Acrosome
Acrosome
Acrosome (/ˈækrəˌsoʊm/) is a cap-like structure present on the head of a spermatozoon. It is derived from the Golgi apparatus in the spermatid (the immature sperm cell during the process of spermatogenesis).
Etymology
The term "acrosome" is derived from the Greek words "akros" meaning "at the top" and "soma" meaning "body".
Function
The acrosome contains enzymes (such as hyaluronidase and acrosin) that help the sperm cell to penetrate the outer layers of the egg cell during fertilization.
Related Terms
- Spermatozoon: The mature male reproductive cell, which can fertilize an egg cell.
- Spermatogenesis: The process of sperm cell development.
- Golgi apparatus: An organelle in the cell that processes proteins for inside and outside the cell.
- Hyaluronidase: An enzyme that helps in the penetration of the sperm cell into the egg cell.
- Acrosin: An enzyme that facilitates the penetration of the sperm cell into the egg cell.
- Fertilization: The process of combining the male gamete, or sperm, with the female gamete, or egg.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acrosome
- Wikipedia's article - Acrosome
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski