Section II. THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
1-6.
INTRODUCTION
In the male reproductive system (figure 1-3), some organs are located outside
the body and others are inside the body. The penis and the scrotum are the external
parts of the male reproductive system. Internal male organs involved with reproduction
include the testes, epididymis, ductus (vas) deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory
ducts, prostrate gland, bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands, and urethra.
Figure 1-3. Male reproductive system.
1-7.
EXTERNAL ORGANS
a. Penis. The penis (figure 1-4) is the male organ of copulation and urination.
In the reproduction process, the penis is used to introduce sperm into the vagina.
(1) Glans. The terminal, enlarged end of the penis is called the glans. (The
word glands means shaped like an acorn.) This portion of the penis is formed by that
part of the spongy body which extends beyond the cavernous bodies of the penis shaft.
The glans is highly innervated (tactile).
(2) Shaft. The shaft of the penis is made up of three cylindrical masses of
tissue bound together by fibrous tissue. The two back and side tissue masses are
called the corpora cavernosa penis. The smaller, third tissue mass is the corpus
spongiosum penis, located toward the middle of the shaft and containing spongy
urethra.
MD0584
1-7