The Male Reproductive System

While both the male and the female each have their own unique reproductive systems designed specifically to produce, nourish and transport the egg or the sperm, immediately after conception, for around the first 40 days or so, the embryonic gonads of males and females are the same. As a result of this, the embryo can develop either testes or ovaries. What determines the sex of the embryo is the presence or absence of the Y chromosome.

Unlike the female reproductive tract that is entirely internal, the male reproductive system is both external and internal and consists of:

• the penis
• the testicles
• the duct system consisting of the epididymis and the vas deferens
• the accessory glands that include the seminal vesicles and prostate gland

Starting from the outside, the first part of the male reproductive system is the penis. The penis is a tubular structure that consists of the shaft, which is the main body of the penis and the glans which is the head or the tip. The inner portion of the penis consists of spongy tissue that has the ability to expand and contract. While the female has two separate openings next to each other, one being the vagina and the other for dispelling urine, the penis has a small opening at the end of the glans through which both the semen and urine exit via the urethra, from the body. The penis is inserted into the vagina during sexual intercourse in order to deposit sperm into the female’s reproductive system.

The next external part of the male reproductive system is the testicles. The testicles or testes are two oval-shaped glands that produce and store millions of sperm cells. While a female is born with all the eggs she will ever produce, the male is constantly replenishing his stock of sperm. The testicles are a part of the endocrine system as they produce hormones, including testosterone which plays an important part in the reproductive cycle. Testosterone is instrumental in prompting the development of bigger muscles, the increase in body and facial hair and the deepening of the voice in men. Testosterone is responsible for stimulating the production of sperm.

Alongside the testicles, is the duct system consisting of the epididymis and the vas deferens.

The epididymis is a set of small, coiled tubes (a set for each testicle) that connects to the vas deferens and its role is to promote the maturation and storage of sperm. The vas deferens is a muscular duct that transports the sperm to the seminal vesicles.

The epididymis and the testicles are contained in the scrotum, a pouch-like skin structure outside the body. The scrotum is designed to regulate the temperature of the testicles which is vital for the production of healthy sperm. It shrinks and draws the testicles closer to the body when it is cold and stretches to distance the testicles from increased body heat, when there is a rise in temperature.

The accessory glands are part of the internal section of the male reproductive system and consist of the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland. The seminal vesicles are attached to the vas deferens on either side of the bladder and provides some of the fluids that lubricate the ducts and nourish the sperm. The prostate gland contributes towards the production of semen.

The main purpose of the male reproductive system is to produce healthy sperm (a tadpole shaped unit containing genetic material) and reach it to a mature egg that is waiting to be fertilized.