Journey Of A Sperm Cell Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Journey Of A Sperm Cell. Answer: Journey of a Sperm cell Sperm cells are formed in the scrotum. It is the scrotum that protects the testicles and helps to regulate the temperature of the testicles. The sperm travels up to the epididymis through the testes to the sperm duct and moves to the vas deferens then to the seminal vesicles. It is where the sperm cell is nourished and goes to the prostate gland. One last stop is made by the sperm cell at the cowpers gland in order to get rid of the acidity of urination. The sperm finally travels up the urethra and is ejaculated out of the penis. At the time of intercourse, the sperm is shooted in to the vagina, which is again a long tube like structure in the female body (Ikawa et al. 2010). It is where the sperm begins their next phase of the race of fertilizing the egg. Throughout the journey the spermatozoa has to cross a number of hurdles making it difficult to get through the fallopian tube and strike the egg. The sperm have to swim a distance of about 15 to 18 cm and it does not take too long to reach the egg once it has been released from the ovary. A spermatozoon is strong enough to remain viable for about 2-5 days inside the reproductive tract of the female. Along the length of the tube, the most powerful sperm, who have been able to overcome the obstacles of the female reproductive system such as the vaginal acidity, immune response, cervical mucus and other physical barriers gain an extraordinary fertilization capacity and the sperm tail becomes stronger and powerful to continue its journey with more energy and efficiency (Moore et al. 2011). The chosen sperm then goes through the acrosomal reaction, where the acrozomal enzyme of the acrozome present in the head of the sperm weakens the Zona Pellucida of the egg and breaks through it. As the sperm enters the egg, the nuclei fuse together and make the fertilization process successful. References Ikawa, M., Inoue, N., Benham, A.M. and Okabe, M., 2010. Fertilization: a sperms journey to and interaction with the oocyte. The Journal of clinical investigation, 120(4), pp.984-994. Moore, K.L., Persaud, T.V.N. and Torchia, M.G., 2011. The Developing Human E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.