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What reproductive structure houses the gonads in males?
Abdominal cavity
Scrotum
Vas deferens
Rectum
The correct answer is: Scrotum
The scrotum is the reproductive structure that houses the gonads, specifically the testes, in males. Its primary function is to provide an optimal temperature for sperm production. The testes need to be kept at a temperature slightly lower than the body’s core temperature for effective spermatogenesis. The scrotum accomplishes this by being an external pouch, allowing for temperature regulation through mechanisms such as contraction and relaxation to move the testes closer to or further from the body. The abdominal cavity does contain the internal reproductive organs but does not actually house the gonads in males; the testes descend into the scrotum before birth. The vas deferens is the duct that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra and does not serve to house the gonads. The rectum is part of the digestive system and is not involved in the reproductive process. Thus, the scrotum is the correct answer as it plays a direct role in protecting and supporting the male reproductive organs.