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spermatheca

(spʉr′mə t̸hē′kə)

noun

a small, saclike structure in the female reproductive tract in many invertebrates, esp. insects, for receiving and storing sperm

Origin: ModL: see sperm & theca

See spermatheca in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. -cae (-sē)

A receptacle in the reproductive tracts of certain female invertebrates, especially insects, in which spermatozoa are received and stored until needed to fertilize the ova.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin sperma, semen; see sperm ¹

Origin: + theca

Related Forms:

sperˌma·theˈcal adjective

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