Question

1. How many spermatids are formed after spermatogenesis?
2. What is the epididymis purpose?
3. What is the function of the Ductus (Vas) Deferens?
4. What does the seminal vesicle do? What volume is contributed to the semen?
5. Why is it so important that the semen be alkaline?

Answer 1

• A total of four spermatids are formed after spermatogenesis. Two spermatids which are haploid in nature are produced by each secondary spermatocyte making it a total of four.
• Epididymis is a long coiled tube whose function is to store sperm and transport of sperm from testes. It also helps in maturation of sperm as the sperm in testes is immature. It is in epididymis the sperm becomes mature and capable of fertilization.
• The function of ductus deferens or vas deferens is to transport the sperm from epididymis into ejaculatory ducts.
• Seminal vesicles help in coagulation of semen, motility of sperm, stability of sperm and also suppress the immune destruction of sperm in the female genital tract thus contributing to the fertility of sperm.

Fluid from seminal vesicles contribute to nearly 70% of semen volume. They also add up the fructose in the semen which is main source of energy for sperm for its motility.

• It is important for semen to be alkaline so as to buffer the acidity of vaginal secretions in the female reproductive tract. The vaginal secretions are acidic in nature and thus pH of seminal fluid is alkaline and motility of sperm is dependent on this pH value.

Thank you.