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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Middle French ''esperme'', ''sperme'', from Late Latin ''spermat''-, ''sperma'', from [[Greek]], [[literally]], [[seed]], from ''speirein'' to [[sow]] | | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Middle French ''esperme'', ''sperme'', from Late Latin ''spermat''-, ''sperma'', from [[Greek]], [[literally]], [[seed]], from ''speirein'' to [[sow]] |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] |
| ==Defiinitions== | | ==Defiinitions== |
| *1a : semen | | *1a : semen |
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| *2: a product of the sperm whale | | *2: a product of the sperm whale |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Sperm''' refers to the [[male]] [[reproductive]] cells. In the types of [[sexual]] reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. A uniflagellar sperm cell that is motile is referred to as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermatozoon spermatozoon], whereas a non-motile sperm cell is referred to as a spermatium. Sperm cells cannot divide and have a limited life span, but after fusion with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovum egg cells] during fertilization, a new [[organism]] begins developing, starting as a totipotent zygote.[citation needed] Sperm develops in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicles testicles]. | + | '''Sperm''' refers to the [[male]] [[reproductive]] cells. In the types of [[sexual]] reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. A uniflagellar sperm cell that is motile is referred to as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermatozoon spermatozoon], whereas a non-motile sperm cell is referred to as a spermatium. Sperm cells cannot divide and have a limited life span, but after fusion with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovum egg cells] during fertilization, a new [[organism]] begins developing, starting as a totipotent zygote.[citation needed] Sperm develops in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicles testicles]. |
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− | The sperm cell consists of a head, a midpiece and a tail. The head contains the [[nucleus]] with densely coiled chromatin fibres, surrounded anteriorly by an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrosome acrosome], which contains enzymes used for penetrating the female egg. The midpiece has a central filamentous core with many mitochondria spiralled around it, used for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate ATP] production for the [[journey]] through the female [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervix cervix], uterus and uterine tubes. The tail or "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellum flagellum]" executes the lashing movements that propel the spermatocyte. | + | The sperm cell consists of a head, a midpiece and a tail. The head contains the [[nucleus]] with densely coiled chromatin fibres, surrounded anteriorly by an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrosome acrosome], which contains enzymes used for penetrating the female egg. The midpiece has a central filamentous core with many mitochondria spiralled around it, used for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate ATP] production for the [[journey]] through the female [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervix cervix], uterus and uterine tubes. The tail or "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellum flagellum]" executes the lashing movements that propel the spermatocyte. |
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− | During [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilization fertilization], the sperm provides three essential parts to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oocyte oocyte]: (1) a signalling or activating factor, which causes the metabolically dormant oocyte to activate; (2) the haploid paternal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome genome]; and (3) the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrosome centrosome], which is responsible for maintaining the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtubule microtubule] system.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm] | + | During [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilization fertilization], the sperm provides three essential parts to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oocyte oocyte]: (1) a signalling or activating factor, which causes the metabolically dormant oocyte to activate; (2) the haploid paternal [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome genome]; and (3) the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrosome centrosome], which is responsible for maintaining the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtubule microtubule] system.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm] |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |