Sperm Cell
Reproductive Cell
About the Sperm Cell
Reproductive Cell
Male reproductive tract
Sperm cells are made in the testes and swim by flagellar beating to reach and fertilise an egg.
Clinical and real-world context
Semen analysis looks at sperm count, shape, and movement, which are central to fertility assessment.
3 structures to explore
Acrosome
The enzyme cap
The acrosome is a vesicle of enzymes. When a sperm meets an egg, it releases them to help tunnel through the egg's outer layers.
The acrosome is derived from the Golgi apparatus during sperm development.
Midpiece
The power pack
Mitochondria wrap around the start of the tail like a spiral and supply the ATP that powers the beating flagellum.
The midpiece mitochondria are normally inherited only from the egg, not the sperm.
Flagellum
The propeller tail
The tail beats in waves driven by dynein motors sliding microtubules, pushing the cell forward.
A human sperm is one of the few cells that must swim to do its job.