Final answer:
Erectile tissue such as the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum in the male genitalia becomes filled with blood during sexual arousal, causing an erection necessary for sexual intercourse. Testosterone production is regulated by a negative feedback loop involving the testes and endocrine system, and is crucial for male sexual functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of erectile tissue in the male reproductive system is to enable penile erection, which is crucial for sexual intercourse. The erectile tissue, which includes the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum, becomes engorged with blood upon sexual arousal. This engorgement occurs due to the dilation of arteries supplying blood to the male genitalia, and the subsequent compression of veins that would normally carry blood away, leading to an accumulation of blood within the erectile tissue.
Testosterone plays a vital role in maintaining the sex organs and sex drive, and is produced in a controlled manner by the testes and endocrine system via a negative feedback loop. Leydig cells in the testes secrete testosterone under the influence of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which is essential for sexual development and maintaining normal spermatogenesis after puberty.