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Cool sperm

Sperm develop better at a temperature slightly cooler than the main body temperature, which is one reason why the testicles lie outside the body in the scrotum.

long and is coated in muscle. The sperm are propelled along the vas deferens by muscular contractions, and along the way they are mixed with seminal fluid produced from glands prior to ejaculation. This fluid is rich in nutrients to help keep the sperm alive and healthy after they are deposited in the vagina. This mixture of sperm and seminal fluid is called semen. About 2-4 ml (½-1 tsp) of semen containing many millions of sperm is released when ejaculation occurs. However, the sperm don’t become completely mature until after ejaculation. It is only after ejaculation that they develop the capacity to break through the outer coating of the egg and fertilize it.