 A viscid whitish fluid of the male reproductive

tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in

secretion of accessory glands.

 It comes from 3 main structures in the male

reproductive anatomy.
◦ Prostate, which forms a milky substance full of
enzymes, proteins, and minerals.
◦ Seminal vesicles, which produce the fructose as well
as two-thirds of the fluid.
◦ Testicles, which produce the sperm and some other
fluid as well.
gland Approximate Description
%
testes 2-5% Approx. 200 to 500 million sperms
Seminal vesicle 65-75% Amino acids, citrate, enzymes, flavins,
fructose, (the main energy source of
sperm cells), phosphorylcholine,
prostaglandins (involved in
suppressing an immune response by
the female against the foreign semen),
proteins, vit c
prostate 25-30% Acid phosphatase, citric acid,
fibrinolysis, prostate specific antigen,
zinc. (Zinc serves to help to stabilize
the DNA-containing chromatin in the
sperm cells.)
A. Seminal Fluid/Plasma (90%)
B. Formed Cellular elements which
include:
 1. Spermatozoa or sperm cells (10%)
 2. Epithelial cells (<1%)
 3. Crystals of choline and lecithin
 4. etc like fructose, acid
phosphatase, citric acid
Based on WHO provides definition of a normal
sperm count:
 Concentration of spermatozoa should be at
least 20 million per ml.
 Total volume of semen should be at least
2ml.
 At least 75% should be alive
 Average volume per ejaculation is 2-5ml
Hypospermia – less than 1.5ml
Hyperspermia – more than 5.5 ml
-comes from sperma which in Greek is “seed”
or Latin “something sown”

Parts of sperm
cell:
Head
Midpiece
Tail
 Semen can be found fresh in:
◦ 1. Vaginal contents of the victim
2. Rectal contents of the victim
 Semen can be found as wet or dried
condition/secretion on:
◦ 1. Pubic Hair
◦ 2. Skin around the genitals
 Semen can be found as dry stains on:
◦ 1. Underclothing
◦ 2. Bed Clothing
 Physical examination
◦ Microscopic examination – the sperm cell was
stained and viewed under a high power microscope.
◦ Ultraviolet examination – seminal stains exhibit
bright bluish fluorescence.
 Chemical examination
◦ Florence test – preliminary test, presence of
spermatozoa confirms the presence of seminal
stains.
 Visible result: crystals of choline periodide which are
dark brown, rhombic or needle shaped that occur
singly or in crossed or even grouped in clusters.
 Barberio’s Test
◦ The test is almost specific for human semen.
Seminal stain as old as 6 years are said to respond
to this test.
◦ Visible result: crystals which are slender yellow-
tinted, rhombic needles with obtuse angle or
appear as ovoid crystals (these crystals are made of
spermine picrate).

 Acid-phosphatase test
◦ The test is based fundamentally upon the
extraordinarily high acid phosphatase content of
human male ejaculation.
◦ Visible result: orange-red pigment
 Purpose is to determine the presence of
spermatozoa. The identification of
spermatozoa is at present the only specific
test for semen.

 Visible result:
◦ A small object with a pear-shaped head, behind
which is a short neck and then a tail of about ten
times as long as the head.