What it means
Sperm are made in the testes and carried out of the body in semen during ejaculationih-jak-yuh-LAY-shunThe release of semen from the penis, usually at orgasm.Full entry . Each has a head holding genetic material and a tail that lets it swim. Sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for up to about five days, which matters for fertility planning.
At a glance
| Spanish | espermatozoide |
|---|---|
| Also written | sperm cell, sperm cells, spermatozoa |
Related terms
in vitro fertilization
A fertility treatment in which eggs are joined with sperm in a lab and an embryo is then placed in the uterus.
ejaculation
The release of semen from the penis, usually at orgasm.