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Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

During ejaculation, males release around 2-5 milliliters of semen, which is a complex mixture of mature sperm and various fluids produced by accessory glands. The mature sperm cells measure approximately 60 micrometers in length and consist of a head, neck, midpiece, and tail. The head is flattened and tapered, measuring about 4 to 5 micrometers in length. It contains a nucleus with condensed chromosomes and an acrosome, a cap-like structure filled with enzymes essential for penetrating the...

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Fertilization

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Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

Seminal fluid mediates ejaculate competition in social insects.

Susanne P A den Boer¹, Boris Baer, Jacobus J Boomsma

¹Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|March 20, 2010

Summary

Sperm competition in ants and bees favors a male's own sperm due to seminal fluid. Queens may also control sperm competition, suggesting independent evolution in these insect groups.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Insect reproductive strategies
Behavioral ecology

Background:

Ant and bee queens typically mate once, storing sperm for life.
Sperm competition arises when queens mate with multiple males (polyandry).
Seminal fluid's role in sperm competition is crucial for male reproductive success.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of seminal fluid in sperm competition in ants and bees.
To compare effects in singly mated (monandrous) versus multiply mated (polyandrous) species.
To explore queen-mediated control over ejaculate competition.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of monandrous and polyandrous sister groups of ants and bees.
Assessment of seminal fluid effects on sperm survival.
Investigation of queen sperm-storage organ secretions in Atta leafcutter ants.

Main Results:

Seminal fluid of polyandrous species enhanced survival of a male's own sperm over rivals'.
This effect was absent in monandrous species.
Queen secretions in Atta leafcutter ants neutralized the negative impact of rival ejaculates.

Conclusions:

Sperm incapacitation by seminal fluid likely evolved independently in ants and bees.
Queens possess mechanisms to regulate ejaculate competition post-sperm storage.
These findings shed light on the diverse evolutionary pathways of reproductive competition in insects.