Namrata Das Exams Prep Master
Exams Prep Master
Sexual reproduction is the only mode of reproduction that is available to humans. When haploid sex cells (gametes) are created, a diploid zygote is formed after fertilization. Each cell carries just one copy of each chromosome. Female gametes are termed ova or egg cells, and male gametes are called sperm. Here, we will discuss the difference between ovum and sperm and their definitions, structure in-depth along with a few important questions.
Read More About Human Reproductive System
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Sexual reproduction, Ovary, Female gametes, Sperm, male gametes, chromosomes, reproductive system, Epididymis, Fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, accessory glands, Ovum
Human Reproductive System
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The male reproductive system is responsible for producing and releasing sperm, whereas the female reproductive system is responsible for producing egg cells as well as protecting and nourishing the foetus until birth. Sexual differentiation is very great in humans. There are various variances in normal secondary sex traits, in addition to differences in nearly every reproductive organ.
- Male Reproductive System
A scrotum, a pair of testes, vasa efferentia, a pair of the epididymis, a pair of vasa deferentia, a pair of ejaculatory ducts, a urethra, a penis, and some accessory sex glands constitute the male reproductive system.
- Female Reproductive System
The ovaries, Fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, accessory glands, and external genital organs are all part of the Female Reproductive System.
Also Read:
| Chapter Related Topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Health | Phases of Menstrual Cycle and Menstrual Hormones | Female Hormones |
| Oogenesis | Red Data Book | Male and Female Reproductive Organs |
What is Sperm?
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
The human sperm is a male reproductive cell that contains a haploid set of 23 chromosomes which, when fused with an ovum of 23 chromosomes and forms a diploid zygote. Sperm is made by the testis, which is a male reproductive organ. They also produce testosterone, which is a hormone liable for many male characteristics.
Sperm
Spermatogenesis is the process of making sperm cells. This process begins within the seminiferous tubules within the testicles. These tubules produce sperm cells called spermatocytes. Sperm is stored within the epididymis and through ejaculation, it's released from the penis alongside a fluid called semen.
Sperm Structure:-
- The sperm consists of a head, neck, centre section, and tail and is tiny and motile.
- The plasma membrane covers the entire body.
- An elongated haploid nucleus can be found in the sperm head. The DNA in the head of the sperm is what creates a new person when it is joined with the DNA in the egg.
- Doctors name the cap that covers the sperm's head an acrosome. The acrosome includes proteins that assist sperm in penetrating an egg's outer shell.
- Numerous mitochondria are found in the central section, which creates energy for sperm movement, which is required for fertilisation.
- The sperm cell's tail aids in swimming to the egg cell.
- To fertilise a woman's egg, sperm must travel through the uterus and fallopian tube.
- The semen is made up of seminal plasma and sperm.
Also Read: Menstrual Cycle
What is Ovum?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The Latin term ovum means "egg” and the plural of the ovum is ova. It is a single cell that is discharged from one of the female reproductive organs, the ovaries. Ovum is a mother haploid gamete that is primarily concerned with obtaining sperm and is decided to develop into a fully developed multicellular organism after fertilisation (syngamy) or without fertilisation (non-fertilization) (parthenogenesis). It is genetically designed and usually occurs with reserve food. Animals and terrestrial plants, such as embryophytes, both produce ova.
Ovum
Ovum Structure:-
- Each ovum is a non-motile, spherical structure. The size of the egg in animals is extremely small (0.15 mm in man).
- Ooplasm refers to the egg's cytoplasm. It is alecithal because it contains only a small amount of yolk in man.
- The cortex refers to the ooplasm's outermost layer.
- Microtubules and microfilaments, pigment granules, and mucopolysaccharide cortical granules are all found in the egg cortex. Cell organelles, tRNAs, histones, and enzymes, among other things, make up endoplasm. A germinal vesicle is a big ovum nucleus that is swollen with nucleoplasm.
- The side of the ovum with a nucleus and polar body is called the animal pole, while the opposite side is called a vegetal pole.
Difference between Sperm and Ovum
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
| Sperm | Ovum |
|---|---|
| Sperm is the male reproductive cell. | Ovum is the female reproductive cell. |
| It's a motile cell with flagella that enables it to move and penetrate an ovum. | It is not motile and does not have flagella. |
| It is the human body's tiniest cell. | It is one of the human body's biggest cells. |
| In sperm cells, the cytoplasm is present in very low quantities. | In the egg cell or the ovum, there are a lot of cytoplasms. |
| Mitochondria are found in the centre of this cell. | Mitochondria are found throughout the cell's cytoplasm. |
| Sperm cells have X or Y chromosomes. | Only X chromosomes are found in egg cells. |
| The cell is devoid of nucleoplasm. | The egg cell contains nucleoplasm, also known as the germinal vesicle. |
| Centrioles are present in the sperm cell. | Centrioles are absent in the sperm cell. |
| Sperms are produced in the testes, the male reproductive organ. | The female reproductive organs produce the ovum in the ovaries. |
| The neck, centre section, and tail are the segments of a sperm. | There is no such segmentation in an ovum. |
| Four sperm are produced from a single spermatogonium. | From a single oogonium, just one ovum is produced. |
| A plasma membrane surrounds a sperm cell. | Egg envelopes enclose each ovum cell. |
Things to Remember
- Sperm is a male germ cell that is generated during the spermatogenesis process. During spermiogenesis, spermatids undergo modifications that result in the formation of a specific structure known as sperm.
- The head, neck, middle section, and tail are all parts of the sperm. There is a nucleus and an acrosome in the head. The nucleus contains genetic material, whereas the lytic enzymes in the acrosome that lies on top of the nucleus.
- The ovum is the biggest cell visible to the naked eye in humans. During ovulation, it is created in the ovary and then released into the fallopian tube.
- Ovum is made of protoplasm (with some yolk) and a thin cell wall (vitelline membrane). It could potentially be covered in a noncellular layer (zona pellucida). A big nucleus (germinal vesicle) with a nucleolus resides within the cell (germinal spot). Because the cell is haploid, it generates a diploid zygote when fertilized by a sperm cell.
- The ovum and sperm have significant distinctions, which are discussed in this section.
Also Read:
| Concepts Related to Human Reproduction | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parturition | Lactation | Contraception |
| Vestigial Organs | Competent Cell | Difference Between Tissues and Organs |
Sample Questions
Ques. From 10 primary spermatocytes, how many sperm will be created, and how many eggs will be produced from 10 primary oocytes? [1 mark]
Ans. 40 sperms will be created and 10 eggs will be produced.
Ques. Give the number of chromosomes in the Primary spermatocyte and Spermatid. [1 mark]
Ans. (a) 46 in Primary spermatocyte
(b) 23 in spermatid.
Ques. What is semen? [1 mark]
Ans. Semen constitutes the seminal plasma along with the sperm.
Ques. In a human female, where does fertilisation generally take place? [1 mark]
Ans. Ampulla (fallopian tube).
Ques. What is a Diploid Cell? [1 mark]
Ans: A cell with two complete sets of chromosomes is known as a diploid cell. This is the haploid chromosome number multiplied by two.
Ques. What are the four main parts of a sperm? [1 mark]
Ans: The head, neck, middle piece, and tail are the four primary sections of sperm.
Ques. What is the size of human sperm? [1 mark]
Ans: Sperm have a diameter of 2–5 m and a length of 60 m.
Ques. How many days can sperm live? [1 mark]
Ans: Sperms only can fertilise an egg for 24 hours. It can, however, live for up to five days.
Ques. What is the structure and function of sperm cells? [2 mark]
Ans: Human sperm is a small structure that resembles a tadpole in morphology. It has a head, neck, middle section, and tail and is flagellated, tiny, and motile. Its primary role is to supply genetic material to the egg cell for it to become a diploid zygote.
Ques. What is the location of Leydig cells and what is secreted by them? [2 marks]
Ans: Leydig cells are located in between the seminiferous tubules. The male sex hormone testosterone is secreted by Leydig cells, which promotes the development of accessory glands and regulates male secondary sexual characteristics.
Ques. Draw a well-labelled diagram of T.S. of the ovary? [3 marks]
Ans.
Ques. What is the definition of fertilisation? [3 marks]
Ans: The union of male and female gametes is known as fertilisation. Sexual reproduction is based on this. The generation of progeny via the fusing of male and female sex cells, known as gametes, is known as sexual reproduction. The gametes are haploid, but when they combine, they create a diploid zygote. The result is the formation of a new organism.
Ques. Differentiate between sperm and ovum. [5 marks]
Ans: The difference between sperm and ovum are as follows:
| Sperm | Ovum |
|---|---|
| Sperm is the male reproductive cell. | Ovum is the female reproductive cell. |
| It's a motile cell with flagella that enables it to move and penetrate an ovum. | It is not motile and does not have flagella. |
| It is the human body's tiniest cell. | It is one of the human body's biggest cells. |
| In sperm cells, the cytoplasm is present in very low quantities. | In the egg cell or the ovum, there are a lot of cytoplasms. |
| Mitochondria are found in the centre of this cell. | Mitochondria are found throughout the cell's cytoplasm. |
| Sperm cells have X or Y chromosomes. | Only X chromosomes are found in egg cells. |
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here:https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Also check:
Comments