Human Reproductive System - Comparing sperm cells and egg cells

Question 1

What is the size of the sperm cell?

Answer 1

Head - 5 micrometers
Middle piece - 5 micrometers
Tail - 40 micrometers long

Question 2

What is the size of the egg cell?

Answer 2

About 100 micrometers in diameter

Question 3

What is the energy reserve of the sperm cell?

Answer 3

• Before ejaculation mitochondria processes fat to provide energy
• After ejaculation mitochondria processes fructose in seminal fluid to provide energy
• Sperm can live for about 3 - 5 days

Question 4

What is the energy reserve of the egg cell?

Answer 4

• Egg can only live for about one day if it is not fertilized
• If fertilized will implant itself in the endometrium (serves as an energy source)

Question 5

What is the mitochondria in the sperm cell?

Answer 5

• Middle piece of sperm contains about 50 to 100 mitochondria
• supply ATP to provide for energy

Question 6

What is the mitochondria in the egg cell?

Answer 6

Cytoplasm of an egg cell contains about 140 000 mitochondria

Question 7

What is the number of sperm cells produced?

Answer 7

• Sperm are continuously produced
• about 300 to 500 million sperm are produced daily in a males life time

Question 8

What is the number of egg cells produced?

Answer 8

• At puberty each ovary contains 300 000 to 400 000 egg forming structures (follicles)
• One egg is released from one of the ovaries each month

Question 9

What is the motility of a sperm cell?

Answer 9

• Sperm are motile
• Sperm has tail (flagellum) that enables it to swim in fluid media

Question 10

What is the motility of an egg cell?

Answer 10

• Eggs are not motile
• Have no structures to propel themselves

Question 11

What outer structures does the sperm cell have?

Answer 11

Acrosome head - enzymes that penetrate the egg

Question 12

What outer structures does the egg cell have?

Answer 12

Covered by a specialized outer coating
* Can only be penetrated by sperm of the same species