The male sex organs work together to produce and release semen into the reproductive system of the female during sexual intercourse. The male reproductive system also produces sex hormones, which help a boy develop into a sexually mature man during puberty.

Components of the Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive organs or genitals include:

• The penis,
• The testicles,
• The duct system, made up of the epididymis and vas deferens, and
• The accessory glands, that include the seminal vesicles and prostate glands

The penis is made up of two parts: the shaft and the glans. The shaft is the main part of the penis and the glans is the tip or head. The inside of the penis is made up of spongy tissue that can expand or contract. At the end of the glans is a slit from which semen and urine exits the body.

A healthy man has two testicles that produce and store millions of tiny sperm cells. Testicles are also part of the endocrine system and produce the hormone testosterone. Testosterone causes boys to have deeper voices and muscles and also stimulates the production of semen.

The duct system is alongside the testicles. It consists of the epididymis and the vas deferens. The vas deferens is a muscular tube that passes upward alongside the testicles and transports semen. The epididymis is a set of coiled tubes that connects to the vas deferens from each testicle.

Accessory glands that include the seminal vesicles and the prostate glands provide the fluids that lubricate the duct system and nourish the sperm. The prostate gland produces some parts of the semen.

The epididymis and the testicles are inside a pouch like structure outside the pelvis called the scrotum. It is the scrotum that regulates the temperature of the testicles. Testicles need to be kept a lower temperature than body temperature to produce sperm.

How the Male Reproductive System Works

The male reproductive system produces millions of sperm cells in a day, in the testicles. When the male is sexually stimulated, the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland produce the seminal fluid, which mixes with sperm to produce semen.

During intercourse, the male will deposit the sperm through the penis into the female. The sperm will then make their way up the fallopian tube where a single sperm will then fertilize the female ova.

Conditions that Affect the Male Reproductive System

There are many conditions that can affect the male reproductive system. Most are treatable and not life threatening. However, most of them will affect the reproduction abilities of the individual and can also be a source of feelings of inadequacy. These conditions include:

• Testicular cancer,
• Epididymitis,
• Inguinal hernia,
• Inflammation of the penis,
• Hypospadias,
• Ambiguous genitalia,
• Impotence, and
• Various sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea

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