The male reproductive system

Humans reproduce using sexual reproduction involving a man and a woman.

The male reproductive system from the front and side

Testes

The two testes (one is called a testis) are contained in a bag of skin called the scrotum. They have two functions:

• to produce sperm (the male gametes or sex cells)
• to make the hormone testosterone

Sperm duct and glands

The sperm pass through the sperm ducts, and mix with fluids produced by glands (seminal vesicles). The fluids provide the sperm cells with nutrients. This mixture is called semen.

Penis and urethra

The penis has two functions:

• to pass urine out of the body from the bladder
• to pass semen into the vagina of a woman during sexual intercourse

The urethra is the tube inside the penis that can carry urine or semen. A ring of muscle ensures that urine and semen do not get mixed up.