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Spermatozoa

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

Spermatozoa (sperm) are the male sex cells that carry a man's genetic material. A sperm fertilizes a woman's egg (ovum) by breaking through the membrane that surrounds the egg.

Sperm develop in a man's testicles and finish maturing in the epididymides. During ejaculation, the sperm move out of the epididymides through the vas deferens and into the urethra, the tube that runs through the penis. Semen, the thick liquid produced in the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, is added to the sperm before ejaculation.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology
Last Revised January 13, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 13, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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