Final answer:
The testes are located in the scrotum to provide a lower temperature necessary for sperm production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The testes are located in the scrotum rather than inside the ventral body cavity to provide a slightly lower temperature necessary for sperm production. Sperm production in the seminiferous tubules is sensitive to temperature, and keeping the testes outside the body allows them to be about 2 to 4°C cooler than core body temperature, which is optimal for spermatogenesis.
The scrotum regulates its internal temperature through contractions of the smooth muscles lining it, pulling the scrotum closer to the body when it becomes too cold and moving it farther away when it becomes too warm.