As mentioned above, sperm are made in the testes. During sexual intercourse,
smooth muscles contract and propel mature sperm from the end portions of
the epididymis through a long tube (vas deferens or ductus deferens) inside
the body, just beneath the bladder. From there, the sperm get mixed with
nutrient-rich fluids from the seminal vesicles and a milky secretion from
the prostate gland. This combination of sperm and fluids is called semen.
The semen does three things:
Provides a watery environment in which the sperm cells can swim while
outside the body
Provides nutrients for the sperm cells (fructose, amino acids, vitamin
C)
Protects the sperm cells by neutralizing acids in the female's sexual
tract
Once the semen is made, it passes through another tube (urethra) within
the penis, exiting the body through the opening of the penis.
Click the play button to learn more about sperm production
and ejaculation. If the animation above isn't working, click
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One last male organ is a tiny, pea-sized set of glands inside the body
at the base of the penis, called the bulbourethral or Cowper's glands.
During sexual excitation, and just prior to the ejection of sperm (ejaculation),
the Cowper's glands secrete a tiny amount of fluid that neutralizes any
traces of acidic urine that may be leftover in the urethra. It is also
believed that these secretions are designed to lubricate the penis and
female tract during sexual intercourse.