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The male reproductive system

The male reproductive system (see diagram below) allows a man to fertilise an egg. It includes the following organs:

testicles (testes)
  • two small, egg-shaped glands
  • make and store sperm
  • also make the hormone testosterone, which is responsible for the development of male characteristics, sexual drive (libido) and the ability to have an erection
scrotum
  • the loose pouch of skin at the base of the penis that
    holds the testicles
epididymis
  • a tightly coiled tube attached to the outer surface of each testicle
  • sperm travel from the testicles through the epididymis to the spermatic cord

spermatic cord and vas deferens
  • tubes running from each testicle to the penis
  • contain blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels
  • carry sperm towards the penis
seminal vesicles
  • glands that lie close to the prostate
  • produce fluids that make up part of semen
prostate
  • a small gland about the size of a walnut
  • produces fluids that form part of semen
  • located near the nerves, blood vessels and muscles that control bladder function and erections
penis
  • the main external sex organ
  • urine and semen pass out of the body through the penis
  • semen is made up of sperm and other fluids, and is ejaculated from the penis

Anatomy of the male reproductive system

Male reproductive system

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This information was last reviewed in May 2020. View who reviewed this content.

Dr Ying Li, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, RPA Fertility Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; Dr Antoinette Anazodo, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, and Lead Clinician for Youth Cancer NSW/ACT; Paul Baden, Consumer; Dawn Bedwell, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland; Maurice Edwards, Special Counsel, Watts McCray Lawyers, NSW; Helena Green, Clinical Sexologist and Counsellor, InSync for Life, WA; Dr Michelle Peate, Program Leader, Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing Research (emPoWeR) Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, VIC; A/Prof Kate Stern, Gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Head, Fertility Preservation Service, Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Health Psychology, Translational Health Resea ch Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW; Renee Van Den Bosch, Consumer.

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