Question

What is the pH of semen?
A) 7.3 to 7.7
B) 7.2 to 7.6
C) 7.4 to 7.8
D) 7.5 to 7.9

Answer 1

Hint: As we know the uterus of a female contains a slightly acidic environment while the semen is slightly alkaline. The semen contains sperms (male gametes) with fluid. Sperms can fertilize the ovum (female gametes) and produce zygote.

Complete answer:
Let's see what the range of pH of semen is and why it is that specific.
Semen is produced by seminal vesicles located near the pelvis in males (human). The process of discharging semen is called ejaculation. During the process of ejaculation, the fluid from seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands mixes with semen and gets ejected out through ejaculatory ducts. The major component of semen is a seminal fluid which is slightly yellow in color and contains fructose. The fluid from the prostate is white in color and induced by testosterone and it contains proteolytic enzymes, citric acid, phosphatase, and lipids. The lubricant is produced from bulbourethral glands, lubricates the urethra. Spermidine, spermine, putrescine, and cadaverine are the amines that are basic in nature and present in semen. Which is why semen is slightly basic. And the range of its pH is from 7.2 to 7.8.

So the correct answer is B, 7.2 to 7.6.

Additional information: Sperms from different mammalian species have been cryopreserved to conserve specific breed as it contains genetic material. Cryopreservation is done at -196 degree celcius.

Note: The alkaline bases present in the semen is responsible for its basic nature. These bases counteract with acids in the uterus and make semen to survive in the acidic environment of the uterus. This way, the genetic material present in the semen is also protected.