Problem 1

Background and context

The function of the male reproductive system is the production and secretion of male sex hormones, production and transportation of sperm, and releasing the sperm into the female reproductive tract for fertilization. The male reproductive system is made of internal and external organs which help in urination and reproductive function to produce offspring.

External male reproductive structures are as follows:

• Penis – It is the main organ for sexual intercourse. It consists of 2 corpus cavernosum and one corpus spongiosum that are tissues located in the shaft of the penis and responsible for erection. The head of the penis is called glans covered by foreskin. The tip of the glans consists of the opening of the urethra responsible for the release of urine and semen.
• Scrotum – It is a sac-like structure located behind the penis which carries and protects the testes.  
• Testes – They are the pair of male reproductive organs responsible for the production of sperm and testosterone. They have coiled tubules called the seminiferous tubules that produce sperm.
• Epididymis - It is a coiled tube behind the testes that is responsible for the maturation and storage of sperms.

Internal male reproductive structures are as follows:

• Vas deferens – It is a tube-like structure that transports sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts.
• Ejaculatory ducts – A canal formed by the association of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicle duct that opens into the urethra. They are responsible for carrying the semen during ejaculation via the penis and released out of the body.
• Urethra – A tube that expels urine as well as semen out of the body. 

Accessory organs of the male reproductive system are as follows:

• Seminal vesicles – A pair of glands located behind the urinary bladder that secrete a fluid rich in fructose that provides energy for the sperms to move. They contribute about 60% of the major bulk of semen.
• Prostate gland – This organ is the size of a walnut and located below the urinary bladder and provides nourishment to the sperm. They secrete a milky fluid containing citrate, enzymes, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that contributes about 30% of the major bulk of semen.
• Bulbourethral gland – It is a pea-sized structure that is located below the prostate gland and on the sides of the urethra. It secretes a clear fluid into the urethra prior to ejaculation that helps in lubrication of the urethra and neutralizes any acidity from leftover urine.