Other Definitions
sperm (dict)
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SpermA sperm cell, or spermatozoon (pl. spermatozoa) (in Greek: sperm = semen and zoon = alive), is the haploid cell that is the male gamete. It is carried in fluid called semen, and is capable of fertilising an egg cell to form a zygote. A zygote can grow into a new organism, such as a human. Sperm cells contain half of the genetic information needed to create life. Generally, the sex of the offspring is determined by the sperm, through the chromosomal pair "XX" (for a female) or "XY" (for a male). Sperm cells were first observed by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in 1679. Sperm structure and size Individual spermatozoa are highly differentiated cells, composed normally of a head, basal body (or midpiece), and tail. The head contains some cytoplasm and the nuclear material for fertilization. The basal body contains a large concentration of mitochondria that provide the energy for sperm motility through the production of ATP. The spermatozoan tail is typically a flagellum used for propulsion. In humans, sperm cells consists of a head 5 m by 3 m and a tail 50 m long. The tail flagellates, which we now know propels the sperm cell by rotating like a rutter not side to side like a whip. The cell is characterized by a minimum of cytoplasm. Sperm production Main article: Spermatogenesis Sperm are produced in the seminiferous tubules of the testes in a process called spermatogenesis. Round cells called spermatogonia divide and differentiate eventually to become sperm. During sexual intercourse the sperm is deposited in the vagina - and then it moves to the ovum. External link
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