The male germ cells, the spermatozoa (sperm cells), are produced in the paired testes (singular, testis) that are suspended outside of the body in the scrotum. Although the testes develop in the abdominal cavity, they normally descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum before birth or shortly thereafter. From puberty on, spermatozoa form continuously within the testes in coiled seminiferous tubules. Their development requires the aid of special Sertoli cells and male sex hormones, or androgens, mainly testosterone. These hormones are manufactured in interstitial cells located between the tubules. In both males and females, the gonads are stimulated by the hormones follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), released from the anterior pituitary gland beneath the brain. Although these hormones are the same in both males and females, LH is called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH) in males.

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