Which of the following statements is are correct? 1. The testes are situated outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch called the scrotum. 2. The scrotum helps in maintaining the high temperature of the testes (higher than the normal internal body temperature) necessary for spermatogenesis.

Which of the following statements is are correct? 1. The testes are situated outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch called the scrotum. 2. The scrotum helps in maintaining the high temperature of the testes (higher than the normal internal body temperature) necessary for spermatogenesis. Correct Answer 1 only

The correct answer is 1 only.

Key Points

  • The male reproductive system is located in the pelvis region.
    • It includes a pair of testes along with accessory ducts, glands, and the external genitalia.
  • The testes are situated outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch called the scrotum. Hence statement 1 is correct.
    • The scrotum helps in maintaining the low temperature of the testes (2–2.5o C lower than the normal internal body temperature) necessary for spermatogenesis. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
  • In adults, each testis is oval in shape, with a length of about 4 to 5 cm and a width of about 2 to 3 cm.
  • The testis is covered by a dense covering. Each testis has about 250 compartments called testicular lobules.
  • Each lobule contains one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules in which sperms are produced.
  • Each seminiferous tubule is lined on its inside by two types of cells called male germ cells (spermatogonia) and Sertoli cells.
    • The male germ cells undergo meiotic divisions finally leading to sperm formation, while Sertoli cells provide nutrition to the germ cells.
  • The regions outside the seminiferous tubules called interstitial spaces contain small blood vessels and interstitial cells or Leydig cells.
    • Leydig cells synthesize and secrete testicular hormones called androgens. Other immunologically competent cells are also present. 
  • The male sex accessory ducts include rete testis, vasa efferentia, epididymis, and vas deferens.
  • The seminiferous tubules of the testis open into the vasa efferentia through the rete testis.
  • The vasa efferentia leaves the testis and opens into the epididymis located along the posterior surface of each testis.
    • The epididymis leads to vas deferens that ascends to the abdomen and loops over the urinary bladder.
    • It receives a duct from the seminal vesicle and opens into the urethra as the ejaculatory duct.
    • These ducts store and transport the sperms from the testis to the outside through the urethra.
  • The urethra originates from the urinary bladder and extends through the penis to its external opening called the urethral meatus.

Additional Information

  • The penis is the male external genitalia.
  • It is made up of special tissue that helps in the erection of the penis to facilitate insemination.
  • The enlarged end of the penis called the glans penis is covered by a loose fold of skin called the foreskin.
  • The male accessory glands include paired seminal vesicles, prostate, and paired bulbourethral glands.
  • Secretions of these glands constitute the seminal plasma which is rich in fructose, calcium, and certain enzymes.
  • The secretions of bulbourethral glands also help in the lubrication of the penis.

Related Questions

Testes are located outside the abdominal cavity in the: