Understanding the Male Reproductive System
How does the male reproductive system work? Discover how these body parts impact fertility below.
The male reproductive system includes the following organs and glands:
Scrotum
- Contains the testes, the sperm producing organs
- The location of the scrotum, outside the body, behind the penis, help to maintain the temperature, ensuring normal sperm production.
Epididymis
- Long coiled tube that lies beside and behind the testes
- Helps sperm mature fully (after the seminiferous tubules) and transports them to the vas deferens
- Sperm remain here for 2-12 days
Vas Deferens
- Long tube with thick walls, it runs from the end of the epididymis upward into the pelvis behind the bladder.
Seminal Vesicles
- Contribute the seminal fluid and produce the sugar fructose, which the sperm use to fuel their long journey
Prostate Gland
- Contribute additional fluid and important enzymes that cause semen to liquefy after ejaculation
Cowper’s Glands
- Located beyond the prostate at the base of the penile shaft in the urethra
- Adds a small amount of lubricant to the seminal fluid before ejaculation takes place
Penis
- The penis allows the man to deposit the seminal fluid into the vagina.
Testes
- Oval glands located within the scrotum
- Produce testosterone
- Produce sperm cells
Leydig Cells
- Produce testosterone
Sertoli Cells
- Produce growth factors that nourish sperm.
Seminiferous Tubules
- Store sperm for about 3 months
- This is where sperm begin to mature