ACTIVITY 2

METABOLISM AND CLINICAL

BIOCHEMISTRY
SUBMITTED BY: K S SAISHREE
&
PEMA WANGMO
 SPERM
▪ Sperm, also called spermatozoon, plural
spermatozoa, male reproductive cell, produced by most
animals.
▪ It is the male reproductive cell, or gamete,
in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in
which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a
smaller, male one).
▪ Sperm cells are gametes (sex cells) that are produced in
the testicular organ (gonad) of male human beings and
animals.
STRUCTURE
• Their general morphology includes a head, body and tail.
• All sperms do not necessarily look alike.
• As a result of various abnormalities, they may vary in shape and size while
other differences may be observed on any part of the cell (head, body,
tail).A normal sperm will have the following characteristics:
• A smooth oval head – The head of a normally formed sperm has a smooth
surface and resembles the shape of an egg
• The head of the sperm measures 2.5 to 3.5 um in diameter and 4.0 to 5.5
um in length (um=micrometers). This results in a 1.50 to 1.70 length to
width ratio
• They have a well-developed acrosome that covers 40 to 70 percent of the
oval shaped head
• A slim middle section (body) that is approximately the same length as
the head
• A thinner tail section that is about 45 micrometer in length
 Parts OF SPERM AND ITS FUNCTIONS
▪ Sperm Head: A normal sperm head has a smooth and oval shape. The head section also resembles an
egg due to its broad base and tapering apex. The head is the most important part of the cell given
that it contains the nucleus (genetic material with 23 chromosomes) required to form a new
organism. Apart from the nucleus, the head is also made up of a several parts that include:
▪ Acrosome and Acrosomal Cap: Together, the two (acrosome and acrosomal cap) make up the
acrosomal region. Formed during spermiogenesis, the acrosome is the product of Golgi complex and
contains a number of contents such as acrosin enzyme in the acrosomal matrix. Apart from the
enzymes, the acrosome also contains such polysaccharides as mannose, hexosmine and galactose.
The acrosome occupies the space between the interior plasma membrane and nuclear membrane.
The acrosome itself has an inner and outer membrane (acrosomal membrane) where the outer
membrane borders the plasma membrane while the inner acrosomal membrane borders the
nuclear membrane.
▪ Acrosome enzymes are also known as lysosomal enzymes.
▪ Nucleus – The sperm head is the part of the cell that contains the nucleus. The nucleus takes up 65
percent of the head and consists of 23 chromosomes. The sperm head makes up about 10 percent of
the entire cell.
▪ Midpiece: The midpiece is the central part of the sperm cell between the head and the
tail. Like the head, the midpiece makes up about 10 percent of the total sperm length.
Unlike the sperm head that carries genetic material, the midpiece contains tightly
packed mitochondria that provide the energy requires for swimming. In addition to
providing the energy required for swimming, mitochondria is also suggested to play a
role in controlled cell death known as apoptosis.
▪ Centriole – The centriole is part of the sperm cell located between the head and the
midpiece. In a complex referred to as the centriole-centrosome complex, the centriole
is involved in the formation of sperm aster and zygote aster.
▪ Tail: The sperm tail is a thin, elongated structure that makes up about 80 percent of the
entire length of the sperm. While the tail may appear to be one long
continuous structure.
 REFERENCES
▪ Mortimer, D. (2018, September 12). Functional anatomy of the human
spermatozoon: Relating ultrastructure and function. OUP Academic. Retrieved May
24, 2022, from https://academic.oup.com/molehr/article/24/12/567/5095621
▪ Sperm anatomy and physiology. SlideShare a Scribd company. (n.d.). Retrieved May
24, 2022, from https://
www.slideshare.net/sunitafeme/sperm-anatomy-and-physiology
▪ Sperm cells - definition, function, structure, adaptations, microscopy.
MicroscopeMaster. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://
www.microscopemaster.com/sperm-cells.html
▪ Take online courses. earn college credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers.
Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees
& Careers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
https://study.com/learn/lesson/sperm-cell.html#:~:text=of%20sperm%20cell%3F-,T
he%20three%20anatomical%20features%20of%20a%20sperm%20cell%20are%3A
%201,within%20the%20female%20reproductive%20tract
.