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How can testes be housed in the body without damaging sperm?
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The testicle or testis is the male reproductive gland in all animals, including you humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone. Approximately 300 million sperm cells are produced daily, with millions made every minute. Your testicles are housed outside the body, and are therefore very vulnerable to extrmeties.
I would like to create my own humanoid species without this design flaw, but modeled off of your species, and have the testes inside the body rather than out. However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
biology science
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
The testicle or testis is the male reproductive gland in all animals, including you humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone. Approximately 300 million sperm cells are produced daily, with millions made every minute. Your testicles are housed outside the body, and are therefore very vulnerable to extrmeties.
I would like to create my own humanoid species without this design flaw, but modeled off of your species, and have the testes inside the body rather than out. However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
biology science
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
4
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
1
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
The testicle or testis is the male reproductive gland in all animals, including you humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone. Approximately 300 million sperm cells are produced daily, with millions made every minute. Your testicles are housed outside the body, and are therefore very vulnerable to extrmeties.
I would like to create my own humanoid species without this design flaw, but modeled off of your species, and have the testes inside the body rather than out. However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
biology science
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
The testicle or testis is the male reproductive gland in all animals, including you humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone. Approximately 300 million sperm cells are produced daily, with millions made every minute. Your testicles are housed outside the body, and are therefore very vulnerable to extrmeties.
I would like to create my own humanoid species without this design flaw, but modeled off of your species, and have the testes inside the body rather than out. However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
biology science
biology science
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
asked 1 hour ago
Incognito
3,65553350
3,65553350
4
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
1
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
1
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago
4
4
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
1
1
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Humans already have the ability (though unconscious mostly) to extend and retract their testicles. So just increase this ability so you can retract all the way inside yourself, and they only descend when aroused, therefore they start producing sperm at that time. You could add some sort of sphincter muscle that closes behind them and protects them when stressed so it's still an automated biological response. Technically you would not be damaging the sperm because they simply aren't being created while the testicles are being stored.
Mating rituals would be modified to last an hour or so to allow a large enough number of sperm to be created before they are needed.
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
By doing what nature does with species that have internal testes but need to keep the sperm from dying of excess heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle#Internal
The basal condition for mammals is to have internal testes.[25] The testes of the non-boreotherian mammals, such as the monotremes, armadillos, sloths, and elephants, remain within the abdomen.[not in citation given][26] There are also some marsupials with external testes[27] and Boreoeutherian mammals with internal testes, such as the rhinoceros.[28] Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins also have internal testes.[29] As external testes would increase drag in the water they have internal testes which are kept cool by special circulatory systems that cool the arterial blood going to the testes by placing the arteries near veins bringing cooled venous blood from the skin.[30][31]
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Just do what marine mammals do: keep them well inside the body!
This article describes some ancient research that revealed that cetaceans keep their testes cool by a curious arrangement of blood vessels in that region. Basically, your humans could do the same: develop a network of blood vessels designed to locally regulate the temperature of the tissues surrounding the testes.
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
For your reading pleasure: Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures
Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger
that functions to cool their intra-abdominal
testes. Spermatic arteries in the posterior abdomen are
juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces
of the dorsal fin and flukes
Yes, there are diagrams.
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Humans already have the ability (though unconscious mostly) to extend and retract their testicles. So just increase this ability so you can retract all the way inside yourself, and they only descend when aroused, therefore they start producing sperm at that time. You could add some sort of sphincter muscle that closes behind them and protects them when stressed so it's still an automated biological response. Technically you would not be damaging the sperm because they simply aren't being created while the testicles are being stored.
Mating rituals would be modified to last an hour or so to allow a large enough number of sperm to be created before they are needed.
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Humans already have the ability (though unconscious mostly) to extend and retract their testicles. So just increase this ability so you can retract all the way inside yourself, and they only descend when aroused, therefore they start producing sperm at that time. You could add some sort of sphincter muscle that closes behind them and protects them when stressed so it's still an automated biological response. Technically you would not be damaging the sperm because they simply aren't being created while the testicles are being stored.
Mating rituals would be modified to last an hour or so to allow a large enough number of sperm to be created before they are needed.
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Humans already have the ability (though unconscious mostly) to extend and retract their testicles. So just increase this ability so you can retract all the way inside yourself, and they only descend when aroused, therefore they start producing sperm at that time. You could add some sort of sphincter muscle that closes behind them and protects them when stressed so it's still an automated biological response. Technically you would not be damaging the sperm because they simply aren't being created while the testicles are being stored.
Mating rituals would be modified to last an hour or so to allow a large enough number of sperm to be created before they are needed.
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
Humans already have the ability (though unconscious mostly) to extend and retract their testicles. So just increase this ability so you can retract all the way inside yourself, and they only descend when aroused, therefore they start producing sperm at that time. You could add some sort of sphincter muscle that closes behind them and protects them when stressed so it's still an automated biological response. Technically you would not be damaging the sperm because they simply aren't being created while the testicles are being stored.
Mating rituals would be modified to last an hour or so to allow a large enough number of sperm to be created before they are needed.
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
edited 59 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
answered 1 hour ago
Trevor D
81410
81410
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
Sumo fighters can retract them all the way on demand. Usually before fight — given how their wardrobe works this is a requirement, not an option.
– Mołot
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
By doing what nature does with species that have internal testes but need to keep the sperm from dying of excess heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle#Internal
The basal condition for mammals is to have internal testes.[25] The testes of the non-boreotherian mammals, such as the monotremes, armadillos, sloths, and elephants, remain within the abdomen.[not in citation given][26] There are also some marsupials with external testes[27] and Boreoeutherian mammals with internal testes, such as the rhinoceros.[28] Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins also have internal testes.[29] As external testes would increase drag in the water they have internal testes which are kept cool by special circulatory systems that cool the arterial blood going to the testes by placing the arteries near veins bringing cooled venous blood from the skin.[30][31]
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
By doing what nature does with species that have internal testes but need to keep the sperm from dying of excess heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle#Internal
The basal condition for mammals is to have internal testes.[25] The testes of the non-boreotherian mammals, such as the monotremes, armadillos, sloths, and elephants, remain within the abdomen.[not in citation given][26] There are also some marsupials with external testes[27] and Boreoeutherian mammals with internal testes, such as the rhinoceros.[28] Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins also have internal testes.[29] As external testes would increase drag in the water they have internal testes which are kept cool by special circulatory systems that cool the arterial blood going to the testes by placing the arteries near veins bringing cooled venous blood from the skin.[30][31]
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
By doing what nature does with species that have internal testes but need to keep the sperm from dying of excess heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle#Internal
The basal condition for mammals is to have internal testes.[25] The testes of the non-boreotherian mammals, such as the monotremes, armadillos, sloths, and elephants, remain within the abdomen.[not in citation given][26] There are also some marsupials with external testes[27] and Boreoeutherian mammals with internal testes, such as the rhinoceros.[28] Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins also have internal testes.[29] As external testes would increase drag in the water they have internal testes which are kept cool by special circulatory systems that cool the arterial blood going to the testes by placing the arteries near veins bringing cooled venous blood from the skin.[30][31]
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
However, there is a problem. Too much heat is deadly to sperm. The body's temperature would kill the millions of sperm being produced, effectively making males sterile.
How can I get past this conundrum?
By doing what nature does with species that have internal testes but need to keep the sperm from dying of excess heat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle#Internal
The basal condition for mammals is to have internal testes.[25] The testes of the non-boreotherian mammals, such as the monotremes, armadillos, sloths, and elephants, remain within the abdomen.[not in citation given][26] There are also some marsupials with external testes[27] and Boreoeutherian mammals with internal testes, such as the rhinoceros.[28] Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins also have internal testes.[29] As external testes would increase drag in the water they have internal testes which are kept cool by special circulatory systems that cool the arterial blood going to the testes by placing the arteries near veins bringing cooled venous blood from the skin.[30][31]
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
answered 44 mins ago
RonJohn
13.9k12766
13.9k12766
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Just do what marine mammals do: keep them well inside the body!
This article describes some ancient research that revealed that cetaceans keep their testes cool by a curious arrangement of blood vessels in that region. Basically, your humans could do the same: develop a network of blood vessels designed to locally regulate the temperature of the tissues surrounding the testes.
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Just do what marine mammals do: keep them well inside the body!
This article describes some ancient research that revealed that cetaceans keep their testes cool by a curious arrangement of blood vessels in that region. Basically, your humans could do the same: develop a network of blood vessels designed to locally regulate the temperature of the tissues surrounding the testes.
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Just do what marine mammals do: keep them well inside the body!
This article describes some ancient research that revealed that cetaceans keep their testes cool by a curious arrangement of blood vessels in that region. Basically, your humans could do the same: develop a network of blood vessels designed to locally regulate the temperature of the tissues surrounding the testes.
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
Just do what marine mammals do: keep them well inside the body!
This article describes some ancient research that revealed that cetaceans keep their testes cool by a curious arrangement of blood vessels in that region. Basically, your humans could do the same: develop a network of blood vessels designed to locally regulate the temperature of the tissues surrounding the testes.
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
answered 37 mins ago
elemtilas
9,31521847
9,31521847
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
For your reading pleasure: Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures
Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger
that functions to cool their intra-abdominal
testes. Spermatic arteries in the posterior abdomen are
juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces
of the dorsal fin and flukes
Yes, there are diagrams.
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
For your reading pleasure: Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures
Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger
that functions to cool their intra-abdominal
testes. Spermatic arteries in the posterior abdomen are
juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces
of the dorsal fin and flukes
Yes, there are diagrams.
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
For your reading pleasure: Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures
Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger
that functions to cool their intra-abdominal
testes. Spermatic arteries in the posterior abdomen are
juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces
of the dorsal fin and flukes
Yes, there are diagrams.
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
For your reading pleasure: Temperature regulation of the testes of the bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus): evidence from colonic temperatures
Dolphins possess a countercurrent heat exchanger
that functions to cool their intra-abdominal
testes. Spermatic arteries in the posterior abdomen are
juxtaposed to veins returning cooled blood from the surfaces
of the dorsal fin and flukes
Yes, there are diagrams.
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
answered 47 mins ago
Roger
1,0308
1,0308
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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4
Am I missing something that makes "have the sperm be heat resistant" not the answer?
– RonJohn
59 mins ago
1
Worth noting: we do not yet understand why spermatogenesis occurs best at temperatures below body temperature. There's several competing theories, but its still a mystery.
– Cort Ammon
43 mins ago