Glandular secretions are added by the seminal vesicles , prostate and urethral glands prior to expulsion. A dozen or more different types of germ cells have been described in males. Spermatogenesis occurs in an orderly fashion progressing from spermatogonia at the seminiferous tubule basement membrane to spermatozoa at the tubular lumen. Spermatocytes are derived from spermatogonia via mitotic division. Early spermatids lose much of their cytoplasm and undergo morphological changes more characteristic of mature sperm.
Mature sperm are highly specialized cells composed of a head, neck and tail region.
Mature sperm are released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule but are still not ready for the big game. They become mobile during their passage through the epididymis and are further energized by spending time in the female reproductive tract in a process called capacitation. Spermatogenesis is negatively impacted by heat. The testes are normally kept below abdominal temperatures by scrotal sweat evaporation and counter current heat exhange in the testicular blood supply. Artificial temperature increases caused by wearing tight clothes or extended daily hot baths may reduce sperm counts dramatically in some cases.