What are the parts of the male reproductive system?

What are the parts of the male reproductive system?

The male reproductive system is made up of the following:

• Testes, or testicles produce sperm (male reproductive cells) in a process called spermatogenesis.
• Seminiferous tubules are tiny tubes that make up most of the tissue of the testes.
• Epididymis is the structure on the back of each testicle into which mature sperm are moved and stored.
• Vas deferens is the muscular tube that passes from the epididymis into the pelvis then curves around and enters the seminal vesicle.
• Seminal vesicle is a tubular gland that produces and stores most of the fluid ingredients of semen. The vesicle narrows to form a straight duct, the seminal duct, which joins with the vas deferens.
• Ejaculatory duct is created when the seminal vesicle duct merges with the vas deferens. The ejaculatory duct passes into the prostate gland and connects with the urethra.
• Urethra is the tube that runs through the penis to eliminate urine from the bladder and semen from the vas deferens.

During ejaculation, sperm move from the testes and the epididymis into the vas deferens. Tightening (contraction) of the vas deferens moves the sperm along. Secretions from the seminal vesicle are added and the seminal fluid continues to move forward toward the urethra. Before reaching the urethra, the seminal fluid passes by the prostate gland, which adds a milky fluid to the sperm to form semen. Lastly, the semen is ejaculated (released) through the penis through the urethra.

A normal sperm count is considered to be 15 million/mL or more. Men with low sperm counts (oligozoospermia or oligospermia) have a sperm concentration of less than 15 million/mL. If you have azoospermia, you have no measurable sperm in your ejaculate.