The breast is a tissue that covers both male and female chest muscles. They are secondary sex characteristics and develop differently in males and females. When talking about breasts people generally refer to those of the female. This is because they are an important part of breastfeeding and sexual pleasure. Breasts vary in size, shape,…
Category: The Body
The Ovaries and the Ovum
The ovaries are the female gonads, or sex glands. These glands carry out two important functions: ovulation, and the production and secretion of sex hormones. Ovulation is the process of releasing an ovum, or egg, to prepare a female for possible implantation and consequent impregnation. Sex hormones regulate the process which dictates ovulation, known as…
The Hymen
The hymen is a structure within the vulva, which encompasses the female external genitalia. It is a thin piece of mucosal tissue that surrounds and partially covers the vaginal opening (also known as the introitus).1 There is no known biological or evolutionary function of the hymen, but a few hypotheses have been put forward. One…
Anatomy of the Penis
The penis acts as the male sex organ as well as the route through which urine, semen, and pre-ejaculate leave the body.1 Penis shape and size differs widely between males. Over the course of puberty, which generally begins in young males between the ages of 9 to 14, the penis grows and develops significantly until…
The Testes
Typically, males have two testes. The testes are contained within the scrotal sac, located beneath the penis and in front of the anus. They are round in shape and tend to be about the same size as golf balls. Testicles are attached to the body via the spermatic cords, which are cord-like tissue structures formed…
The Prostate Gland
What is the Prostate Gland? The prostate gland is located directly below a male’s bladder. This walnut-shaped gland is small at a male’s birth, but grows significantly during puberty, and enlarges even more as he ages. The prostate is composed of smooth muscle fibers and glandular tissue and is vital to the strength of a male’s…
Semen
What is Semen? Semen (meaning seed in Latin), male ejaculate, or “cum,” is a combination of seminal fluid and mature sperm (spermatozoa), which is ejaculated through the urethra during the male orgasm. Semen is the medium through which a male’s sperm is delivered to a female’s egg cell, or ovum, during procreative sex. Boys start…
Overview of the Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system includes the penis, the testes, and a host of internal organs that assist the evolutionary function of reproducing genetic material. Because the penis and testes are largely external organs, males are typically more familiar with their own reproductive systems than females are of the female reproductive system. The purpose of the male reproductive system is…