Sperm Cells

Question 1

What is the function of the sperm cell?

Answer 1

To deliver genetic information to egg cells for fertilisation.

Question 2

How are sperms produced and how big are they?

Answer 2

They are produced by meiosis and measure between 3 μm and 4 μm

Question 3

How are sperm cells adapted to fuse with an egg cell?

Answer 3

.Head of a sperm cell contains an acrosome

.Acrosomes contains digestive enzymes which break down the outer membrane (zona pellucida) of egg cells

Question 4

How are sperms adapted to swim into fallopian tubes to reach the correct site for fertilisation?

Answer 4

• Tail for swimming motility
• Mid-section of sperm cell body contains lots of mitochondria which supplies energy for swimming via aerobic respiration

Question 5

Why are there so many mitochondria in the midpiece?

Answer 5

.For aerobic respiration, so that they can make ATP, in order to swim

Question 6

What types of cells are sperm cells?

Answer 6

Gametes (Reproductive Cells)

Question 7

Describe how are sperm cell uses all of its features to fertilise an egg cell.

Answer 7

1) Tail-Enables sperm to swim to egg
2) Middle Piece- Packed with mitochondria for aerobic respiration to provide ATP for reproduction
3) Head (Haploid Nucleus)- Contains 23 chromosomes
4) Acrosome- Contains enzymes so sperm can digest a pathway through the zona pellucida of the egg.