Generally speaking, sperm is the male reproductive cell or gamete and when it fertilizes the ovum, the first step of pregnancy is completed. The word sperm is derived from Latin word spermos which means seed. Among anisogamy and oogamy, the sperm cells are involved in fertilization. These cells are small gametes and in both types of reproduction, size of these cells matter a lot. The small male reproductive cells are termed as male or sperm cells. Those cells which have flagella are capable of movement and are known as spermatozoon and on the other hand, non motile sperm cells are referred to as the spermatium.
Unlike Ovum, these sperm cells do not have the capacity of dividing themselves and they also have a limited span of life. But these reproductive cells have capacity to fuse with egg cells and fertilize the latter ones. During fertilization process it forms a totipotent zygote, which contains capacity to develop a new organism. Sperm cell's lifecycle is quite small and if it is not in air or mixed with another liquid, then within a female body, it can live for three days.
Sperm cells are of two types, motile and non- motile. In case of motile sperms, they use their flagella to move forward. But without water as medium, they cannot move. Through water these sperm cells move forward towards egg in order to fertilize them. Motile sperms are produced not only by animals, but also various protists, bryophytes, gymnosperms and ferns also produce motile sperms.
The non motile sperm cells do not have flagella and therefore, they do not have swimming capacity. As these sperm cells cannot swim, they are completely dependent on environment to carry them to egg cell. For instance, some of the red algae produce this type of non motile sperm cells which are spread by water current after their production.
In human context, sperm are produced in testicles and the scrotum is home to it. Scrotum is located in area where temperature remains a bit cooler than rest of the body.
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| It creates perfect situation for production of healthy sperm. Presence of semen in this place helps in nourishment of sperm cells. Both semen and sperm are stored in prostate gland and seminal vesicles. During act of copulation both of these substances come out together, which is known as ejaculation. Sperm enters female body and fertilizes the egg.
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