Sperm are ickle, in fact they are the icklest thing you'll find in a man's body (in comparison to the ovum, which is the largest cell in a woman's body). Measuring in at a tiny 5 microns long, approximately 300,000,000 - 400,000,000 begin their journey in the average ejaculation. Propelling themselves along by whipping and undulating their flagellum (the "tail"), they can achieve speeds of up to 6 iph   (inches per hour!). They get their energy for this race from the semen in which they are discharged, which is made up of fructose, protein, citric acid, alkalines, and some other trace substances. Sperm only make up around 5% of the volume of semen, which incidentally contains more protein per ejaculation than a pork chop, and around 5 calories per teaspoonfull. Sperm can survive for a few days in the female body, to allow them time to reach their destination. They have receptor cells identical to those in the nose, which suggest they may "sniff" their way to the egg. DC

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