Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Urogenital System > Genitalia > Germ Cells > Spermatozoa Terms and Definitions

Spermatozoa

Medical Definition:	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.
Guide Notes:	polyspermia & polyspermy = SPERMATOZOA if excessive sperm or = FERTILIZATION if fertilization of ovum by more than one sperm; sperm donors: coord SPERMATOZOA (IM) + TISSUE DONORS (IM); consider also INSEMINATION, ARTIFICIAL, HOMOLOGOUS (husband)(IM) or IN

Spermatozoa Categories.

	Sperm Head - The anterior portion of the spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) that contains mainly the nucleus with highly compact CHROMATIN material.
	Sperm Midpiece - The middle piece of the spermatozoon is a highly organized segment consisting of MITOCHONDRIA, the outer dense fibers and the core microtubular structure.
	Sperm Tail - The posterior filiform portion of the spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) that provides sperm motility.
	Spermatids - Male germ cells derived from the haploid secondary SPERMATOCYTES. Without further division, spermatids undergo structural changes and give rise to SPERMATOZOA.
	Spermatocytes - Male germ cells derived from SPERMATOGONIA. The euploid primary spermatocytes undergo MEIOSIS and give rise to the haploid secondary spermatocytes which in turn give rise to SPERMATIDS.
	Spermatogonia - Euploid male germ cells of an early stage of SPERMATOGENESIS, derived from prespermatogonia. With the onset of puberty, spermatogonia at the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule proliferate by mitotic then meiotic divisions and give rise to the haploid SPERMATOCYTES.

Spermatozoa Medical Definitions and Terms

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