Sperm is the male reproductive cell or gamete. The term “gamete” implies that the cell is half of a whole. When a sperm combines with a female gamete, or egg, it results in a human embryo.
When studying a sperm cell under a microscope, scientists can typically identify the following three parts:
The head
The sperm head contains chromatin, which is the DNA material that makes up chromosomes.
Typically, both the human sperm cell and the human egg cell each contain 23 chromosomes. When the sperm and egg combine, this results in an embryo with 46 chromosomes.
Covering the head of the sperm is a cap that doctors call an acrosome. The acrosome contains proteins that help the sperm penetrate the outer shell of an egg.
The midsection
The midsection of the sperm contains energy producing mitochondria. These specialized structures provide the energy necessary for the sperm cell to move.
The tail
The purpose of the sperm tail, or flagellum, is to allow movement. The tail propels the sperm forward, towards an egg for fertilization.
