where are sperm cells stored in male?
Sperm cells are stored in the male reproductive system in a structure called the epididymis. The epididymis is a tightly coiled tube located on the back of each testicle. It plays a crucial role in the maturation, storage, and transport of sperm.
After sperm are produced in the testes through a process called spermatogenesis, they are initially immature and not yet capable of fertilizing an egg. From the testes, the immature sperm travel through a network of tubules to the epididymis. Inside the epididymis, the sperm undergo a maturation process where they gain the ability to swim and become motile. This maturation process takes several days to complete.
Once the sperm become fully mature and motile, they are stored within the epididymal duct until they are ejaculated during sexual intercourse or through other forms of ejaculation. During ejaculation, the sperm are propelled through the vas deferens, a muscular duct that connects the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts and urethra. From there, the sperm are released from the body along with other seminal fluid components during ejaculation.
It’s important to note that even though sperm are stored in the epididymis, they have a limited lifespan there, typically surviving for a few weeks. If the stored sperm are not ejaculated within this time frame, they are reabsorbed by the body, and new sperm take their place in the epididymis through continuous spermatogenesis.