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Boar Reproduction pp 65–107Cite as

The Boar Reproductive System

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Abstract

The boar reproductive system consists of six different structures (testes, epididymis, deferent ducts, urethra, accessory sex glands, and penis) and the main function is the production and the ejaculation of semen. The two testes are the male gonads and their functions are sperm production and secretion of hormones. The main functions of two epididymis are: sperm transport, sperm maturation, and sperm storage. The sperm maturation is a complex process after which sperm acquire progressive motility and fertilizing ability. Male accessory sex glands include: the seminal vesicles, the prostate, and the bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands). These exocrine glands release their secretion into the urethra and their secretory activity is androgen-dependent. The noncellular fraction of the ejaculate (seminal plasma) is mainly composed of fluids from the accessory sex glands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Sergi Bonet, Estela Garcia  & Lilian Sepúlveda

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  1. Sergi Bonet
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  2. Estela Garcia
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  3. Lilian Sepúlveda
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Correspondence to Sergi Bonet or Lilian Sepúlveda .

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  1. , Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi s/n, Girona, 17071, Spain

    Sergi Bonet

  2. University of Girona, Institute of Food and Agricultural Techn, Campus Montilivi, Girona, 17071, Spain

    Isabel Casas

  3. , Department of Human Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom

    William V. Holt

  4. , Department of Animal Medicine and Surger, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain

    Marc Yeste

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Bonet, S., Garcia , E., Sepúlveda, L. (2013). The Boar Reproductive System. In: Bonet, S., Casas, I., Holt, W., Yeste, M. (eds) Boar Reproduction. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35049-8_3

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