-
Male ejaculate is called “Semen”.
-
Composition:
-
It is a mixture of sperm and secretion of seminal vesicles, prostate and cowper’s gland.
-
The bulk of semen (60%) is formed by secretion of Seminal vesicles.
-
Volume:
-
Each ejaculation contains approximately 2.5 ml to 5 ml of semen (50-150 Million Sperms).
-
Oligospermia (Low Sperm Count): 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen.
-
Azoospermia: Complete absence of sperms in semen.
-
Appearance:
-
Color: White-Milky White.
-
Consistency: Viscous sticky.
-
pH: 7.2-7.7.
-
The color of semen is due to prostatic secretions while consistency and stickiness is due to cowper's gland and seminal vesicle secretions.
-
Semen contains many different chemicals viz. Hormones, nutrients and other compounds.
-
Fructose present in semen acts as a source of energy for sperm.
-
Seminalplasmin, an antibacterial substance found in semen prevents it from microbial attack from the flora of the pathway that is in male urethra and female reproductive tract.
-
After ejaculation it coagulates within 5 minutes and then decoagulates and becomes fluidy again. (Necessary for fructose utilization by sperms).