Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
spermatocyte

spermatocyte

9.9
A cell in male testicles that divides to make sperm cells
  • noun
  • /ˈspɜr.mə.təˌsaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : espermatozoide
  • The most mature spermatogenic cell type present is the early spermatocyte, indicating an early meiotic arrest of spermatogenesis.

So there's not as much long distance migration of the spermatis of the spermatocytes and the sperm cells as there is the egg.

Examples

  • A primary spermatocyte is responsible for the generation of haploid cells that become functional sperm after division.

  • Using micromanipulation, light microscopy, and immunofluorescence in grasshopper spermatocytes, these authors determined that the longer chromosomes remained off the spindle, the more strongly they stained.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Early spermatocytes were the most mature cell types present.

    Academic text (2003)

  • During spermatogenesis, each primary spermatocyte divides to produce four spermatids, which eventually develop into sperm.

  • The male reproductive system produces spermatocytes that undergo meiosis to form sperm cells.

How Mature

spermatozoon
  • Specialized
1 9.6
spermatid
  • Specialized
9.9
spermatocyte
  • Specialized
9.9
spermatogonium
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

spermatocyte singular
spermatocytes plural

Morphology

spermatocyte = sperm (semi-transparent) = sperm + cyte + ocyte

Formed from 'sperm' + the technical combining suffix '-ocyte' meaning 'cell'; the biomedical suffix is specialist, so the relation is clear but requires domain knowledge.

Etymology

The word spermatocyte comes from the Greek parts sperma meaning 'seed' (like the English word sperm) and -cyte meaning 'cell'. So think of it as a 'seed cell', a cell in the male testes that divides to make sperm, which is why spermatocytes develop into spermatids and then sperm.