Seminal Fluid

Question 1

Purpose for seminal fluid

Answer 1

Evaluate infertility, post-vasectomy, evaluate sperm donors, forensic DNA analysis

Question 2

Aspermia

Answer 2

No ejaculate

Question 3

Asthenozoospermia

Answer 3

sperm motility less than reference value

Question 4

Normospermia

Answer 4

normal ejaculate defined by reference values

Question 5

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

Answer 5

abnormalities of count, motility, and morphology

Question 6

Oligozoospermia

Answer 6

sperm count less than reference range

Question 7

teratozoospermia

Answer 7

sperm morphology less than reference range

Question 8

Seminal vesicles

Answer 8

fluid contains fructose

Question 9

Prostatic fluid

Answer 9

coagulation and liquefaction

Question 10

Bulbourethral fluid

Answer 10

aids in acid neutralization

Question 11

Seminal vesicle fluid

Answer 11

makes up to 60% of the total fluid volume contains fructose and flavin
(sperm become motile when they encounter this fluid)

Question 12

Fructose

Answer 12

metabolized by sperm

Question 13

Flavin

Answer 13

gives semen its color and green-white fluorescence under UV light

Question 14

Prostatic Fluid

Answer 14

1/3 of volume

contains: acid phosphatase, citric acid, zinc, proteolytic enzymes

Question 15

What does high concentration of acid phosphatase mean?

Answer 15

ID fluid as semen

Question 16

Bulbourethral glands

Answer 16

roughly 5% of total volume
thick, alkaline mucous
purpose: to neutralize acid environment to ensure sperm motility

Question 17

Sample Handling

Answer 17

Collect & deliver to lab w/in 1 hr of collection, clean plastic/glass container, keep sample at RT, time recieved in lab and collect time is vital

Question 18

Color/clarity:

Answer 18

gray-white/opaque (musty odor)

Question 19

Increased turbidity

Answer 19

associated w/ increased WBC

Question 20

Red color

Answer 20

indicated RBC

Question 21

Yellow

Answer 21

contamination with urine

Question 22

Liquefaction

Answer 22

normally occurs w/in 30-60 min

Question 23

Liquefaction w/in 1-2 hours

Answer 23

abnormal: deficiency in proteolytic/prostatic enzymes

Question 24

pH range

Answer 24

7.2-8.0

Question 25

Increased pH

Answer 25

infection

Question 26

Decreased pH

Answer 26

increased prostatic fluid

Question 27

Frucotse physical exam

Answer 27

Resorcinol test: orange color if fructose is present

Question 28

Nigrosin-Eosin stain

Answer 28

for viability testing. add 2 drops to 1 drop of semen and make 2 wedge smears
Live sperm: unstained
Dead sperm: pink