sperm cell anatomy diagram
sperm cell anatomy diagram
A sperm cell, also known as a spermatozoon, has three main parts: the head, the midpiece, and the tail:
Head
The head contains the nucleus, which has tightly packed DNA, and the acrosome, which is a cap that contains enzymes that help the sperm penetrate an egg. The head is shaped like an almond with a slight point.
Midpiece
The midpiece contains mitochondria that provide energy for the tail to move.
Tail
The tail, also known as the flagellum, is the longest part of the sperm cell and moves in a corkscrew-like motion to propel the sperm towards the egg. The tail is divided into three regions: the middle piece, the principal piece, and the end piece.
Sperm cells are so small that they can't be seen without a microscope. One ejaculation usually contains between 20 million and 600 million sperm