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This article is written on what the male reproductive system is, including anatomy, functions, and structures. It continues to expand on diseases and how to keep the male reproduction system, healthy.

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Do you know everything about the male reproductive system? Get an overview of the male reproductive anatomy in this article.

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This article goes in depth on the internal organs and their functions. The article also gives information on sexually transmitted diseases (STD's).

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The male reproductive system is responsible for sexual function, human reproduction, and urination. Learn more about the system and how it works.

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This is a very useful guide on the functions, anatomy, and structures of male reproductive system. The website also has a short section that shows the conditions and disorders that can be seen in the male reproductive system.

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What are the external parts of the male reproductive system?

Most of the male reproductive system is on the outside of your abdominal cavity or pelvis. The external body parts of the male reproductive system include the penis, scrotum and testicles. Another name for these parts is genitals or genitalia.

Penis

The penis is the male organ for sexual intercourse. It contains many sensitive nerve endings, and it has three parts:

Root. The root is the base of your penis. It attaches to the wall of your abdomen.

Body (shaft). The body has a shape like a tube or cylinder. It consists of three internal chambers: the two larger chambers are the corpora cavernosa, and the third chamber is the corpus spongiosum. The corpora cavernosa run side by side, while the corpus spongiosum surrounds your urethra. There's a special, sponge-like erectile tissue inside these chambers. The erectile tissue contains thousands of spaces. During sexual arousal, the spaces fill with blood, and your penis becomes hard and rigid (erection). An erection allows you to have penetrative sex. The skin of the penis is loose and stretchy, which lets it change size when you have an erection.

Glans (head). The glans is the cone-shaped tip of the penis. A loose layer of skin (foreskin) covers the glans. Healthcare providers sometimes surgically remove the foreskin (circumcision).

In most people, the opening of the urethra is at the tip of the glans. The urethra transports pee and semen out of your body. Semen contains sperm. You expel (ejaculate) semen through the end of your penis when you reach sexual climax (orgasm).

When your penis is erect, your corpora cavernosa press against the part of your urethra where pee flows. This blocks your pee flow so that only semen ejaculates when you orgasm.

What is a normal size of the penis?

Studies suggest that the average penis is about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) when flaccid (soft) and a little more than 5 inches (13 cm) when erect.

Scrotum

The scrotum is the loose, pouch-like sac of skin that hangs behind the penis. It holds the testicles (testes) as well as nerves and blood vessels.

The scrotum protects your testicles and provides a sort of "climate-control system." For normal sperm development, the testes must be at a temperature that's slightly cooler than body temperature (between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit or 36 and 37 degrees Celsius). Special muscles in the wall of the scrotum let it contract (tighten) and relax. Your scrotum contracts to move your testicles closer to your body for warmth and protection. It relaxes away from your body to cool them.

Testicles

The testicles (testes) are oval-shaped organs that lie in your scrotum. They're about the size of two large olives. The spermatic cord holds the testicles in place and supplies them with blood. Most people AMAB have two testicles, on the left and right side of the scrotum. The testicles make testosterone and produce sperm. Within the testicles are coiled masses of tubes. These are the seminiferous tubules. The seminiferous tubules produce sperm cells through spermatogenesis.

Epididymis

The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that rests on the back of each testicle. It carries and stores the sperm cells that your testicles create. The epididymis also brings the sperm to maturity - the sperm that emerge from the testicles are immature and incapable of fertilization. During sexual arousal, muscle contractions force the sperm into the vas deferens.

What are the internal parts of the male reproductive system?

There are several internal (accessory) organs in the male reproductive system. They include:

Vas deferens

The vas deferens is a long, muscular tube that travels from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity, just behind the urinary bladder. The vas deferens transports mature sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation.

Ejaculatory ducts

Each testicle has a vas deferens that joins with seminal vesicle ducts to form ejaculatory ducts. The ejaculatory ducts move through your prostate, where they collect fluid to add to semen. They empty into your urethra.

Urethra

The urethra is the tube that carries pee from your bladder outside of your body. If you have a penis, it also ejaculates semen when you reach orgasm.

Seminal vesicles

The seminal vesicles are sac-like pouches that attach to the vas deferens near the base of the bladder. Seminal vesicles make up to 80% of your ejaculatory fluid, including fructose. Fructose is an energy source for sperm and helps them move (motility).

Prostate gland

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that rests below your bladder, in front of your rectum. The prostate adds additional fluid to ejaculate, which helps nourish sperm. The urethra runs through the center of the prostate gland.

Bulbourethral (Cowper) glands

The bulbourethral glands are pea-sized structures on the sides of your urethra, just below your prostate. They create a clear, slippery fluid that empties directly into the urethra. This fluid lubricates the urethra and neutralizes any acids that may remain from your pee.

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The male reproductive system consists of external and internal organs, including the penis and prostate. The system is responsible for sexual function and urination.

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This website gives key facts on the male reproductive system, what the male reproductive system is and it's functions, and how to maintain health in the male reproductive system. It also gives the anatomy and their functions.

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The male reproductive system contains the external genitals (the penis, testes and the scrotum) and internal parts, including the prostate gland, vas deferens and urethra. A man's fertility and sexual traits depend on the normal functioning of the male reproductive system, as well as hormones released from the brain.

Organs and functions

The male reproductive system is responsible for reproduction. It is made of the following parts:

Penis - this has spongy tissue which can fill with blood to cause an erection. It contains the urethra, which carries both urine and semen. It is used for urinating and sexual intercourse.

Scrotum - this is a loose bag of skin that hangs outside the body, behind the penis. It holds the testes in place.

Testes (or testicles) - these are a pair of egg-shaped glands that sit in the scrotum, on the outside of the body. They produce sperm and testosterone, which is the male sex hormone.

Epididymis - this is a highly coiled tube that lies at the back of the testes. All sperm from the testes must pass through the epididymis, where they mature and start to 'swim'.

Vas deferens - this is a thick-walled tube joined to the epididymis. It carries sperm from the epididymis up to the prostate gland and urethra.

Prostate gland - this is a walnut-shaped gland that sits in the middle of the pelvis. The urethra runs through the middle of it. It produces the fluid secretions that support and nourish the sperm.

Urethra - this is a tube which extends from the bladder to the external opening at the end of the penis. The urethra carries both urine and sperm.

Diagram showing the external and internal parts of the male reproductive system.

The brain also has an important role in reproductive function, as it controls the release of sex hormones.

What can go wrong?

As with any other part of the human body, things can sometimes go wrong with the male reproductive system, including:

If you notice any symptoms or problems, it's important to see your doctor quickly. Early treatment can avoid serious long-term problems.

Healthy Male(What every man needs to know), Healthy Male(The Male Body - pdf), myVMC(Male Reproductive System (Male Urogenital System))

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Last reviewed: March 2019

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The male reproductive system contains the external genitals (the penis, testes and the scrotum) and internal parts, including the prostate gland, vas deferens and urethra. A man's fertility and sexual traits depend on the normal functioning of the male reproductive system, as well as hormones released from the brain.

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This article is written on both male and female reproductive systems, it gives the anatomy, functions and main processes. The article also proceeds to inform you on how fertility works.

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51.3: Structure and Function of the Human Male Reproductive System

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As animals became more complex, specific organs and organ systems developed to support specific functions for the organism. The reproductive structures that evolved in land animals allow males and …