Final answer:
Gonads are the sexual organs that produce gametes; in males, these are the testes, which generate sperm, and in females, the ovaries, which produce eggs. These reproductive cells are haploid, carrying 23 chromosomes each.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general term for the sexual organs that produce gametes is gonads. In males, these are the testes, which are responsible for producing sperm, also known as spermatozoa. This process is called spermatogenesis, which occurs in the seminiferous tubules within the testes. Moreover, the testes secrete hormones, such as testosterone, which are essential for male reproductive physiology. The testes are housed in the scrotum, a muscular sac that keeps them outside the body cavity for optimal temperature regulation. In females, the gonads are called ovaries, which produce eggs, or oocytes. Gametes are haploid cells, meaning they carry half the genetic material of regular body cells; in humans, this equates to 23 chromosomes. During fertilization, male and female gametes combine to form offspring with a complete set of chromosomes.