SEMEN

seminal fluid

• is a complex fluid component of semen that contains spermatozoa which is secreted by the male gonads and other sexual organs of make or hermaphroditic animals

5%

• spermatozoa

60-70% seminal fluid

• provides fructose, the main energy source for sperm motility

20-30% prostate fluid

• acidic fluid that contains acp, zinc, citric acid and other enzymes; for coagulation & liquefaction

5% bulbourethral gland

• provide lubrication and neutralization of urethral acidity

90 days

• spermatogenesis and sperm maturation

seminiferous tubules

• site of spermatogenesis

sertoli cells

• “nurse cells” that provide support and nutrition for developing cells

leydig cells

• produce testosterone for spermatogenesis

epididymis

• site of sperm maturation (become motile)

masturbation

• preferred specimen collection

coitus interruptus

• not recommended due to loss of initial fraction of semen

condom method

• only if plain, non-lubricated, non-spermicidal condoms are used

musty or bleach odor

• odor of semen (physical examination)

gray, white translucent

• normal appearance of semen (physical examination)

white turbidity

• wbcs (infection)

red or brown

• increased rbcs (hematospermia, trauma)

yellow

• increased abstinence (due to flavin)

2.5 mL

• normal volume of semen

• physical examination

overabstinence

• increased semen volume

semen pours in small droplets

• normal viscosity

• physical examination

gel-like (decreased motility)

• increased in viscosity of semen

• physical examination

7.2 to 8.0

• normal ph of semen

• physical examination

infection

• increased in pH of semen

increased prostatic fluid

• decreased in ph of semen

more than 30% normal forms

• routine criteria

more than 14% normal forms

• kruger’s strict criteria

• measures the head, neck, and tails using a micrometer

head

• oval shaped (normal)

• poor ovum penetration (abnormal)

acrosomal cap

• ½ of the head, 2/3 of the nucleus

midpiece

• contain mitochondria for energy

tail

• 45 um in length

neck

• thickest part of tail

• for motility

varicocele

• hardening of veins that drain the testes

• most common cause of infertility

• sperm head = tapered

modified bloom’s test

• sperm viability

• tested within 1 hr of ejaculation

• reagents: eosin and nigrosin

• living sperm: unstained, bluish white

• dead sperm: red

• normal: 50% living sperms (normal)

fructose test

• tested within 2 hours

• delay: frozen specimen (prevent fructolysis)

• screening: seliwanoff’s test = (+) orange-red in color

vasectomy

• surgical cutting of vas deferens so that ejaculate may not contain any sperm cell

• sperm count should be zero within 12 weeks after procedure

• presence of even a single “motile” spermatozoon is evidence of an unsuccessful vasectomy

aspermia

• no semen or ejaculate

azoospermia

• absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate

hematospermia

• presence of blood in the ejaculate

leukospermia

• presence of blood in the ejaculate (wbcs)

necrozoospermia

• increased number of immotile or dead spermatozoa in the ejaculate

oligozoospermia

• decreased speem concentration