The Scrotum-The scrotum is the pouch of skin situated below the root of the penis that houses the testes. It’s divided by a fibrous sheet and this division can be seen on the surface of the scrotum as a ridge. The skin of the scrotum is dark and thin and contains numerous sebaceous glands and sparse hairs. Under the skin is a smooth muscle that contracts in response to cold, or vigorous exercise; its contraction makes the scrotum smaller and its skin wrinkled.
The Testes-The testes are smooth, oval structures that are compressed from side to side like broad beans. The left testis may be slightly lower than the right. Each testis is inside a sac and has four coverings that correspond to the various layers of the abdominal wall; these are carried down into the scrotal sac when the testis migrates from inside the abdomen just before birth. Small muscles control the height of the testes. The position of the testes may change according to a man’s level of sexual arousal, his emotions and the temperature of the scrotum, among other things. If sperm are to develop normally, they must be produced at a temperature two or three degrees lower than the rest of the body. That is why the testes are “outside” the body.
The two functions of the testis are to produce sperm and male hormones or androgens, primarily testosterone. A fine tube carries sperm developed in the testis to the epididymis where it is stored. This comma-shaped structure is stuck to the rear surface of the testis and is, in effect, an extensively coiled duct.
The vas deferens carries sperm via the spermatic cord into the pelvis, where it joins the back of the bladder with the seminal vesicle. Each duct then continues downwards and, joined by the duct of the seminal vesicle, forms the ejaculatory duct, which runs on through the body of the prostate and enters the urethra inside the prostate gland. Each seminal vesicle contains a small quantity of sticky fluid in which the sperm are supported and nourished, and which forms the ejaculate.
The Prostate-The prostate is a fibrous, muscular and glandular organ shaped like a chestnut. It produces secretions that form part of the seminal fluid during ejaculation. It’s contained in a fibrous capsule and sits just below the neck of the bladder. The male urethra passes right through the centre of the prostate. If the prostate gland enlarges, the urethral outlet may be narrowed. This leads to difficulty in urinating, dribbling and poor stream (a not uncommon condition in men over the age of 55). Beyond the prostate are a pair of glands that also add lubricant to the seminal fluid prior to ejaculation.
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