What is determined by the percentage of sperm which are normal in shape and size?

The percentage of sperm that are normal in shape and size is referred to as sperm morphology. Morphology is an essential aspect of semen analysis, as it assesses the structure of spermatozoa, including their head, midpiece, and tail. Normal morphology is crucial for successful fertilization since sperm must be adequately shaped and sized to navigate through the female reproductive tract and effectively penetrate the egg.

Understanding sperm morphology helps evaluate breeding potential and overall male fertility. For instance, a high percentage of abnormally shaped sperm can indicate potential fertility issues, while a predominance of normally shaped sperm suggests better chances of successful reproduction.

While sperm concentration indicates the number of sperm in a given volume of semen, sperm viability assesses the proportion of live sperm, and semen quality encompasses multiple parameters including concentration, motility, morphology, and viability, it is specifically the morphology that focuses solely on the shape and structure of the spermatozoa.