At fertilization, the chromosomes in one male gamete, called a sperm (or spermatozoon), combine with the chromosomes in one female gamete, called an ovum. The paired testes are a crucial component in this process, as they produce both sperm and androgens, the hormones that support male reproductive physiology.

In almost all sexually reproducing species, these two haploid cells differ in size; the smaller gamete is called the male gamete and the larger one is called the female gamete. Unique for its role in reproduction, a gamete is a specialized sex cell, which in humans carries 23 chromosomes—one half the number in body cells.

smaller gamete — called the male gamete and the larger one is called the female gamete. paired testes — a crucial component in this process, as they produce both sperm and androgens, the hormones that support male reproductive physiology. gamete — haploid reproductive cell that contributes genetic material to form an offspring. ovum — haploid female gamete resulting from completion of meiosis II at fertilization.

Be able to describe the structure and function of the organs of the testicular reproductive system; describe the structure and function of the sperm cell; explain the events during spermatogenesis that produce haploid sperm from diploid cells.