sperm′ cell`

n. 1. spermatozoon. 2. any male gamete. [1850–55]

Thesaurus

Noun

sperm cell - the male reproductive cell; the male gamete; "a sperm is mostly a nucleus surrounded by little other cellular material"sperm, spermatozoan, spermatozoonflagellum - a lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa)come, cum, ejaculate, semen, seminal fluid, seed - the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tractgamete - a mature sexual reproductive cell having a single set of unpaired chromosomesacrosome - a process at the anterior end of a sperm cell that produces enzymes to facilitate penetration of the eggmale reproductive system - the reproductive system of males

Translations

Sperm cell

The male gamete. The typical sperm of most animals has a head containing the nucleus and acrosome, a middle piece with the mitochondria, and a tail with the 9 + 2 microtubule pattern (see illustration). Sperm, as well as the acrosome shape, varies with the species. The nucleus consists of condensed chromatin (deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) and histone proteins. The acrosome, which is derived from the Golgi complex, contains hydrolytic enzymes, that is, hyaluronidase capable of lysing the egg coats at fertilization. Actin molecules which aid in the interaction between sperm and egg are found in the area between the acrosome and nucleus. The mitochondria in the middle piece apparently provide the energy necessary for the motility created by the tail. The tail has a central core, or axial filament, made up of nine double tubules and two central tubules. See Cilia and flagella

Many groups, including nematodes, myriapods, and crustaceans, have atypical sperm which lack a flagellum and are presumably nonmotile. The sperm of Ascaris is round and moves by ameboid means. The crustacean sperm have a large acrosome of several components. In the anomurans a middle with mitochondria and arms filled with microtubules precedes the nucleus. In the true crabs the nucleus forms arms which possess microtubules and also surrounds the many component acrosomes. The nucleus of crustacean sperm does not condense with maturation as it does in typical sperm mentioned above. See Spermatogenesis

Diagram of a human spermatozoon, based on electron micrographs

sperm cell

sperm

, pl.

sperms

(sperm), The male gamete or sex cell that contains the genetic information to be transmitted by the male, exhibits autokinesia, and is able to effect zygosis with an oocyte. The human sperm is composed of a head and a tail, the tail being divisible into a neck, a middle piece, a principal piece, and an end piece; the head, 4-6 mcm in length, is a broadly oval, flattened body containing the nucleus; the tail is about 55 mcm in length. Synonym(s): sperm cell, spermatozoon [G. sperma, seed]

sperm cell

n. See sperm¹.

sperm cell

sperm cell

sperm′ cell`

Sperm cell

Sperm cell

sperm cell

sperm

sperms

sperm cell

sperm cell

Synonyms for sperm cell

noun the male reproductive cell

Synonyms

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