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Human Body Study

Penis

The male organ of delivery — the external part of the male reproductive system. Its internal urethra is shared with the urinary system.

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.

Structure

Section titled “Structure”
  • Shaft — the main body, made of erectile tissue.
  • Glans — the sensitive head at the tip.
  • Urethra — the channel running through the shaft; carries both urine and semen (but never at the same time).
  • Erectile tissue — spongy chambers that fill with blood to produce an erection.

What it does

Section titled “What it does”
  • Delivers sperm during intercourse.
  • Conducts urine from the bladder to the outside.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

The penis is the body’s only organ shared between two systems — urinary and reproductive — and the only one whose primary function depends on a controlled vascular event (the erection).