Semen is a mix of fluids that contains sperm cells. These tadpole-shaped microscopic male reproductive cells fertilize female eggs to create an embryo.
Semen also contains liquids that combine to form seminal plasma. This whitish fluid is discharged from the penis during sexual intercourse. It contains sperm cells that are released through a process called ejaculation.
Sperm
A man’s sperm cells, which are called spermatozoa, are carried by semen, also known as seminal fluid. Semen contains the sperm cells and other important ingredients that help the sperm to survive and get to the egg for fertilization. Semen is a viscous liquid that can contain millions of sperms and contains many nutrients, such as fructose, which is used for energy by the sperm. It also contains proteins, vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, calcium, chloride, citric acid, flavins, zinc, prostrate specific antigen and phosphorylcholine.
Semen has a slightly alkaline pH of about 7.2 to 7.8. A healthy sample of semen should have a slight sweet taste, as it has a high amount of fructose. If the semen tastes bitter or salty, it may be a sign of an imbalance of nutrients and an unhealthy sperm count.
A typical ejaculation can contain as many as 500 million sperms. However, sperm makes up only a small percentage of the overall volume of semen. The rest is made up of a mix of other substances, including water and a variety of nutrients. In addition to sperm, semen can also contain other reproductive cells and secretions from the testes and epididymis. The sperm in semen are shaped somewhat like tadpoles and have one job, which is to reach an egg for fertilization.
Semen
Semen is a white fluid discharged from the penis during sexual activity. It contains sperms, the male reproductive cells that are responsible for fertilizing female eggs and resulting in pregnancy. However, many people confuse semen and sperm as the same thing. This is a mistake because the sperms are merely one component of semen. Semen is a thick fluid that nourishes and keeps the sperms alive during their journey to the egg cell. Semen is also known as seminal fluid and is made up of simple sugars (fructose and glucose), urea, citric acid, lactic acid, Vitamin C, phosphorylcholine, flavins, proteins, prostate specific antigen, zinc, and mucus.
The fluid provides a protective environment for the sperms as they travel through the vaginal canal and the uterus and fallopian tubes to reach and fertilize an egg. Its slightly alkaline pH helps buffer the acidic environment of the ejaculate. Its viscosity is important, as well. Higher-than-normal viscosity can indicate that a man has antibodies in his blood that attack sperm, which may result in fertility issues.
The color, smell, consistency, and volume of semen can vary from person to person and from ejaculation to ejaculation. While these variations reveal little about a man’s health or sperm count, they do help identify certain conditions that warrant medical attention. These include an increased number of abnormally shaped sperm, a low sperm count, and an unusual odor or smell of the semen.
Ejaculation
Ejaculation occurs when a man’s sperm and semen are released from the penis through the urethra. Each ejaculation contains up to 500 million sperm.
Ejaculations are most often triggered by orgasms, but can occur spontaneously. Nerves that connect from the reproductive system to parts of the spinal cord control the release of sperm and semen. A squirming, jelly-like sample of semen is pushed out of the penis as the vas deferens (the tubes that store and transport semen from the testicles) contract to force the fluid out.
Semen contains a high percentage of immature sperm cells. These sperm have tapering heads, pinheads, or rounded shapes and may be missing the acromsomal cap. It is not unusual for a semen sample to contain only 50% or less of the sperm required to achieve fertilization.
The remainder of a man’s semen is made up of water, nutrients and various other substances that are not sperm. These include citric acid, flavins, proteins, zinc, phosphorylcholine and vitamin C. Semen also contains fructose, which is usually present in varying amounts in a healthy male. If fructose is absent, it could indicate an obstructed duct or other problem. The ejaculate’s slightly alkaline pH protects sperm and provides energy for the little tadpole-looking organisms to swim up the vaginal canal to reach an egg.
Pregnancy
The male body holds a lot of mysteries, and one of the most important is semen. Many people have questions about what semen is, how it’s made, and whether or not it’s safe to swallow. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at semen and answer some of the most common questions that people have about it.
Semen is a fluid that contains sperm, which are microscopic cells that have an oval-shaped head and tail and fertilize female eggs to create offspring. The sperm cells are carried by fluids that come from the prostate, seminal vesicles, and bulbourethral glands. These fluids are called semen, and they contain a lot of nutrients that keep the sperm cells alive.
Without semen, sperm cells would just swim in circles forever. They need this fluid to carry them and propel them toward the egg. Semen also contains chemicals called prostaglandins, which help the sperm move and stay healthy.
Once sperm enters the woman’s reproductive tract, they can survive for up to two days before they die. During this time, they are trying to reach an egg and fertilize it so that a baby can be born. Typically, sperm cells that fail to reach an egg will die soon after entering the woman’s body. However, sperm can be frozen and later thawed and used to fertilize another egg.
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