Gonad (Gr. Gone - Seed)

The gonad (from the Greek word "Gone", meaning "Seed") is the organ responsible for the production of gametes such as sperm and eggs. In men, the gonad is the testicle, and in women, the ovary.

The ovaries are paired glands located in a woman's pelvis that produce eggs and female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Each month, one of the ovaries releases a mature egg into the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by a sperm. If fertilization does not occur, the egg is destroyed and the uterus rejects it along with the membrane, which leads to monthly bleeding.

In men, the gonads are the testicles, which are located in the scrotum. The testicles produce sperm and male hormones such as testosterone. Sperm are produced in the spermatic tubules, which are located inside the testicles, and then pass through the epididymis, where they mature and gain motility. The sperm then pass into ducts that empty into the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, where they mix with the secretions of these glands to form sperm.

Gonads play an important role in the human reproductive system. They ensure the production of gametes, which are necessary for fertilization of the egg and reproduction. They also produce hormones that regulate various aspects of the reproductive system and influence the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as the growth of hair and vocal folds.