M7U2: SEMINAL FLUID ANALYSIS

Question 1

What is the primary sex organs that contribute to semen fluid formation ?

Answer 1

Testes

Question 2

What is composed of the secondary sex organs in the male ?

Answer 2

Prostate gland
Seminal vesicles
Bulbourethral glands
Epididymis

Question 3

During ejaculation semen is produced from a concentrated suspension of ?

Answer 3

Spermatozoa (about 5%)

Mixed with, and diluted by fluid secretion from accessory glands

Question 4

What is the role of sertoli cells ?

Answer 4

Supply nutrients, hormones, and other necessary substances for normal spermatogenesis

Question 5

When is the sperm nonmotile and still immature ?

Answer 5

When sertoli cells release it into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules

Question 6

When does the sperm gain motility and mature ?

Answer 6

In the epididymis

Question 7

The epididymis adds these to the lumen fluid, when in excess thy may contribute to infertility

Answer 7

Carnitine

Acetylcarnitine

Question 8

What accounts for 60-70% of the ejaculate and what is it composed of ?

Answer 8

Seminal vesicle alkaline fluid

High concentrations of fructose, prostaglandins, and flavin

Question 9

What is the role of the seminal vesicles fluid alkalinity ?

Answer 9

Help neutralize the acidic nature of the male urethra and female vaginal canal

Question 10

This serves as a nutrient for the sperm cells, providing energy needed for the flagella to propel them through the female reproductive tract

Answer 10

Fructose

Question 11

This imparts the characteristic gray or opalescent to light yellow appearance and is responsible for the green-white fluorescence under UV light

Answer 11

Flavin

Question 12

This plays a role in the coagulation of the ejaculate, forming a gel-like protective layer around the sperm

Answer 12

Various proteins (e.g, semenogelin) secreted by the seminal vesicles

Question 13

This is assumed to lower the female immune response to semen, hence preventing possible sperm malfunction

Answer 13

Prostaglandins

Question 14

These substances contribute to sperm motility

Answer 14

Phosphorus and potassium

Question 15

This accounts for approximately 20-30% of the ejaculate volume

Answer 15

Prostatic fluid secretions

Question 16

What are the principal components of prostatic fluid secretions ?

Answer 16

Citric acid
Enzymes: Acid phosphatase and proteolytic enzymes
Zinc

Question 17

From the components of prostatic fluid secretions, high levels of acid phosphatase can be used to identify semen

Answer 17

Acid phosphatase

Question 18

From the components of prostatic fluid secretions, these are responsible for the liquefaction

Answer 18

Proteolytic enzymes

Question 19

From the components of prostatic fluid secretions, when added to semen by the prostate gland this can be used to evaluate prostate function

Answer 19

Zinc

Question 20

A decrease level of zinc in semen is associated with what ?

Answer 20

Prostate gland disorders

Question 21

The ___, located below the prostate, contribute about 5% of the fluid volume in the form of a thick, alkaline mucus

Answer 21

Bulbourethral glands

Question 22

This gland is responsible for the secretion of a pre-ejaculate (a clear rich fluid in mucuproteins) that neutralizes the acidity of urine remaining in the urethre

Answer 22

Bulbourethral glands

Question 23

During ejaculation, the first portions of semen released are mainly ___

Answer 23

Prostatic secretions rich in sperm cells

Question 24

What may happen to the results of semen analysis when a portion of the initial ejaculate is not collected ?

Answer 24

Sperm concentration will be falsely decreased

Question 25

What may happen to the results of semen analysis when a there is a reduction in prostate secretions ?

Answer 25

pH is falsely decreased and the semen coagulum will fail to liquefy

Question 26

What may happen to the results of semen analysis when the last portion of an ejaculate is missing ?

Answer 26

Semen volume decreased Sperm concentration falsely increased pH falsely decreased Coagulum will not form

Question 27

Which portion of the ejaculate has more influence on the results of semen analysis ?

Answer 27

First portion

Question 28

When a large volume of of seminal fluid at ejaculation enhances sperm motility, ___ may occur that may underestimate sperm concentration

Answer 28

Dilution

Question 29

Better semen quality is obtained after a minimum of __ days and maximum of __ days abstinence from ejaculation

Answer 29

2, 7

Question 30

Specimens collected following prolonged abstinence tend to have higher ___ and decreased ____

Answer 30

Volume | Motility

Question 31

What may happen in the absence of ejaculation ?

Answer 31

Spermatozoa accumulate in epididymis then overflow into the urethra and have the tendency to be flushed out in the urine

Question 32

What influences the range of age and quality of the spermatozoa in the ejaculate ?

Answer 32

Epididymis are not completely emptied after one ejaculation, some spermatozoa remain from the previous ejaculate

Question 33

In the study of takihara, it was found that the ___ bears a direct correlation with testicular function

Answer 33

Size of testis

Question 34

Quality of sperm samples may differ due to ___, since the time spent producing a sample by masturbation also influences semen quality

Answer 34

Sexual arousal

Question 35

In general, seminal fluid analysis is done for ___ (4)

Answer 35

1. Evaluation if infertility and post-vasectomy cases 2. For selection of donors for therapeutic insemination, in-vitro fertilization or embryo transfer 3. For exposure screening to reproductive toxicants 4. For cryopreservation/sperm banking

Question 36

What is the purpose of determining total number of spermatozoa ?

Answer 36

Assessing the capacity of the testes to produce sperm cells for assessing the patency (the state of being unobstructed) of the post-testicular or ejaculatory duct system

Question 37

What would the evaluation of total fluid volume help assess ?

Answer 37

Provide a picture on the secretory activity of the different accessory glands

Question 38

What are the requirements for collection when assessing fertility ?

Answer 38

Two or three samples within a 3 month period and at least 7 days apart should be examined

Question 39

Why must the semen sample be collected in a private room near the laboratory ?

Answer 39

To limit the exposure of the semen to fluctuations in temperature and to control the time between collection and analysis

Question 40

In sample collection preparation what should the report form contain ?

Answer 40

``` Name DOB Period of abstinence Date and Time of collection Completeness of the sample Any difficulties in producing the sample and the time interval between collection and start of semen analysis ```