The male sex organs, or gonads, are called the testes. From what embryonic tissue do the testes arise? Where are the testes located before birth; how do they reach the scrotum after birth?
Formed in the dorsal portion of the abdominal cavity from the same embryonic tissue as gives rise to the ovaries in females, the testes are oval glandular structures. At the time of birth the testes descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum through the inguinal canals. Once the testes have descended into the scrotum, the canals gradually become blocked by connective tissue so that the abdominal cavity and scrotal sac are permanently closed to each other.
