Male gonad

Male gonad
: The male gonad, the testicle (or testis), located behind the penis in a pouch of skin (the scrotum). The testicles produce and store sperm, and they are also the body's main source of male hormones (testosterone). These hormones control the development of the reproductive organs and other male characteristics, such as body and facial hair, low voice, and wide shoulders. The word "testis" is Latin for "witness." In ancient times, a person providing testimony might validate it by holding the scrotum, his or another man's. "And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning the matter." (Genesis 24:9)

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Gonad — A reproductive gland (ovary or testis) that produces germ cells (gametes). In embryonic life, the gonad in males and females is initially identical. This gonad is said to be indifferent before it differentiates into a definitive testis or ovary.… …   Medical dictionary

  • Gonad, male — The male gonad, the testicle (or testis), located behind the penis in a pouch of skin (the scrotum). The testicles produce and store sperm and are also the body s main source of male hormones (testosterone). These hormones control the development …   Medical dictionary

  • gonad — gonadal, gonadial /goh nay dee euhl/, gonadic /goh nad ik/, adj. /goh nad, gon ad/, n. Anat. a sex gland in which gametes are produced; an ovary or testis. [1875 80; < NL gonad (s. of gonas), equiv. to gon GON + ad AD1] * * * ▪ …   Universalium

  • Gonad — The gonad is the organ that makes gametes. The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries. The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells. For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes. Although medically the… …   Wikipedia

  • gonad — go|nad [ˈgəunæd US ˈgou ] n [Date: 1800 1900; : Modern Latin; Origin: Greek gonos seed ] technical the male or female sex organ in which the ↑sperm or eggs are produced …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gonad — noun (C) technical the male or female sex organ in which the sperm (1) or eggs (egg1 (3)) are produced …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • gonad — n. a male or female reproductive organ that produces the gametes. See: ovary, testis …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • gonad — /ˈgoʊnæd / (say gohnad) noun 1. the part of an animal body in which gametes are produced; in the female the ovary, in the male the testis. 2. (plural) Colloquial the testicles. {New Latin gonas, from Greek gonos offspring, seed} –gonadal… …  

  • gonad — One of the (usually paired) animal organs that produce reproductive cells (gametes). The most important gonads are the male testis, which produces spermatozoa, and the female ovary, which produces ova (egg cells). The gonads also produce hormones …   Glossary of Biotechnology

  • reproductive system, animal — Introduction       any of the organ systems by which animals reproduce.       The role of reproduction is to provide for the continued existence of a species; it is the process by which living organisms duplicate themselves. Animals compete with… …   Universalium

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