The Anatomy of the Testes

The paired testes, or testicles, are the male gonads or reproductive organs; they are ovoid in shape. The function of the testes is to produce spermatozoa (spermatogenesis) and the hormone testosterone. Both of these functions are controlled by hormones of the pituitary gland. There are several tissue layers covering the surface of the testes as described below. The internal tissue consists of the coiled seminiferous tubules and Sertoli cells. The latter are columnar epithelial cells that provide nutrition for the developing male gametes of the tubules. The cells of the seminiferous tubules develop through meiosis to become the male gametes; they are the site of spermatozoa development.

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