Semen

Topic Outline

 Nature of Semen
 Sampling,
Handling, and Preserving Semen
Methods and Techniques
ACTIVATING
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
 You will learn about semen and its different components.
 Knowing semen and what it is provides an important clue in the investigation
of cases related to sex offenses like indecency, rape, sodomy, and bestiality.
 You will also learn the different sampling, handling, and preserving methods
and techniques.
 Knowing the methods and techniques is important in solving or investigating
cases where semen is used as evidence.
Nature of Semen

A sperm has a head which contains the DNA and

other important components for fertilization and
the tail which serves as the medium for the sperm
movement.
 Theaverage sperm volume is 16um3. Overall, cell
length is approximately 50–60um.
Nature of Semen

 The sperm head measures 4.0–5.5um in length,

2.5–3.5um in width, with a typical length-to-width
ratio of 1.50–1.75.
 The head contains the spermatozoon nucleus,
that composes 65% of its overall volume.
 Itsnucleus has the chromosomal material and
proteins which are important in fertilization.
Nature of Semen

 Sperm also features a sac-like structure called the

acrosome, externally covering one-half to two-
thirds of the head's anterior portion.
 Theacrosome has an enzyme which is vital for the
penetration of the female egg or the oocyte.
Nature of Semen

 The sperms tail is ten time the size of its head. It is

surrounded by terminal filament from the top to the
end piece.
 There is another sheath that is located within the
tails anterior that surrounds the tail mitochondria.
 Itis important for it to protect its mitochondria as it
provides the needed energy for the tail to move.
Nature of Semen

“Sperm-organelles-illustration” by Studentreader is
licensed under CC SA 3.0
Nature of Semen

 Semen characteristics can be identified by its volume,

smell, taste, concentration and motility.
A normal volume of semen per ejaculation is around 2-3
ml or more.
 It has a chlorine smell and any other smell means there
is something wrong.
A semen would taste slightly sweet due to the high
content of fructose. The taste of semen would slightly
change depending on the people’s diet.
Nature of Semen

 The normal range of sperm concentration is 20

million to 40 million ml.
 Asfor its mobility, it needs to be able to move in
order for it to be successful in fertilization. There
should be 50% of sperm activity for it to be
considered viable.
Nature of Semen

 Semen is produced in the seminal vesicles, prostate gland,

testicles and the bulbourethral and urethral glands.
 The seminal vesicles make 46 to 80 percent of the fluid, 13
to 33 percent by the prostate gland, 5 percent from the
testicles and epididymis and 2-5 percent from
Bulbourethral and urethral glands.
A semen pH range is at 7.2 to 7.8. Anything lower or
higher of that range means there is a possibility of a
complication.
Sampling, Handling and Preserving
Semen Methods and Techniques
 Itis a difficult task in location seminal strains as stains
are almost colorless and are easily destroyed by either
contamination or washing.
 Stains
may be found on the victim, the culprit, their
garments, or the scene of the crime.
 Ifthe semen is on the victim, it is usually located on
their skin, hair, clothes, or undergarment. All their
clothes should be collected. A doctor should get swabs
from the said locations.
Sampling, Handling and Preserving
Semen Methods and Techniques
 Suppose the semen is located on the culprit.
 In that case, stains can usually be located on their
zipper, the front part of their trousers,
undergarments, their front and back parts of the
flap of their shirt, a handkerchief, their sexual
organ, skin around their sexual organ, or their
pubic hair.
A doctor should get swabs from the said location.
Sampling, Handling and Preserving
Semen Methods and Techniques
 In semen cases in the scene of the crime, they are
often found on clothing, blankets, or any textile
materials around the scene.
 On white cloth, semen may appear as slightly
yellowish stained areas. For colored cloth, they
may appear colorless.
Techniques of Examination:
Visual Examination
 When using visual examination, fresh semen
appears white to colorless to pale yellow.
 For freshly dried stains, it gives a specific smell.
 Semen becomes stiff and rough when they have
dried.
 Thisdoes not wear off unless they are rubbed.
Note: Fresh stain has a pungent smell.
Techniques of Examination:
Phosphatase Method

 The acid phosphatase reaction is a typical test in which the

suspected seminal stain or an extract of it on a filter paper
is reacted with a solution of the substrate, a monophenolic
phosphoric acid or its ester, in acetate buffer of pH 5.
 Theenzyme acid phosphatase hydrolyses the substrate to
the corresponding phenol and phosphate ion.
 The phenol formed is simultaneously coupled with a
suitable diazonium salt as a chromogen to give a
characteristic colored dye stuff, which is a positive test for
the presence of a seminal stain.
Techniques of Examination:
Stereomicroscopy
 Characteristiccontours and layer-like formations
are detected in the thick crust of a semen stain.
Techniques of Examination:
Biological Test
 Precipitin
Reaction is used to determine if the
semen belongs to humans.
 Anti-human sera are added to the suspected
semen. A reaction indicates human semen
The End