What are the male gonads located in the scrotum that produce sperm and hormones?

The correct answer is the testes, which are the male gonads situated in the scrotum. Their primary functions are to produce sperm and secrete hormones, primarily testosterone. The scrotum plays a crucial role in maintaining an optimal temperature for sperm production, which is essential for male fertility.

The testes are developed in the abdomen and descend into the scrotum before birth. This descent is important as sperm production requires a slightly lower temperature than that of the body cavity. The structure of the testes includes seminiferous tubules, where sperm are produced via a process called spermatogenesis. Additionally, the interstitial cells in the testes produce testosterone, which is vital for the development of male secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive functions.

In contrast, the ovaries are the female gonads and are involved in producing ova (eggs) and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Seminal vesicles are glands that contribute fluid to semen but do not produce sperm or hormones. The epididymis is a coiled tube located at the back of the testes where sperm mature and are stored after being produced in the testis. Thus, the testes are uniquely responsible for the dual function of sperm and hormone production in males.