The contraction and relaxation mechanism of the scrotum and the function of normal semen and seminal plasma
> 59. **Why does the scrotum contract and relax?**
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The scrotum is also a male external genital organ; it is located on the surface of the body, below the penis.
A soft yet resilient pouch made of skin, muscle, and other materials, resembling a hanging...
Two hammocks, nestled together in the woods, hold the testicles and epididymis within.
The scrotum contains a scrotal septum, which divides the scrotal cavity into two parts, each containing a testis and an epididymis.
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The scrotum serves not only as an external barrier to protect the testicles, but also from a reproductive perspective.
From a temperature perspective, it also has a unique function of regulating temperature, protecting the testicles inside at a suitable temperature.
Sperm are produced at a suitable temperature (generally 1-2°C lower than the temperature inside the abdominal cavity). As long as...
If you observe carefully, you will find that the scrotum skin...
The skin will wrinkle and thicken, causing the scrotum to lift and become tense, reducing its surface area.
This can protect the temperature of the testicles inside the scrotum from dropping; conversely, in warmer temperatures...
In high-temperature environments, the scrotal skin naturally loosens and atrophies, causing the scrotum to droop and the surface to become dull.
As the scrotum enlarges, it helps dissipate body heat, preventing the temperature inside the scrotum from rising and maintaining its proper function.
The testicles produce sperm in a normal, suitable temperature environment. Therefore, the contraction of the scrotum...
Relaxation and loosening are normal physiological adjustment phenomena. This allows the yin...
The temperature inside the scrotum is generally around 35°C, allowing organs such as the testes to maintain normal function.
Yes. This applies to all normally developing males. Many people are unaware of this.
People often misunderstand the phenomenon of their scrotum contracting and relaxing, because they see these signs.
This is a common occurrence among patients seeking clinical treatment. For example, some men shrink their scrotum...
Children may mistakenly believe that their testicles have shrunk or that they are underdeveloped, and fear that they will be unable to have children.
In fact, this situation is simply due to the scrotum contracting and lifting, causing the testicles to rise.
This illusion is created because the area is close to the groin and not easily reached. There are also...
It is utter nonsense for people to mistakenly believe that a loose and sagging scrotum is a sign of weakened sexual ability and to become worried about it.
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> 60. **What is normal semen?**
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Male semen refers to sperm produced by the testes and semen from the prostate gland, bulbourethral glands, etc.
A mixture of secreted fluids. It consists of two parts: sperm and seminal plasma. Sperm
It is produced in the testes and suspended in seminal plasma, which plays a role in protecting sperm.
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Normal semen is milky white and egg-white-like. If ejaculation has not occurred due to prolonged abstinence...
It may be pale yellow at times. Freshly ejaculated semen has a distinctive fishy odor and is highly viscous.
It has a thick, gel-like consistency and can completely liquefy into a fluid state within 30 minutes after being removed from the body.
The semen volume in a single ejaculation is 2 to 6 ml; less than 0.5 ml is considered insufficient semen volume.
Each milliliter of semen contains 100 to 200 million sperm; excessively frequent ejaculation can reduce semen volume.
> And sperm count. If sperm are placed in a specific nutrient solution at a certain ratio and observed,
Normal sperm motility should last no less than 3 hours, and the sperm ejaculated should be within [a certain range].
At 37℃, they lose their viability in about 8 hours. Normal semen contains well-motile sperm.
Sperm should account for approximately 85-90%, with no more than 10-15% being inactive or dead sperm.
If the sperm count is too low, the sperm motility is too low, or the proportion of abnormal and dead sperm is too high,
This will significantly reduce fertilization rates and may even lead to infertility. Normal semen is weakly alkaline, with a pH of [missing value].
The pH value should be around 7.5. A pH value below 7.2 or above 7.8 is considered abnormal.
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Semen initially forms a gel-like consistency upon contact with air after ejaculation, liquefying after 20-30 minutes.
The process of liquid turning into gel and then back into liquefaction is similar to the unique process in semen.
This is related to the enzyme system. If this enzyme system is abnormal, semen non-clotting can occur.
> Pathological phenomena such as solidification or non-liquefaction.
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The normal ejaculation process follows a certain sequence, with semen appearing in the first part of the ejaculate.
> Ejaculate, epididymal fluid, secretions from the bulbourethral glands, and prostatic fluid; the second part of the ejaculate
The first part mainly consists of secretions from the seminal vesicles. Therefore, the first part contains more semen than the second part.
The sperm are numerous and possess good motility and vitality. This regularity in the ejaculation process...
The sequence is due to the different contraction order of the smooth muscles on the ejaculatory ducts and accessory glands.
This is caused by [the following]. If the normal sequence of muscle contractions during ejaculation is disrupted, ejaculation...
> Disruption of sperm production sequence can lead to abnormal ejaculation and infertility.
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> 61. **What substances protect sperm?**
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Seminal plasma, the substance that protects sperm, comes from the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and urinary tract.
Seminal plasma is the secretion of the bulbourethral glands, epididymis, ampulla of the vas deferens, and paraurethral glands.
> The sperm that is fed to the penis is what people commonly refer to as semen.
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Seminal plasma itself does not have reproductive capacity; it only protects the sperm and egg during intercourse.
For the sperm to travel through the vagina to reach the fallopian tube and meet the egg, it must do so.
Since swimming requires water, seminal fluid is the water source and is essential for transporting sperm.
Seminal plasma also contains abundant substances essential for maintaining sperm life, providing a medium.
Sperm activity provides energy.
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One point worth noting is that seminal plasma not only contains a certain amount of substances, but also
It can also maintain a certain pH level. The normal pH value of seminal plasma is 7.2-7.8, slightly lower.
A slightly alkaline environment is desirable; both excessively low and high alkalinity can lead to decreased sperm motility.
Diseases of the prostate and seminal vesicles, such as prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis, can lead to various complications.
If the pH balance of seminal plasma becomes abnormal, it can lead to infertility.
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Some people believe that semen is a person's "vital energy," containing the essence needed by the human body.
The statement that nocturnal emission is a substance, and therefore often causes panic, is incorrect.
> . Modern scientific methods for determining the composition of seminal plasma show that per 100 ml
The amount of nutrients in semen is extremely small. These trace amounts are negligible for a mere 60 micrograms of semen.
While this is certainly abundant for the sperm of a single grain of rice, it is negligible for the entire human body.
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**62.** What are the differences between X and Y sperm?
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The main difference between X sperm and Y sperm lies in the different chromosomes they contain.
X sperm cells contain a large and long X chromosome and a large amount of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
They carry a rich genetic code, have large, round heads, are obese, move slowly, but have a long lifespan.
Y sperm contain a Y chromosome and contain deoxyribose.
> It carries fewer nucleic acids and less genetic code; it has a small, pointed head and a petite, delicate body.
They are agile, but have a shorter lifespan than X sperm.
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In terms of adaptability to the environment, X sperm are much stronger than Y sperm. Generally speaking...
It is said that sperm are alkali-loving and acid-averse, especially Y sperm. If a woman...
When the reproductive tract is highly acidic, the usually agile Y sperm quickly become sluggish, but the X sperm...
Sperm are relatively tolerant of acidic environments and are not significantly affected by them. Additionally,
When a woman suffers from conditions such as cervical erosion, her cervical mucus becomes thick and viscous, making it difficult for sperm to pass through.
Their movement is restricted inside, especially Y sperm, which have more difficulty penetrating the sticky substance than X sperm.
The thick cervical mucus allows the sperm to combine with the egg. Furthermore, because X and Y sperm differ in DNA...
Because proteins differ in structure and composition, their antigenicity (immunity) also differs.
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It has been reported that these two different types of sperm can now be separated, for example, by applying...
Electrophoretic separation involves placing semen in a direct current electric field; X sperm automatically swim towards the negative electrode, while Y sperm swim towards the positive electrode.
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> 63. **What is "sperm capacitation"?**
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"Sperm capacitation" refers to the ability of sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida of the egg.
This physiological process is an important stage that sperm must undergo before fertilization.
Verification shows that sperm matures gradually within the epididymis, but freshly ejaculated sperm are all...
The sperm cannot penetrate the zona pellucida of the egg, thus preventing fertilization. This is because the sperm...
When a sperm encounters an egg, the acrosome at the head of the sperm must first detach (this is called the acrosome retraction).
> Then, the sperm's acrosin enzyme can be released. Acrosin contains various substances...
The substance can dissolve the corona radiata and zona pellucida of the egg cell, thereby allowing sperm to enter the egg.
> To achieve fertilization through cells.
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However, semen contains a mixture of many known and unknown substances.
> "Deenergizers," most of which contain glycoproteins. These "deenergizers" are top...
> Inhibitory substances of sperm enzymes, which inhibit the activity of acrosomal enzymes in sperm; however, sperm enter...
After entering the female reproductive tract, a "capacitation factor" happens to be present in the female reproductive tract.
> These "capacitation factors" contain α-amylase and β-amylase components, they
> It can hydrolyze "deenergizing factors" composed of glycoproteins, thereby reducing the acrosomal enzymes in sperm.
The system regains its activity so that sperm can combine with the egg. This process is called spermatogenesis.
> The "energy acquisition process". Of course, this process involves extremely complex forms.
> These are chemical and biochemical changes, some of which still remain unclear. But
The overall result is "capacitation," which gives sperm greater motility and various enzymes.
> This allows the sperm to penetrate the egg.
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Sperm cannot be capaciable in the vagina; they can only be capaciable when they pass through the cervix.
> It blocks a large amount of "deenergizing factors" and other enzyme inhibitors in semen, which
It plays a crucial role in promoting sperm capacitation. The uterus is the core of sperm capacitation.
> In the main site, the secretions of the fallopian tubes also participate in sperm capacitation. In the process of sperm...
During sperm acquisition, oxygen consumption increases. Fallopian tube fluid can stimulate sperm oxidation.
Phosphorylation provides energy to sperm, enabling them to move forward rapidly and swim faster towards the egg.