spermatozoon
/ˌspəːmətə(ʊ)ˈzəʊɒn
/ /spəˌmatə(ʊ)ˈzəʊɒn/noun (plural spermatozoa /ˌspəːmətə(ʊ)ˈzəʊə/ /spəˌmatə(ʊ)ˈzəʊə/) Biology
The mature motile male sex cell of an animal, by which the ovum is fertilized, typically having a compact head and one or more long flagella for swimming.Mutated DNA can only be passed to the next generation if it is present in a germ cell such as spermatozoa and ova, each of which contribute half of the DNA of the new organism....
- The testes in your body are continuously producing hundreds of millions of reproductive cells called spermatozoa.
- We rather think of the latter as a new form of life to whose nature both the ovum and the spermatozoon have made significant contributions.
Derivatives
spermatozoal
- In this open study we investigated the correlation between seminal carnitine levels and spermatozoal function in infertile men.
- Semen was collected by electro-ejaculation twice weekly and evaluated for spermatozoal motility, morphology, and concentration.
- The samples ‘are representative of the spermatozoal fingerprint for the normal fertile man,’ the researchers conclude.
spermatozoan
- The motility of the spermatozoan tail depends on the contractility of its protein fibrils, which resemble myosin threads.
- In addition to this, all of the products were confirmed to enhance spermatozoan function, in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek sperma, spermat- 'seed' + zōion 'animal'.