The male gamete

The spermatozoa are cells highly specialized that have decreased in size by eliminating much of the cytoplasm. They are much smaller than eggs and are highly mobile. The sperm are intended to travel to fertilize the female egg. Three parts are distinguished in the sperm:

• Cola. Formed by a flagellum with a protein structure that, when moving, allows the sperm to move .
• Neck. It contains numerous mitochondria that provide it with the energy to move.
• Head. It contains the nucleus and the acrosome.
  • The nucleus, with 23 chromosomes, has half the genetic makeup of the rest of the body's cells.
  • The acrosome is a vesicle that contains enzymes that serve to break and cross the protective sheaths of the ovum.

By Simplified spermatozoon diagram.svg: Mariana Ruizderivative work:Miguelferig [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Humor: Homer Simpson sperm.

What path do the sperm follow?

The sperm are formed within the testes and travel to the epididymis. When they are already mature they pass into the vas deferens. There the fluids produced by the seminal vesicles and the prostate are added to form semen. The sperm constitute only 10% of the sperm, the rest is seminal fluid, prostate and other secretions. From the vas deferens it will pass to the urethra and finally to the exterior.

Activity: Parts of a sperm.