The Male reproductive System
The male reproductive system. The main
parts of the male reproductive system are the testes, the penis, and a system of tubes that connects
these parts.
The testes (TESS-teez) are also called
testicles (TESS-tuh-kuls). Each one of the testicles is called a testis (TESS-tiss). The testes are a
pair of oval glands held in a soft covering of skin
called the scrotum (SKRO-tum). The scrotum
hangs down outside the body between the thighs.
Sperm cells are the male sex cells. Then a sperm
cell joins with an egg cell, a baby starts to develop.
During an average lifetime, the testes
produce billions of sperm cells. Human sperm
cells are very small ---much smaller the egg cells.
Each sperm cell has a tiny head and a thin whip
like tail. Sperm cells move by lashing their tails
back and forth.
The penis (PEE-niss) is an organ shaped
like a tube with a round end. The penis is made
up of spongy tissue with many small blood vessels. It is usually soft and drooping, and hangs in
front of the scrotum. A tube called the urethra
(yoo-REE-thruh) passes through the center of the
penis. The urethra has an opening at the tip of the
penis. The other end of the urethra connects with
the bladder, where the body stores urine. Urine
passes up of the body through the urethra.
Sometimes the blood vessels in the penis
WHAT YOU HAVE
LEARNED ABOUT
THE MALE
REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
Near the place where the sperm
ducts join with the urethra, there are several
glands that produce fluids. These fluids mix
with the sperm cells when they enter the
urethra. The mixture of sperm cells and fluid is called semen (SEE-mun). Semen passes out of the body through the urethra.
Before semen can enter the urethra,
the penis must become erect. The erection
of the penis closes the opening to the bladder. Urine cannot get into the urethra and
leave the body during the erection. Semen
can enter the urethra only during an
3.
4.
5.
Inside this issue:
Some Vocab.
Sper m
and
Egg
become filled with extra blood. The tissue of the
penis then becomes firm and the penis gets larger.
It stands up from the body instead of hanging
down. This condition is called an erection (eeRECK-shun)
Leading from each testis is a tube called
the vas deferens (VASS DEF-uh-renz). These
tubes are also called sperm ducts. The sperm
ducts are connected to the urethra. Sperm cells
can pass from the testes, through the sperm ducts,
and into the urethra.
1.
The male
reproductive system
consists of the testes,
the penis, and the system of tubes that connects them.
2.
The testes
produce sperm cells.
Sperm cells are the male
sex cells.
When the blood vessels of
the penis are filled with
extra blood, the penis becomes erect.
Semen is a mixture of
sperm cells and a fluid
produced by several
glands.
The urethra is a passageway for both the urine and
semen to leave the body,
but urine and semen do
not leave the body at
the same time.
6.
The fold of the
skin at the tip of the
penis can be removed
by an operation called
circumcision.
erection. Urine and semen can never leave the
body at the same time.
When a boy is born, a fold of skin covers the tip
of the penis. This piece of skin is called the foreskin. It is often removed by a simple operation.
This is usually done when the baby boy is a few
days old. The operation is called a circumcision
(SUR-kum-sizh-un).
A man or boy who is not circumcised
should push back the foreskin to clean the tip of
the penis when he takes a shower or a bath. This
will prevent soreness and infection.
The penis and testes should be protected against
injury. It is a good idea to wear an athletic supporter
during active sports.
Testes = Testicles
Are outside the body
1
Scrotum - holds the
testes
2
Penis
3
Urethra– carries the
4
urine and the semen out
Semen contains Sperm
5
Vas Deferens = Sperm
duct - carry sperm
6
Circumcision - that cuts 7
away the fore skin