Final answer:
Semenology is the biological study of semen, which is a substance comprised of sperm and seminal plasma that plays a key role in male reproductive functions including fertilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Semenology is the study of semen, which is a complex mixture consisting of sperm (also known as spermatozoa) and various seminal plasma secretions from male accessory glands. Semen serves as the medium for sperm to travel through the urethra and outside the body.
It contains nutrients essential for sperm viability and mobility and facilitates the potential fertilization of an ovum. Sperm within the semen are haploid cells, produced through spermatogenesis within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Each sperm cell carries either an X or Y sex chromosome, determining the sex of the offspring upon fertilization. Research in semenology extends to methods of semen collection, sperm washing, separation of X and Y spermatozoa, as well as practices like cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization (IVF).