spermatozoon Hear it!

spermatozoon Definition

sper·ma·to·zoon (--zō′än′, --ən)

noun pl. -·zo′a--zō′ə

the male germ cell, found in semen, which penetrates the ovum, or egg, of the female to fertilize it: typically it consists of a head containing a large nucleus, a small midsection, and a whiplike tail used for locomotion

Etymology: ModL < spermato- + Gr zōion, animal: see bio-

spermatozoon Related Forms
sper′·ma·to·zo′al adjective or sper′·ma·to·zo′an or sper′·ma·to·zo′ic
spermatozoon Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • human: Trials of the protocol resulted in considerably improved recovery on thawing of human spermatozoa compared with vapor freezing or conventional linear cooling.
  • mature: Where do you expect to find type A spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and mature spermatozoa.

Modifies a noun

  • production: Used regularly it improves a man's spermatozoa production.