GAMETOGENESIS

SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES

coiled tubes that comprise bulk of the testicles. Each tubule is enclosed by a basement membrane and its wall is composed of cells in various stages of spermatogenesis.

STALLION SPERM

defined as spatulate-shaped, in contrast to the falciform-shaped spermatozoal heads characteristic of some species

TUNICA ALBUGINEA

dense fibrous layer of connective tissue at the outer margin of the ovary

TUNICA ALBUGINEA

fibrous connective tissue covering the entire testicle

BULL SPERM

have paddle-shaped heads

RAT SPERM

is approximately 2.5μm long and resembles a hook

PRIMARY SPERMATOCYTES

largest cells within the seminiferous tubules located next to the spermatogonia. They have larger and darker nuclei than the spermatogonia. Dark compacted chromatin structures can be found in the nucleus.

SPERMATOZOA

mature sperm cells with condensed darkly stained heads and filamentous tails. They are located in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules.

CORTEX

peripheral region of the ovary containing ovarian follicles, primordial follicles and germinal epithelium

SPERMATOGENESIS

production of the male gamete, spermatozoa

LOBULES

pyramid shaped lobules separated by septae of connective tissue that extend inward from the capsule.

SPERMATOGONIA

single layer of small cells with dark staining oval nucleus located at the periphery (against the basement membrane) of the seminiferous tubule;

SPERMATIDS

small cells usually with short tails embedded in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells. These cells metamorphose into mature sperm cells (spermatozoa) during spermiogenesis

SERTOLI

tall, irregular columnar cells. Its base sits on the basement membrane and its apex extends towards the lumen of the tubule. It has a large, pale nucleus and numerous spermatids embedded in its supranuclear cytoplasm.

OVARIAN CYCLE

the primary oocyte together with the surrounding follicular cells are collectively called ____________.

GAMETOGENESIS

the process of development and maturation of sex cells

OOGENESIS

the production of female gametes from the oogonia in the ovary

SPERMIOGENESIS

the transformation of the spermatids into spermatozoa. During this stage, the spermatids which resemble a typical cell undergo structural changes (streamlining) to become a spermatozoon consisting of a head, middle piece, neck and tail.

SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES

where spermatogenesis occurs

OOGONIUM

where the oocytes and follicular cells in the ovary both originates

PRIMARY FOLLICLE

• composed of an oocyte covered with a single layer of cuboidal or columnar follicular cells thus relatively larger than the primordial follicle. • located in the same area with the primordial follicle.

PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLE

• small follicle composed of a primary oocyte surrounded by a single layer of small, flat follicular cells • located at the marginal area of the ovary.

FOLLICULAR CELLS

are the small cells that surround the primary oocyte

GOLGI APPARATUS

becomes the acrosome

MITOCHONDRIA

becomes the middle piece

MICROTUBULES

becomes the tail

NUCLEUS

becomes the head

CENTRIOLE (PROXIMAL)

becomes the neck

INTERSTITIAL CELLS (OF LEYDIG)

cells located outside/ between seminiferous tubules. They are responsible for the production of testosterone.

SECONDARY SPERMATOCYTES

cells smaller than the primary spermatocytes located near the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. These cells result from the first maturation (meiotic division). The chromatin is lighter than in the primary spermatocyte.

MEDULLA

central portion of the ovary containing blood vessels

PIG SPERM

(mostly) symmetrical about the anterior-posterior axis.

SPECIES VARIATION

The sperm of all animal species are comprised of the same parts however, they differ in appearance due to the variations in the shape of the head. This is brought about by variations in the shape of the nucleus.

ROOSTER SPERM

Their membrane surfaces are wider, their cytoplasm is less, and their flagellum is longer