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Human Body Study

Duct System

The plumbing that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra — the epididymis (storage and maturation) and the vas deferens (transport).

Male reproductive system Front-view schematic showing the testes, duct system, accessory glands and penis; each labelled part links to its article. Male reproductive system bladder prostate Accessory glands the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethralglands, which produce the fluid of semen. Duct system the epididymis (where sperm mature and arestored) and the vas deferens (which carriessperm onward). Penis the organ of delivery; its urethra is sharedwith the urinary system. Testes produce sperm and the hormone testosterone;held in the scrotum, outside the body, for theslightly cooler temperature sperm need. Male reproductive system — schematic front view, not to scale.

Parts

Section titled “Parts”
  • Epididymis — a long, tightly coiled tube draped over each testis where newly made sperm mature and are stored.
  • Vas deferens — a muscular tube that carries sperm from the epididymis up through the abdomen to join the urethra near the prostate.
  • Ejaculatory duct — the short final stretch where the vas deferens meets the urethra inside the prostate.

What it does

Section titled “What it does”
  • Stores and matures sperm in the epididymis until they are released.
  • Propels sperm onward by muscular contraction at the moment of ejaculation.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

Sperm spend weeks maturing in the epididymis before they are capable of fertilization — the duct system is not just a pipe but a finishing school. Cutting the vas deferens (vasectomy) is the basis of male sterilization.