Question

You are Sam, the spermatogonium, preparing for the World Swim Marathon. Describe your journey as you mature from your current location, poised firmly between 2 Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule of the testes, to your ultimate destination- a mature ovum in the Fallopian Tube.

Describe in detail the changes you will undergo (including the hormone(s) that trigger the process) as you transform into a mature sperm and where all of that will occur.

Describe every landmark, gland, duct, orifice, and structure you will pass through and their composition (both as you travel through and exit your host and as you enter your partner and continue your journey). Include all products or secretions that will make your travels safer and easier (and any obstacles to your swim!) as well as the structures which produce them.

Finally produce a detailed Map or diagram so that future spermatagonia may follow in your footsteps (actually in your flagella-trail)

Answer 1

Spermatogonium comes into formation after mitotic division of the stem cells . Stem cells are present near the basement membrane of seminiferous tubule.

After this spermatogonium undergoes mitotic division and this produces two types of cells ,type A and type B. Type A cells replaces the stem cells whereas the type B cells forms primary spermatocytes.

Primary spermatocytes undergo meiotic division , meiosis 1 produces secondary spermatocytes and then occurs meiosis 2 which leads to for ation of equal haploid spermatids.

These spermatids are the immature form of sperm. It undergoes maturation through the process knows as spermiogenesis.

For spermatogenesis 'testosterone' hormone is required .it is secreted from the leydig cells or sertoli cells present in testis.

After the formation of spermatozoa (sperm) it is released from the testis through a process called spermiation.

After release from testis the sperms are stored in epididymis. The sperms are stored and matured there till the time of ejaculation.

At the time of ejaculation sperms travel from the epididymis to vas deferens and from there to ejaculatory duct while going through these steps they get mixed wih the secretions from prostate and seminal vesicle. The secretion from prostate consitute maximum part of semen. The secretions from seminal vesicle protects the sperms from acidic environment present in urethra and makes it easy for the sperms to travel through female reproductive pathway.

After ejaculation the semen is deposited in vagina. From there the sperms travel through cervix and uterus to reach the fallopian tube. They reach the ampullary part of fallopian tube . It is the most common site of fertilization. If a ovum is present at that time ,the fertilization happens. Sperm penetrate the ovum and fertilization occurs which lead to formation of zygote.