Video Transcript
Which of the following glands are
responsible for secreting testosterone? (A) The testes, (B) the pancreas,
(C) the thyroid gland, (D) Cowper’s glands.
This question is asking us about
the male reproductive system, which we can see here. One of the purposes of this system
is to deliver semen, which contains sperm, to the female reproductive system using
the penis. A sperm cell can then combine with
an egg cell that’s made by the female reproductive system to make a fertilized
egg. This fertilized egg can then make a
baby, which can develop in the female reproductive system.
Another function of the male
reproductive system is to produce sex hormones. A hormone is a chemical messenger
that travels throughout the body to regulate distant cells or organs. A sex hormone is a hormone that
regulates sexual function or development. An example of a sex hormone is
testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for the
growth of different parts of the male reproductive system, including the prostate
gland and the seminal vesicles. Testosterone also controls the
development of male secondary sexual characteristics, such as the deepening of the
voice and growth of body or facial hair. These characteristics start to
develop during puberty, which is when an individual reaches sexual maturity and is
capable of reproduction.
If we look at our answer choices,
only the testes and Cowper’s glands are involved in the male reproductive
system. Cowper’s gland secretes fluid to
mix with sperm cells in order to make semen. Semen is the fluid that contains
sperm that is ejaculated from the penis during sexual intercourse. These sperm cells are made in the
testes, or testis as singular. The testes also act as a gland and
secrete the hormone testosterone. Therefore, the gland that is
responsible for secreting testosterone is given by answer choice (A), the
testes.
