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Male Reproductive System Facts & Worksheets

Among the different organ systems of the body, the reproductive system is necessary for the continuation of the species.

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Among the different organ systems of the body, the reproductive system is necessary for the continuation of the species. The male reproductive organs include the testes, penis, vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper’s gland.

See the fact file below for more information on the Male Reproductive System, or you can download our 26-page Male Reproductive System worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS REPRODUCTION?

  • The reproductive system is the only one of the various organ systems in humans or any multicellular organism that is not required to ensure an organism’s survival. Instead, a species’ ability to persist depends on its reproductive system.
  • A new organism is created during the process of reproduction. Asexual reproduction is another option for reproduction.
  • The male and female sex cells, sperm, and egg are all components of sexual reproduction. Therefore, to produce offspring, two members of the same species must mate.
  • This is only occasionally the case, though. Some creatures can enable an individual to generate sperm and an egg.
  • Asexual reproduction is the alternative kind of reproduction. The two gametes do not merge during asexual reproduction; instead, a new individual can arise from a parent’s body. This is mainly observed in unicellular organisms.
  • This worksheet will mainly focus on the male reproductive system, how it produces sperm and testosterone, and its involvement in sexual reproduction.

THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

  • As mentioned, the reproductive system is the organ system that ensures the survival of a species. 
  • This organ system comprises tissues and organs that ultimately allow the male and female sex cells to fuse.
  • Aside from enabling fertilization, the reproductive system allows the production of the male and female sex hormones and the nurturing and development of a new organism.

THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

  • The male reproductive system is made up of organs and tissues that allow it to perform the following functions:
    • Production of the male sex cells or gametes;
    • Production of the male sex hormone; and
    • Sustenance and transfer of sperm cells to the location of fertilization.
  • Unlike the female reproductive system, most parts of the male reproductive system are located externally.
  • The organs of the male reproductive system are the testes, penis, vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and Cowper’s gland.
  • Testis (plural, testes) is the primary male reproductive organ responsible for producing the male sex hormone and the male sex cell.
  • The production of testosterone allows a boy to undergo puberty which helps their body to become sexually mature.
  • The deepening of the voice, growth of facial and body hair, and the development of bigger muscles occur with the production of testosterone.
  • Aside from these, testosterone also aids in developing the sperm cell.
  • Once the sperm cell is produced in the testes, it will move to the epididymis, where it will mature and be stored. 
  • The testis and the epididymis are contained in a sac called the scrotum. The scrotum is located externally, below the pelvis. 
  • The scrotum helps regulate the temperature of the testis. The testis must be kept cooler than the body temperature to produce sperm. 
  • During ejaculation, millions of sperm cells will leave the epididymis through the vas deferens. The sperm cell will be mixed with fluids that can help maintain its viability. These fluids are produced by the accessory glands – Cowper’s gland, seminal vesicles, and prostate gland.
  • The seminal vesicles supply the sperm cells with fructose needed for sperm motility.
  • The Cowper’s gland provides the sperm with a fluid that helps neutralize the acidity found in the urethra. The urethra is the passageway of sperm and urine. During ejaculation, a man will not be able to urinate.
  • Lastly, the prostate gland provides the sperm cell with an alkaline fluid to help the sperm maintain its viability. 
  • The female reproductive system is acidic and hostile towards the sperm. 
  • Thus, providing the sperm cells with these fluids helps increase the chance of fertilization.
  • The organ that delivers the sperm cells to the site of fertilization is the penis.
  • When a man is sexually aroused, blood rushes to the penis and makes it erect.
  • The penis must be erect to deliver the sperm cells to the site of fertilization, the female reproductive system.

TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION AND REGULATION

  • Testosterone is a sex hormone released by the gonads. In males, this hormone is made by the Leydig cells found in the testis. Meanwhile, for females, this hormone is produced by the ovaries. Aside from the gonads, the adrenal gland also produces testosterone.
  • Testosterone is produced in higher amounts in males compared to females. It is responsible for the development of male characteristics, such as the development of the male reproductive organs during fetal development and the production of sperm cells during adolescence and adult life.
  • Testosterone production begins with the hypothalamus as it releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH targets the pituitary gland and triggers it to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
  • LH and FSH will target the Leydig cells of the testis and will trigger the production of testosterone.
  • The production of testosterone is regulated through a negative feedback mechanism. 
  • Once the levels of testosterone are high enough, it will send feedback to the hypothalamus, which will then suppress the production of GnRH.
  • As the levels of GnRH are suppressed, the pituitary gland will also subdue its production of LH and FSH. As a result, it lessens the production of testosterone.

SPERM CELLS AND SPERM PRODUCTION

  • Sperm cells are the male sex cell. It is a haploid cell that carries 23 chromosomes (humans). During fertilization, these 23 chromosomes will fuse with the other 23 from the egg cell.
  •  A mature sperm cell has three main parts: head, midpiece, and tail. 
  • The head of the sperm is composed of the nucleus and the acrosome. 
  • The nucleus carries the chromosomes – 22 autosomes and a sex chromosome. 
  • The acrosome is located above the nucleus and carries enzymes needed when the sperm penetrates the egg cell. 
  • The midpiece contains mitochondria responsible for producing ATP, the energy currency of the cell, so that the sperm can move.
  • The tail is a structure that allows the sperm to move. This is also called the flagellum.
  • Spermatogenesis is the production, formation, and development of sperm cells.
  • Sperm is produced in the seminiferous tubules of the testes and is regulated by hormones – luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone.
  • Although sperm cells are haploid cells, they start as diploid cells. Diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes. In terms of humans, this means that a diploid contains 46 chromosomes. 
  • These diploid primordial germ cells are called spermatogonia, and these divide mitotically. They will continually and repeatedly divide.
  • Through mitosis, primary spermatocytes are produced. These spermatocytes are still diploid cells but will now undergo Meiosis I. 
  • During Prophase I, synapsis and crossing over will occur, allowing the spermatocytes to exchange genetic information with one another. This results in genetic diversity.
  • After Meiosis I, the primary spermatocytes are now secondary spermatocytes which contain a single set of chromosomes.
  • These secondary spermatocytes will now undergo Meiosis II which will then result in spermatids. Spermatids will grow and develop as spermatozoa or mature sperm cells.
  • This set of cell division processes happens as the cells are migrating from the basal membrane up to the luminal compartment. 

Male Reproductive System Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Male Reproductive System across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Male Reproductive System. Among the different organ systems of the body, the reproductive system is necessary for the continuation of the species.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Male Reproductive System Facts
  2. Decode
  3. Parts and Functions
  4. Self-Check
  5. Matching Type
  6. Testosterone Regulation
  7. Sperm Production
  8. Reproductive Health
  9. Species Survival
  10. Testosterone & Puberty
  11. For Dad

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary organs of the male reproductive system?

The primary organs of the male reproductive system are the testes, which are responsible for producing sperm and testosterone.

What is the function of the epididymis?

The epididymis is a coiled tube located on the back of each testicle. Its function is to store sperm and allow them to mature and gain the ability to swim.

How does the process of ejaculation occur in males?

During sexual stimulation, the muscles in the walls of the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and prostate gland contract, propelling semen into the urethra. The muscles at the base of the penis then contract, forcing semen out through the urethra in a process called ejaculation.

What role does the prostate gland play in male reproduction?

The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized gland located below the bladder. It produces a fluid that helps nourish and protect sperm. This fluid is mixed with sperm and seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles to form semen.

How does the male reproductive system contribute to sexual function?

The male reproductive system plays a crucial role in sexual function. When a man becomes sexually aroused, the penis becomes erect due to increased blood flow. This allows for penetration during sexual intercourse. Additionally, the release of semen during ejaculation is an essential part of the sexual experience.

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Link will appear as Male Reproductive System Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 19, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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