Sperm Cell Biology

Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the sperm cell?

To produce hormones for the female reproductive system

To generate energy for the egg cell

To fuse with the egg cell to form a zygote

To transfer the male's genetic material into the egg cell (correct)

What is the purpose of the mitochondria in the sperm cell?

To synthesize proteins for the fertilization process

To store genetic material for the zygote

To provide energy for the sperm cell's movement (correct)

To regulate the sperm cell's pH levels

What is the acrosome responsible for in the fertilization process?

Fusing the sperm cell with the egg cell

Transferring genetic material from the sperm to the egg

Breaking down the egg cell's outer layer (correct)

Providing energy for the sperm cell's movement

What is the function of the flagellum in the sperm cell?

To propel the sperm cell towards the egg cell Signup and view all the answers

How many mitochondria are typically found in a sperm cell?

75-100 large mitochondria Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the nuclear envelope in the sperm cell?

To protect the genetic material during fertilization Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the middle section of the sperm cell?

To house the mitochondria and provide energy Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the pointed head of the sperm cell?

To allow the sperm cell to travel in a forward direction Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the mitochondria in the middle section of the sperm cell?

Give energy to the tail for locomotion Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference in shape between the sperm cell and the egg cell?

The sperm cell is torpedo-shaped, while the egg cell is round Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the zona pellucida?

To facilitate fertilization by allowing sperm penetration Signup and view all the answers

How many mitochondria are present in the egg cell?

100-200 thousand Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the fertilization process?

The sperm binds to the zona pellucida Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the acrosomal reaction during fertilization?

To digest away the zona pellucida Signup and view all the answers

What is the ratio of the mass of the egg cell to the mass of the sperm cell?

10,000:1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the head of the sperm cell?

To protect the genetic material during fertilization Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure that the sperm cell uses to penetrate the zona pellucida?

The acrosome Signup and view all the answers

What is the final step in the fertilization process?

The sperm delivers its genetic material beyond the plasma membrane Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the cortical granules in the egg cell?

To release enzymes that break down the zona pellucida and prevent polyspermy Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which a single sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell?

Fertilization Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the acrosomal reaction during fertilization?

To release enzymes that break down the zona pellucida and allow the sperm to penetrate Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of polyspermy?

A zygote with a single contribution from the mother and multiple contributions from the father Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the mitochondria in the sperm cell?

To provide energy for the sperm cell during fertilization Signup and view all the answers

What is the specialized layer on the outside of the egg cell?

Zona pellucida Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the cortical reaction?

The release of enzymes that break down the zona pellucida and prevent polyspermy Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the tail of the sperm cell?

To propel the sperm cell towards the egg cell Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the head of the sperm cell?

To store the genetic material for fertilization Signup and view all the answers

What is the fate of the mitochondria from the sperm cell during fertilization?

Some of them may be incorporated into the zygote along with the genetic material Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sperm Cell

The sperm cell is the male sex cell, designed to transfer genetic material to the female sex cell or egg.
The sperm cell has a pointed head, middle section, and a tail (flagellum) that acts like a propeller.
The middle section contains 75-100 mitochondria, responsible for providing energy for the sperm's journey.
The sperm cell's payload is the genetic material (DNA within the nucleus) in the head, with an acrosome (warhead) that will help fertilization.

Egg Cell

The egg cell is the female sex cell, much larger than the sperm cell, and not designed for active mobility.
The egg cell has a thick outer coating called the zona pellucida, made of glycoproteins that sit on the outside of the cell.
The egg cell has a large number of mitochondria (100,000-200,000) in its cytoplasm, providing energy for the cell.
The egg cell's genetic material is also contained within the nucleus.

Fertilization

Fertilization occurs when the sperm binds to the zona pellucida, triggering the acrosome reaction, which releases enzymes that digest the zona pellucida.
The sperm then binds to the egg cell's plasma membrane, causing the cortical reaction, which releases enzymes that prevent multiple sperm from binding.
The sperm's genetic material is then transferred into the egg cell, resulting in fertilization.

Key Features and Concepts

Polyspermy: the term for multiple sperm injecting genetic material into the egg, which can result in problems during cell division.
Block to polyspermy: the mechanism that prevents multiple sperm from binding to the egg cell, ensuring only one sperm contributes genetic material.
Mitochondrial DNA: sperm mitochondria have genetic material, but the male contributes essentially no mitochondria to the zygote due to the larger number of mitochondria in the egg cell.

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Description

Learn about the structure and function of sperm cells, the male sex cells responsible for transferring genetic material to the egg cell during sexual reproduction.